Tim Hunter named coach of Moose Jaw Warriors

Longtime NHL player and assistant Tim Hunter is the new coach of the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League, the team announced Thursday.

He replaces Mike Stothers, who coached the Warriors for three seasons before being named coach of the Los Angeles Kings' American Hockey Affiliate in Manchester on July 1.

"On behalf of our Board of Directors, management, staff and players, I am very pleased to welcome Tim and his family to the Moose Jaw community and the Warriors," Warriors general manager Alan Millar said. "Tim brings tremendous experience to our team both as a very successful player and coach. His character, work ethic and passion for development and teaching made him the ideal candidate for this position."

A third-round pick (No. 54) of the Atlanta Flames in the 1979 NHL Draft, Hunter played 815 games in the NHL with four teams.

Hunter has coached in 1,089 games in 14 seasons as an assistant, 13 of them on Ron Wilson's staff with the Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs. Hunter most recently served as an assistant on Adam Oates' staff with the Capitals in 2012-13.