What was expected is present official, arsenic Joel Ward has been named the caller manager of the Henderson Silver Knights, it was announced Thursday.
Ward, who has been an adjunct connected the Vegas Golden Knights unit the past 3 seasons, takes implicit for Ryan Craig aft helium was promoted to the NHL job connected June 17 to regenerate John Tortorella.
“To gain my archetypal caput coaching occupation successful Henderson, wherever my coaching vocation began, is simply a privilege,” Ward said successful a statement. “The Vegas Valley has been location for my household and I for six years, during which clip I person learned from immoderate unthinkable radical successful the game. I americium anxious to commencement this adjacent chapter, pb a apical contender successful Henderson, and proceed processing the aboriginal of the Golden Knights.”
An 11-year NHL seasoned of 726 games, the 45-year-old Ward was an adjunct manager since Henderson’s inception successful the American Hockey League successful 2020.
Ward was promoted to the NHL unit connected July 12, 2023, 2 weeks aft Craig was named the caput manager of the Silver Knights.
Ward becomes the 3rd manager successful the AHL club’s history, pursuing Craig and Manny Viveiros. He volition beryllium introduced adjacent week.
“We are excited to person Joel pb our squad successful Henderson. This is simply a large adjacent measurement for him connected his coaching journey,” Knights wide manager Kelly McCrimmon said successful a statement. “His exceptional quality to link with players and unit members volition person a meaningful interaction connected the improvement of our prospects, portion his acquisition and enactment volition assistance america proceed to physique a winning situation successful Henderson.”
Ward inherits a squad that reached the Calder Cup Playoffs past play that included a first-round expanse of the San Jose Barracuda.
This does make an opening connected the NHL staff. While nary decisions person been made, indications are assistants John Stevens and Dom Ducharme volition return.
“Joel has proven to beryllium a beardown hockey mind, with a coagulated instauration archetypal arsenic a subordinate and past arsenic a coach,” Silver Knights wide manager Tim Speltz said. “He has been a life-long overachiever successful the crippled and has shown during his clip with our enactment that helium is some a assured person and a beardown communicator and teacher.”
^
Contact Danny Webster astatine dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 connected X.
English (US)·