Springfield loses Radioactive Man

[Terry]

Geoff Ward bound for Boston

Staff Writer Edmonton Oilers
Aug 1, 2007, 11:10 AM EDT

Geoff Ward has resigned as head coach of the Springfield Falcons, the Edmonton Oilers’ American Hockey League affiliate, to accept a position on the coaching staff of the Boston Bruins.

Oilers General Manager, Kevin Lowe says “We would like to congratulate Geoff on his appointment as an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins. Geoff was a valuable member of our organization and contributed greatly in the development of our young players. It is a credit and a compliment to the Oilers that other NHL teams look to members of our organization to fill positions in their coaching and management ranks. With Geoff leaving the Oilers for his first NHL coaching post, opportunity knocks for someone new in our organization.”

The move will see Ward reunited with Boston head coach Claude Julien. Ward, who returned to the Edmonton organization in May, following a season as the head coach of the Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, began his tenure with the Oilers in January of 2001 when he served as Julien’s assistant with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.

Ward and Julien served as coaching colleagues through two and a-half seasons with Hamilton, before Julien was appointed head coach of the Montreal Canadiens on January 17, 2003. Ward became Hamilton’s head coach following the departure of Julien to the NHL, and he guided the Bulldogs to the 2003 Calder Cup final, losing the AHL championship in seven games to the Houston Aeros.

Ward and Julien were rewarded for their efforts that season as they shared the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s Coach-of-the-Year.

Ward made the move to Toronto in 2003-04 when the Oilers shifted their AHL affiliate from Hamilton, serving as the head coach of the Toronto Roadrunners and he was behind the bench in 2004-05 when Edmonton brought their number one affiliate to Rexall Place during the NHL lockout. He then served as the Oilers’ development coach in 2005-06 before heading to Europe for the 2006-07 season.

oilers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=335505

[thedarkangel1975]

If it were Brian burke or Darcy reiger they would be calling a press conferene crying that the Bruins did not notify them and were gutless doing so.

[Terry]

thedarkangel1975 said:

If it were Brian burke or Darcy reiger they would be calling a press conferene crying that the Bruins did not notify them and were gutless doing so.

This puts a bit of a crimp in Lowe's plan for Springfield, but for Ward to get a job in the NHL, and working with Claude Julien again, was too much to pass up. Now we'll have to see who gets the job.

[jayman]

They announced Buchy yesterday.

Or I thought they did, maybe not officially yet. Stauffer also mentioned it on his show today when a caller asked.

[Terry]

I thought Bucky would be named. He was thought be named the coach for a long time when Ward left after the Roadrunners was shut down.

[nick39]

who is all playing for the falcons?? and is dubnyk seriously 6'6" ? that is rediculous.

[BCNB]

TSN.ca Staff

8/3/2007 12:36:48 PM

The Edmonton Oilers have named Kelly Buchberger as head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.

Buchberger replaces Geoff Ward, who resigned his post as head coach of the Falcons to accept the role of an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins on August 1st.

''This is a great opportunity for Kelly,'' stated Oilers General Manager, Kevin Lowe. ''Kelly has worked with many of the young players in our organization and has been invaluable in their development as professionals.''

This will be the first head coaching position for Buchberger, a veteran of 18 National Hockey League seasons, including 13 seasons with the Oilers. He previously served as an assistant coach to Ward with the AHL's Edmonton Road Runners in 2004-05. The 40-year-old native of Langenburg, Saskatchewan is very familiar with many of the players he will be coaching in Springfield in the upcoming season, having worked with Edmonton's young prospects in the professional ranks as well as junior and college players, in his role as the Oilers' Development Coach during the 2006-07 season.

Buchberger will work closely with Jeff Truitt, who was named the Falcons' assistant coach on June 13th. Lowe feels that both Buchberger and Truitt will benefit from working with each other. ''Kelly brings a wealth of experience to the table from his playing days in the NHL, while Jeff has a solid technical background from his coaching experience in junior.''





During his 18 NHL seasons, Buchberger played 1,182 regular season games in a career that began during the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs with the Oilers and concluded in 2003-04 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored 309 points with 105 goals and 204 assists, while registering 2,297 penalty minutes with Edmonton, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Pittsburgh. He added 10-15-25 with 129 penalty minutes in 97 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

With Buchberger's move to Springfield, Bob Mancini returns to the Oilers as Development Coach. Mancini, who will be based out of his home in Saginaw, Michigan, will work the with Edmonton's prospects in both the American Hockey League and ECHL and with Oilers draft picks in the junior and college ranks.

Mancini, who previously was a member of Edmonton's scouting staff for four seasons between 2000-01 and 2003-04, most recently served as the General Manager and head coach of the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. Mancini guided the Spirit for three seasons from 2004-05 to 2006-07, leading Saginaw to playoff berths the past two seasons.

He also has coaching experience in the collegiate ranks, serving as head coach of the NCAA's Ferris State Bulldogs (1990-91 to 1991-92) and Michigan Tech Huskies (1993-94 to 1995-96).


tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=215372&hubname=nhl