Thursday, May 5, 2011

Charlie Skjodt moves up, Ice seeking new coach

After his second stint as the Ice's head coach, Charlie Skjodt has been promoted to team president.

Skjodt coached the team at the end of the 2007 season and then again to the division title in 2007-08. After Jeff Blashill's two-year stint, he came back to coach the team again in 2010-11. His teams have gone 76-34-10 in the regular season. His 2007-08 team featured Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson. This year's team featured the USHL's top three scorers, USHL Player of the Year Blake Coleman and USHL Defenseman of the Year Nick Mattson.

Coleman and Mattson were also named USHL First-Team All-Stars this week. Daniil Tarasov, the league's leading goal scorer, was a Second-Team All-Star.

One of Skjodt's first jobs is to find his replacement as head coach. He also wants to help grow the sport in Central Indiana, as has also been a goal of his brother Paul, the team owner.

“My goal is to focus all my energy and experience to the Ice while also working on a long range plan for our USHL franchise,” Skjodt said in a team press release.  “My immediate attention will be to solidify the coaching staff and then expand into other areas of the franchise.  Ultimately I want to create greater hockey awareness by getting more kids involved and participating in the world’s greatest sport along with building a broader fan base to help support our loyal hockey fans and corporate partners.”

Charlie Skjodt played five years for the Checkers, from 1979-82 in the CHL, and again from 1984-86 in the IHL. He scored 148 goals and 228 assists in his tenure, playing 365 games in the orange, blue and white of the Checkers. He ranks among Indianapolis hockey all-time leaders in goals, assists, points and games played. He also was an assistant coach to Ron Ullyot on the 1986-87 Checker team. 

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