Former NMU star Beattie gets WHL job

WHL Press Release

The Tri-City Americans announced recently that the club has named Scott Beattie as the team’s new associate coach for the upcoming 2010-11 season.

Beattie, a former teammate of current Americans’ head coach Jim Hiller, played three seasons with Northern Michigan University, winning an NCAA title in 1990-91, before playing overseas for 13 seasons.

After graduating from NMU in 1992, Beattie spent two seasons with the Bolzano Foxes of the Italian Series A League. He then spent one year with the Milan Saima before rejoining the Foxes in 1995-96, winning the Italian Series A League playoffs championship. From there, Beattie played one season in Germany (Rosenheim Starbulls, DEL), before spending four seasons with three different teams in Switzerland’s Elite League (Zurich, Davos/Thurgau and Geneva).

In 2001, Beattie moved back to Italy and joined the Milano Vipers where he was a part of three straight Italian Series A League championships. He wrapped up his playing career back where he started, spending the 2004-05 season with Bolzano, before retiring and entering the coaching ranks.

In all, Beattie played in over 300 international games, scoring 206 goals and 482 points.

To coincide with his stellar playing career, Beattie was twice named a Hobey Baker Award finalist, bestowed upon the NCAA’s best collegiate player, while at Northern Michigan. After collecting 106 goals and 22 points in 122 games, he was inducted in the NMU Hall of Fame in 2003.

While playing in Europe, Beattie also played for Team Italy in two Group A World Championships, once in 1996 and again in 2001.

“I’ve known Scott for many years now, dating back to my days with the Kootenay Ice, and I’m excited that he will be joining our staff,” explained Tri-City GM Bob Tory. “Not only is he extremely qualified for this position, but he brings a passion and enthusiasm for the game that is unparalleled.”

“I’ve known Scott for a long time (and) he will be a great fit for our team,” Hiller said. “His understanding of the game will not only benefit our players, but me as well.”

Beattie’s first coaching opportunity came with his hometown Kimberley Dynamiters of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, serving three seasons as head coach and general manager while leading the Dynamiters to a record of 75-62-5-12. Beattie has spent the past two seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Kootenay Ice as an assistant coach.

“I’m happy and honored that the ownership group is willing to give me this opportunity,” expressed Beattie. “I’ve been friends with Jim (Hiller) a long time. We’ve had tremendous success as players and, hopefully, we will again as coaches. I had a chance to watch the team in Calgary during the WHL finals and I’m thrilled to be joining a team with a veteran line-up that has enjoyed success.”

Beattie will officially begin his position on August 15.

Michigan alumni game goes August 6

Michigan Press Release

The University of Michigan's annual Summer Hockey Showcase has been scheduled for Friday, Aug. 6, at Yost Ice Arena.

A single game featuring alumni spread over five decades will be played. Doors open at 6 p.m. and faceoff will occur at 6:30 p.m. Admission will be free to all fans.

The 2010 Summer Hockey Showcase is sponsored by The University of Michigan Credit Union, The Brown Jug, The Original Cottage Inn, Dekers Blue Line Club, Towne Automotive Group, Joe Lunghamer Chevrolet, The Rounick Family, The Grant Family, Ann Holmes & Sue Wickett and Don Krussman.

As of Friday, July 23, the roster includes:

Red Berenson (1962)

Bubba Berenzweig (1999)

Anthony Ciraulo (2010)

Andrew Cogliano (2009)

Tim Cook (2007)

Andrew Ebbett (2006)

Danny Fardig (2009)

David Harlock (1993)

Bobby Hayes (1999)

Al Hinnegan (1962)

David Huntzicker (2001)

Matt Hunwick (2007)

Jack Johnson (2009)

Steve Kampfer (2010)

Jim Keough (1969)

Mike Knuble (1995)

Bruce Koviak (1968)

Don Krussman (1983)

Brian Lebler (2010)

Dan Lerg (1980)

Kip Maurer (1978)

Mark Mitera (2009)

David Moss (2005)

Brandon Naurato (2009)

Rob Palmer (1977)

Tom Pendlebury (1963)

Kevin Porter (2008)

Sean Ritchlin (1999)

Alex Roberts (1990)

Mike Roemensky (2003)

Dale Rominski (1999)

Billy Sauer (2009)

Ted Speers (1983)

Dan Stiver (1993)

Mike Stone (1994)

Chris Summers (2010)

Travis Turnbull (2009)

Camil Banciu and Eric Hall will also be part of this event.

