HOUSTON, Texas — For the second year in a row, the Houston Aeros will install an experienced NHL coach behind the bench. Long-time NHL assistant John Torchetti will take over Houston’s head coaching duties vacated by Mike Yeo, who was promoted to head coach of the Minnesota Wild after one year in Houston. Torchetti, 46, has spent most of the last 12 years as an assistant coach in the NHL for Florida, Atlanta, and Chicago, where he helped coach the 2010 Stanley Cup run. He was twice named interim head coach during that time, in Florida and Los Angeles. Now he returns to his minor league roots, where Texas is familiar ground. Torchetti coached the San Antonio Iguanas to the Central Hockey League finals two years in a row in the mid-90s. He returned to Texas in 2002 to coach the AHL San Antonio Rampage in their inaugural season. The Rampage went 30-23-10-2 under Torchetti before he was promoted to assistant coach of parent club Florida. Current Wild assistant GM Brent Flahr managed the Rampage during Torchetti’s tenure, and the two have a successful track record together. The Wild have made clear their intentions to pursue a “draft and develop” strategy for rebuilding the Wild after several disappointing seasons. Having a similar coaching and playing style in Minnesota and Houston appears to be key to this strategy. As such, Torchetti’s approach should dovetail nicely with Yeo’s. In the past, both have said they aim to put teams on the ice that are hard-working, disciplined, and create offense off the rush.
Contact the writer at: heather.galindo@prohockeynews.com
