Skalde resigns in Bloomington

BLOOMINGTON , Ill. – The Bloomington PrairieThunder has announced that Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations, Jarrod Skalde, has resigned his position to pursue other coaching opportunities. 

The 39-year-old native of Niagara Falls, Ontario was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round (#26 overall) of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He played in the American Hockey League for the majority of his 17-year pro career but was called up to the NHL for a total of 115 games with eight different teams.
Skalde retired as a member of the PrairieThunder after the 2007-08 season and was hired as the team’s head coach shortly thereafter. During two seasons, he compiled an overall record of 60-74-18 with back to back fifth place finishes in the International Hockey League.
The team’s 2009-10 record of 31-34-11 was the franchise’s best record in its four-year history in Bloomington. But after getting off to a tremendous start, winning eight of its first 12 contests, the team languished toward the end of the season. They lost their last six games, including the season finale against the Port Huron IceHawks, narrowly missing the opportunity to make their first trip to the playoffs.
“I wish to thank Tim Leighton and the entire PrairieThunder ownership group, staff, fans, and team sponsors for my time in Bloomington,” Skalde said. “I will always be grateful for the opportunity that was given to me here to start my pro coaching career. While I’ve chosen to pursue other coaching opportunities, I will help with the transition to a new coach and assist that person in building what we all hope will be a winner here in Bloomington. I will watch with great interest and wish the PrairieThunder organization nothing but the best as the team begins play in the Central Hockey League.”  
Team President Tim Leighton expressed his gratitude for Skalde’s service to the PrairieThunder organization.
“After 17 years as a professional hockey player and two years as a coach, Jarrod Skalde has told us he thinks the time is right for him to pursue growth opportunities, and we wish him success,” Leighton said. “When we signed him to his third season, we were excited that Jarrod was going to continue building on the groundwork he had laid in his first two years. His contacts throughout professional hockey helped the team with recruiting and call-ups. We expect hockey fans will hear and see more from him in the future.”
Leighton went on to assure fans that his expectations for the upcoming campaign are very positive.
“The PrairieThunder has a bright future as well,” Leighton said. “Our new coach will be responsible for improving the team’s competitiveness on the ice to give our fans even better hockey. The PrairieThunder is now in a new league, we have a new General Manager and soon we will have a new Coach. These are all part of building toward the best season ever.”
PrairieThunder General Manager Jim Riggs has begun a nation-wide search for a new head coach and anticipates interviewing a number of candidates for the position.
The team has re-signed three players to the 2010-11 roster thus far, including John Snowden, Jon Booras and Craig MacDonald.
The PrairieThunder will open the new season on the road against the Missouri Mavericks on Saturday, October 16^th. Their home opener against the Odessa Jackalopes will take place on Friday, October 22^nd.
Contact comment@prohockeynews.com