Ex-NMU goalie gets junior coaching gig

Bozeman Icedogs Press Release

The Bozeman Icedogs of the Northern Pacific Hockey League have announced the hiring of Bill Zaniboni to replace Kevin Stone as head coach, effective immediately.

In taking the helm of the Icedogs, Zaniboni wraps up three years of playing in the Southern Professional, International and Central Hockey Leagues. Prior to competing professionally, he was a goaltender for Northern Michigan University while earning a degree in Business Marketing.

"I am really excited about the opportunity to move to Bozeman and put together a group of young men that continue the organization's winning tradition both on and off the ice," said Zaniboni.

Zaniboni has spent time in Bozeman working junior hockey camps for former head coach John LaFontaine. He played junior hockey in the United States and North American Hockey Leagues.

"The Icedogs will have a bright future with Bill as their coach," said team co-owner Jason Martel. "This is the first time in almost a decade we have hired a coach from outside our organization, so it will be exciting for our players to have a fresh approach. He has a lot of recent experience with junior and professional hockey that will give him credibility with our team."

Allen Park native to assist with RMU

RMU Press Release

Robert Morris University announced Monday the hiring of Chad Davis as a volunteer assistant coach.

Davis, an Allen Park native and former Compuware goaltender, brings three years of head coaching experience to the RMU staff. He also appeared in 52 games in goal for American International College of the Atlantic Hockey Association from 2001-04. Davis will work mainly with the goaltenders.

“We are thrilled to have added another quality person to our staff,” RMU head coach and Western Michigan alumnus Derek Schooley said. “Chad is an extremely knowledgeable hockey coach that was a quality Division I goaltender. His experience as a player and coach will be a great addition to our staff.”

Davis joins the Robert Morris staff after spending the past two seasons as head coach of Eastern Michigan University of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Prior to being head coach at Eastern Michigan, Davis spent 2006-07 as head coach of Walled Lake Western High School’s varsity squad. Before leading the Walled Lake Western staff, Davis spent a season as a defensive assistant coach at Gabriel Richard High School.

Before joining the coaching ranks, Davis played professionally for the Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League. At AIC, he appeared in 52 games, including leading the Yellow Jackets to their first point against a WCHA opponent. Davis graduated in 2004 with a degree in Business Administration.

Davis has also served as an evaluator for USA Hockey at the World University Games.

MSU to honor former captain Smolinski

Former Michigan State captain and All-America pick Bryan Smolinski has been selected as the recipient of the 2008-09 Distinguished Alumnus Award. The award will be given at the annual Michigan State Hockey Banquet on Wednesday, March 4 at the Kellogg Center.

“Michigan State hockey shaped me to be the player and person I am now,” Smolinski said. “Hockey grooms you for life and at MSU and beyond I applied everything I learned.”

Smolinski, a native of Toledo, Ohio, played for Michigan State from 1989-93. In his four-year career, he racked up 80 goals and 101 assists for a total of 181 points. He was a part of the 1989-90 Spartan squad that captured both the CCHA regular season championship and CCHA tournament championship, as well as the 1991-92 squad that advanced to the Frozen Four on the strength of Smolinski’s game-winning goal against top-seeded Maine in the NCAA East Regional.

Smolinski’s most prolific season came as a senior when he notched 31 goals and 37 assists for 68 points. His 51 points in league play was tops in CCHA and he was named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-American, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

“Senior Night was really the highlight of my career,” Smolinski said. “My freshman class had nine players, but by the time I was a senior, it was only Wes McCauley, Rob Woodward and me. Because I was one of those remaining three, I left Michigan State with a lot of pride and confidence.”

At the conclusion of his senior season, Smolinski jumped straight to the Boston Bruins, the team that drafted him in the first round of the 1990 NHL Draft. Smolinski logged 17 seasons in the NHL, spending seasons with the Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens. In 1,056 career regular season games, he amassed 274 goals and 377 assists for 651 career points. Smolinski also played in 123 playoff games, collecting 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points.

His best professional season came in 1995-96 when he tallied 24 goals and 40 assists for 64 points with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In international competition, Smolinski was a member of the 1996 United States World Cup Championsip team, the only US squad to capture the title since the creation of the Canada Cup in 1976.

Smolinski currently resides in Birmingham with his wife, Julie, and their daughters, Ashtyn (8) and Joren (2) and son, Max (5).

Tickets for the MSU hockey banquet are still available. The price is $35 or $350 for a table. For more information, call 517-355-1639 or email hockey@msu.edu