Icemen add winning coach, player announcements to come

EVANSVILLE , Ind. – The expansion Evansville IceMen introduced f ormer NHL forward Rich Kromm as both their coach and general manager on Thursday afternoon.
 
Kromm, 46, was a second-round draft pick of the New York Islanders in 1982. The left wing played five full seasons and parts of five others playing for the Islanders and the Calgary Flames during his 10-year pro career. He has since added nine seasons of head coaching experience to his resume.
 

Kromm comes from good coaching stock – his late father, Bobby Kromm, coached the coached the Dallas Black Hawks (CHL), the Winnipeg Jets (WHL) and the Detroit Red Wings (NHL).
 
During a total of four seasons coaching in Muskegon with the United Hockey League’s Fury (1998-01) and the International Hockey League’s Lumberjacks (2009-10), Kromm achieved a .650 win percentage with an overall regular season record of 181-92-25. He has won a Tarry Cup, a division title, and a Colonial Cup championship.
 
Last season, Kromm guided the Lumberjacks to a 51-20-5 record, earning the Huber Trophy as the IHL’s regular-season champion. Muskegon was eliminated by the now defunct Flint Generals in the first round of the post-season.
 
Following the playoffs, Lumberjack owners folded the franchise due to financial difficulties. Businessman Ron Geary secured the franchise from the International Hockey League and moved it to Evansville where he owned and operated the Icemen as a member of the AAA All American Hockey League.
 
The Icemen won the AAHL’s Rod Davidson Cup as league champions last season. Geary then disbanded the team in order to join other IHL teams who have joined forces with the Central Hockey League to form an 18-team organization.
 
“We are absolutely elated to have Rich lead our hockey operations,” Icemen President Ron Geary said. “In stepping up to the higher level and beginning a brand new era of professional hockey in Evansville, it was vital for us to find the right man for the job. In thoroughly researching and, essentially performing our due-diligence, all of our indicators pointed to Rich. He brings to us an exemplary winning record behind the bench and the extraordinary penchant to win championships. Today is a great day for pro hockey in Evansville with Rich Kromm now a major part of our team and community.”
 
Kromm indicated that he could be bringing along as many as 10 players from his former team.
 
“That was a major deal, getting the rights to those guys who I know both on and off the ice, who have competed at this level before,” Kromm said. “The level of play here in Evansville is going to be much higher, and you need the manpower to compete.”
 
As far as the talent level, Kromm has no doubt of the quality of players he’ll have on the ice.
 
“It’s a mix,” Kromm said. “You have guys who are 35 years old with families who love to play the game and can still make a decent living. And you have the young kids who have the big dreams going for them. A lot of the players we’ll bring in and we’ll face are right on the cusp of making the jump (to the NHL),” he added. “They’re just about ready, but they haven’t had the opportunity.”
 
Kromm is prepared to make help his players make the transition to CHL hockey, which has some differences although the quality of play is similar.
 
“This is a more physical game, with fewer fights and fewer goals. It’s a league with great skaters, so you need to be ready every night. Team hockey is what we’ll bring to the table.”
 
Training camp is set for late September and the IceMen’s season will begin on the road against the Dayton Gems on Saturday, October 16^th.
 
The IceMen will be playing home games at Evansville’s 1500-seat Swonder Ice Arena. The franchise hopes to reach a deal to play in a new downtown arena currently under construction and expected to be completed in time for the 2011-12 season.
 
Contact the author at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com