CEDAR PARK, Texas – Not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. The Texas Stars put all their chips on the table in their inaugural year in the AHL. Texas Stars General Manager Scott White announced today that Glen Gulutzan has been named as the hockey club’s first head coach. White also announced that Paul Jerrard has been named as an assistant coach for the Texas Stars. Gulutzan, 37, comes to the Stars from the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL, where he spent the last six seasons as general manager and head coach. He had tremendous success at Las Vegas, compiling a record of 254-124-55 for a .650 winning percentage, including 100+ points in three consecutive seasons (2005-2008) – a first for any team in the 20-year history of the ECHL. Gulutzan took the Wranglers to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2008 and the Conference Finals in 2009. The Wranglers qualified for the playoffs in five of Gulutzan’s six seasons at the helm, including their expansion season of 2003-04 when the team went 43-22-7 for 93 points. He was named ECHL Coach of the Year in 2005-06 and has been selected to coach in the ECHL All-Star Game three times, tying the league record for most appearances by a coach. “Glen Gulutzan is a very talented coach who gets the most out of his teams,” White said. “He is very good at working with young players and developing talent. We are very pleased to have him as the first head coach of the Texas Stars Hockey Club.”
After playing in Europe for his first two pro seasons, Gulutzan played in Fresno of the West Coast Hockey League in 1996-97, setting a team record with 80 assists and 110 points in 60 games. He spent a total of six seasons with Fresno, including the last four as player-assistant coach from 1999-2003. A native of The Paz, Manitoba, Gulutzan also played in the International Hockey League with Utah and Las Vegas, and played overseas with Finland and Sweden. Wrangler’s owner Charles Davenport wished Gulutzan only the best. “Our organization is very proud of Glen and all of his accomplishments here in Las Vegas,” Wranglers owner Charles Davenport told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Although we are sad to see him leave, we are delighted that he has earned this opportunity as the new head coach of the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League. In his time in Las Vegas, Glen has created a winning atmosphere and a tradition of excellence. Glen is not only a great coach, but an even better person and we wish him the best of luck and continued success in his new role.” Jerrard, 43, has a solid history with the Dallas Stars, serving as an assistant coach for Dallas’ primary development affiliate, the Iowa Stars, from 2005-2008. He stayed with Iowa as an assistant coach last season. Now an AHL team, the Iowa Chops are affiliated with Anaheim. “We are very happy to add Paul Jerrard as a member of our coaching staff with the Texas Stars,” White said. “He is an excellent hockey coach and we are happy he is back in our development system with the Dallas Stars.” The Winnipeg native boasts a decade of coaching experience, including two years as an assistant with Hershey. Jerrard served as the Colorado Avalanche’s assistant coach, responsible for video during the 2002-03 season, and coached for four years at his alma mater, Lake Superior State University, and one season as assistant coach with Lowell. Jerrard spent 10 years as a defenseman in professional hockey, having been drafted by the New York Rangers in the ninth round (173rd overall) of the 1983 Entry Draft. He was traded to the Minnesota North Stars in October, 1988, and skated in five games for Minnesota. Jerrard played parts of six seasons with Kalamazoo (IHL) and was a member of the 1997 Calder Cup-winning Hershey Bears. Contact the writer at MItch.Cooper@prohockeynews.com
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