Saturday, June 25, 2011

Cassidy to coach Bruins' AHL affiliate

Former Indianapolis Ice player and coach Bruce Cassidy has been elevated to the head coach of the AHL Providence Bruins, the top affiliate of the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins.

Cassidy has agreed to a three-year contract with the team.

Cassidy coached the Ice to a 33-37-12 record in 1998-99, despite dealing with a number of major roster changes. He led the team to its first playoff series victory since the team won the IHL's Turner Cup in 1990, a team on which Cassidy was a key defenseman. He also played parts of three seasons for the Ice from 1994-97 before retiring mid-season to become the head coach of the ECHL Jacksonville Lizard Kings in 1996-97. After his stint with the Ice, he coached the ECHL Trenton Titans for one year, the IHL/AHL Grand Rapids Griffins for two -- posting a record of 95-49-18 in those two seasons -- and earning the head coaching job with the NHL Washington Capitals in 2002. He was 47-45-9 in one and a half years in Washington. After that, he assisted the AHL Norfolk Admirals in 2004-05, assisted the Chicago Blackhawks in 2005-06, coached the OHL Kingston Frontenacs the next two years and has spent the last three seasons as Rob Murray's assistant in Providence.

Cassidy was the AHL's Coach of the Year in 2001-02 with Grand Rapids. He worked out the Bruins' "Black Aces" -- the minor-league callups who serve as a taxi squad for the NHL club -- during this past postseason.

Boston Globe
WEEI
Providence Journal

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