The Las Vegas National Hockey League franchise, named Kelly McCrimmon, Assistant
General Manager on Tuesday.
McCrimmon, 55, spent 28 seasons as the owner, general
manager and coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. This
past season he led the Wheat Kings to the WHL Championship.
McCrimmon said on the team’s website, “Being part of the foundation of this new franchise is an incredible
opportunity, and I am honored to have been selected as the assistant general
manager to help build it into a successful team. I look forward to working with
[general manager] George [McPhee] and [majority owner] Bill [Foley] as we
create a winning NHL franchise.”
McCrimmon won the WHL Championship twice, the Eastern
Division 10 times and the conference championship six times. In his time with
the Wheat Kings, he has led them to five Memorial Cup appearances, once as a
player, twice as a general manager and twice as GM and coach.
He was named as the WHL Executive of the Year, three times
in his career, (1995, 2010 and 2015). In 2010, he also received Canadian Hockey
League Executive of the Year. Over 10 seasons behind the bench with Brandon, he
has compiled a record of 423-233-36-38. He has the most wins in Wheat Kings history.
During the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation World
Championship, he was an assistant coach with the Canadian National Team.
McPhee told the Wheat Kings website, “Kelly is an outstanding hockey man and we are delighted to have him
join us. His extensive experience and his consistently high level of
performance in the game will help us build a strong and successful organization
and team. His hockey acumen, character and work ethic are perfect for us.”
Foley added, “Bringing
Kelly on board is another positive step in building our hockey organization. I
remain very excited about our franchise and in the progress we are making to
build a winning team.”
McCrimmon played two seasons with the Wheat Kings from 1978
to 1980, before attending the University of Michigan from 1980 to 1984.
McCrimmon told the Wheat Kings website, “This is a dream job for any hockey executive and one I feel very
fortunate to have been offered. The chance to build a team, an organization
from the ground up, the chance to develop and identity and establish a culture will
be challenging, invigorating and rewarding.”
While the new franchise does not begin play until the
2017-2018 NHL season, they hope to have their nickname and logo, as well as
colors and uniform design, selected by the middle of September.
Over the weekend, the organization installed the ice surface
for the T-Mobile Arena, the new facility which will be their home barn, when
they take the ice for their first action in the NHL. The venue will play host
to two preseason games later this fall, as the Los Angeles Kings will take on
the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.
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