NORTH CHARLESTON , SC- Winning the Kelly Cup brings opportunities and change as success creates interest in those who help shape it. Accordingly, Jared Bednar, 37, with South Carolina almost 15 years as a player, assistant coach and lastly as head coach and general manager will accept a job as assistant coach for the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League according to multiple local sources.
Photo courtesy SC Stingrays
The same sources also indicate that Cail MacLean, who just finished his first year as an assistant coach to Bednar, will be named the new head coach at a press briefing this afternoon. The MacLean appointment follows a long Stingrays’ tradition of promoting from within. MacLean retired as an active player with the ‘Rays after the 2008-09 season.
Bednar had served his coaching apprenticeship under former ‘Rays’ coach Jason Fitzsimmons who retired from coaching two years ago. He demonstrated that he learned quickly piloting the Stingrays to last year’s ECHL American Conference where they lost to the eventual Kelly Cup winner the Cincinnati Cyclones and to a seven game Kelly Cup series win this year over the favored Alaska Aces.
Bednar, a member of the Stingrays organization since 1995 was looking for the “right opportunity to move up” in search for the experience and resume that could someday give him the chance to coach in the National Hockey League. He compiled a record of 89-45-9 in his two years at the South Carolina helm after a career as a rugged defenseman in three pro leagues the AHL, IHL and ECHL. He is the only person to have his name engraved on the Kelly Cup three times, twice as a Stingrays’ player and most recently as their coach.
Thus, coming of two very successful seasons it was inevitable that Bednar would get offers. The question was would they fit? Abbotsford in British Columbia is an affiliate of the Calgary Flames. The Heat will start play this year after a move from the Quad Cities area in Illinois. They offered Bednar the opportunity to move to the AHL, get closer to his home Province of Saskatchewan and join the Calgary Flames organization. It apparently was the fit Bednar was looking for. He had said repeatedly that while he was interested in moving up it had to be the right opportunity.
The 32 year old MacLean, who was born in Middleton Nova Scotia, played professional hockey for 11 season spending time primarily in the ECHL. However, he had long term stints at the AHL level and racked up 524 points including 266 goals in 747 professional career games.
Photo courtesy SC Stingrays
Notes: The Washington Capitals did not extend qualifying offers to Travis Morin and Sasha Pokoluk this week allowing both to become free agents. Both were assigned to the Stingrays for most of the past two seasons. Pokoluk a former first round draft choice was plagued by two severe concussions over the past two years and was inconsistent in demonstrating his full potential. He was awesome at times and with his size and skating skill seemed ready to breakout but couldn’t do so consistently. Morin one of the most gifted setup men and a team leader is more of a mystery, as he was clearly among the best centers in the ECHL in terms of results. An ECHL all star and assists leader for two seasons, he is a two way hockey player but never got much of an opportunity to play at the next level. He was called up for only a handful of games by Hershey over two seasons. He apparently had the opportunity for a call up late in the season with another AHL team but chose to stay with the Stingrays in their title run. Lastly, Scott Romfro a mainstay on defense is moving to the English Elite League where he will combine hockey and work on a master degree in engineering.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.