Calgary Flames Hire Glen Gulutzan as New Head Coach

Calgary Flames Name Former Canucks Assistant Glen Gulutzan as Their New Head Coach

Calgary Flames have hired a new coach, and with that, the “coaching carousel” is officially over. The Flames have appointed former Vancouver Canucks Assistant Glen Gulutzan as their new bench boss.

Gulutzan is a former minor-pro player who has steadily climbed the coaching ranks over the last couple of decades.

Glen spent his junior hockey days playing for WHL Brandon Wheat Kings (three years) and Saskatoon Blades (final junior year). Once he graduated from the WHL, he joined the University of Saskatchewan for the next two seasons.

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After that, he took his talents overseas to Europe in the mid 1990s for two years before coming back to North America to join IHL Utah in 1996-97.

He split that year between IHL Utah/Las Vegas and WCHL Fresno. A year later in 1997-98, Gulutzan traveled across the pond once again to Europe.

After another stint in the WCHL in 1998-99, Glen made his last European appearance before re-joining Fresno in 1999-00.

Glen Gulutzan spent his final four seasons of minor pro with WCHL Fresno Falcons, eventually retiring after 2002-03. Glen served as a player/assistant coach for Fresno is 2001-02 and 2002-03.

Upon hanging up the skates, Glen accepted a position as head coach of ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers. He would stay in that position through the 2008-09 season.

In 2009-10, Gulutzan was hired as AHL Texas Stars head coach; two years later, Glen received first NHL gig serving as bench boss for the Dallas Stars.

via Sportsnet,

Oct 21, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Glen Gulutzan during the game against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Canucks 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

In June of 2011, Gulutzan inherited the Dallas Stars’ head coaching job following the team’s dismissal of head coach Marc Crawford at the conclusion of the 2010–11 season. He was fired by the Stars on May 14, 2013, after posting a 64-57-9 record and failing to make the playoffs in two NHL seasons.

After two short seasons in Texas, Glen accepted a position as Assistant with the Vancouver Canucks in 2013-14, where he had served ever since.

via Sportsnet,

On July 3, 2013, he landed an assistant job in Vancouver, where he has served under John Tortorella and Willie Desjardins.

Joining Glen Gulutzan’s coaching staff are Calgary Flames returnees Martin Gelinas, Jordan Sigalet, and Jamie Pringle.

It will be interesting to see who Gulutzan brings on as part of his coaching staff.

Speculation had surrounded several names for the final coaching vacancy. For a long time, Travis Green was considered a top candidate for numerous jobs around the league.

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It’s difficult to argue the decision on Glen Gulutzan though. Not only has he had success at the minor league level, but he does have two years of NHL head coaching experience. It was a bumpy pair of years with the Dallas Stars, but the team assembled for him wasn’t very good.

source: www.eliteprospects.com

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