 BILOXI, Miss. � The Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL announced today at a news conference that general manager and head coach Bob Woods has resigned to become the assistant coach of the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, the primary affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.
Woods, 37, rejoins Bruce Boudreau, who was named head coach of Hershey on July 14. During the 1999 Kelly Cup Playoffs, Woods served as Mississippi�s player/assistant coach with Boudreau in the head coaching capacity, guiding the Sea Wolves to the Kelly Cup Championship. A former defenseman, Woods also returns to Hershey after helping the Bears capture the 1997 Calder Cup Championship, where he played under Bob Hartley, who is the head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers.
Woods served four seasons as Mississippi�s head coach after being named to the position on July 10, 2001. He spent the 2004-05 season in the dual role of general manager and head coach for the team.
Becoming the all-time coaching wins leader in Sea Wolves team history, Woods compiled a 169-94-25 record in the regular season for a .630 winning percentage and led Mississippi to the Kelly Cup Playoffs all four years. In the postseason, the Sea Wolves were 18-13 all-time under Woods guidance, reaching the conference finals in his first playoff run in 2002, losing to Kelly Cup Champion Greenville, and then returning to the conference finals in 2003 before falling to Columbia.
Selected in the 10th round (201st overall) by the New Jersey Devils in the 1988 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Woods played 13 professional seasons, including 10 in the ECHL. He was an ECHL All-Star selection four times and retired as the ECHL�s all-time leader with 599 games played. He was named to the Second Team Defense on the ECHL�s 15th Anniversary Team in 2003, and was named Second Team Defense on The Hockey News� 50th Anniversary All-ECHL Team in 1997.
A native of LeRoy, Saskatchewan Woods spent a total of three seasons as player/assistant coach with Mississippi from 1998-2001. He scored 176 points (60g-116a) in 209 games with the Sea Wolves, who retired his uniform number 8 on October 13, 2002.
Woods is the third former Mississippi head coach to advance to the AHL in a coaching capacity joining Boudreau (Lowell Lock Monsters, 1999-00) and Marc Potvin (Springfield Falcons, 2000-01).
�It�s a great feeling and situation for me and my family to return to a great organization and reunite with Bruce, who is an outstanding coach who I have a lot of respect for and enjoy working with,� said Woods. �Mississippi has been home for seven years and it�s a place that we�ll miss, but carry with us tremendous memories. I want to thank the Sea Wolves ownership, staff and fans for making my stay on the Mississippi Gulf Coast a rewarding experience. I am excited about the opportunity to work for first-class organizations in Hershey and with Washington.�
�We want to wish Bob Woods and his family all the best,� said Mike Rogers, Sea Wolves Part Owner and Operating Member. �The Woods� will always be part of the Sea Wolves family. We were preparing for Bob to get called up, but it happened a little sooner than expected. We understand that he needs to grab the opportunity. It�s a credit to our organization that we have another former coach in the AHL, which is one step from the National Hockey League.�
�I asked Bob to join me two years ago (in Manchester), but he said that he wasn�t ready and it wasn�t the right time. But I�m glad this time he accepted,� said Boudreau. �I am very comfortable working with Bob and we know what one another expects. Mississippi fans should embrace and celebrate this promotion. We both care deeply about the Sea Wolves and this is great for the organization. Mississippi is the place to be in the ECHL for promotions in the hockey world.�
�Bob Woods is a proven winner both as a player and a coach, and we�re glad he has agreed to join our coaching staff,� said Doug Yingst, Hershey President/GM. �His credentials and his ties to both the Hershey Bears and Bruce Boudreau make him a natural fit for us.�
The Sea Wolves open their 10th Anniversary Season on October 22 at Pensacola, before dropping the puck on their home opener on October 28 versus Texas at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Reserve your piece of the exciting, hard-hitting Sea Wolves hockey action by purchasing 2005-06 season tickets starting at $306 per seat for an adult, which is just $8.50 per game and $240 for a child, an average of $6.67 per game.
A 10 percent deposit will lock in your season ticket today by calling (228) 275-WOLF. Each season ticket also includes two free �Bring a Pal to the Pack� vouchers.
Group discounts are also available by telephone at (228) 275-WOLF. Individual game ticket prices will be released in October. |
