RELEASE: Cookson Hired as Assistant Coach, Crawford Named Associate Coach

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have hired Rob Cookson as an assistant coach. In addition, the team named Marc Crawford associate coach on Interim Head Coach Derek King's staff.
Cookson, 60, was most recently an assistant coach with HC Lugano of the National League in Switzerland from December 2019 to April 2021. There, he coached current Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev. Prior to joining the HC Lugano staff, Cookson spent 11 seasons as a National Hockey League assistant coach, three with the Ottawa Senators (2016-19) and eight with the Calgary Flames (2001-11). He also spent three seasons as a video coach with the Philadelphia Flyers (1998-00).

"Rob's extensive NHL experience will complement our staff immediately," said Kyle Davidson, Blackhawks Interim General Manager. "It's his fresh perspective, however, that will really benefit the team as we work on this transition. We look forward to Rob meeting us on this road trip and I know he is eager to get going with this group."
During Cookson's time as an assistant coach with the Flames, the team made the playoffs in five-straight seasons between 2004-2009, including making it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2004 before falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning that year. The Senators made it to the Eastern Conference Finals during his first season as an assistant coach with the team during the 2016-17 campaign, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games that series. Cookson has coached in 902 career regular-season games and 71 postseason contests as an NHL assistant coach.
The Lacombe, Alberta native got his start as the manager of video production with Hockey Canada, serving as a video technician and helping Team Canada win silver at the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer. As an assistant coach with the country, Cookson has won two World Championship gold medals (1997 and 2003), as well as four World Junior Championship gold medals (1995, 1996, 1997 and 2005).
Cookson also served as an assistant coach for the University of Calgary (2011-12) and for the ZSC Lions of the National League A, where he served under current Blackhawks' associate coach Marc Crawford, from 2012-16. With the Lions, Cookson helped the team win the 2014 NLA Championship and the 2016 Swiss Cup.