Ottawa hires Kleinendorst as Binghamton coach
NHL.com @NHLdotcomThe Ottawa Senators on Friday signed Kurt Kleinendorst to a two-year contract as coach of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators.
Kleinendorst, 49, spent last season as coach of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program's under-18 team, leading it to a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF U-18 World Hockey Championship in Belarus. He also served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2008 IIHF World Hockey Championship in Halifax and Quebec City.
A native of Grand Rapids, Minn., Kleinendorst spent the previous nine seasons with the New Jersey Devils organization, including three as coach of the AHL Devils, from 2006-07 to 2008-09. Prior to coaching Lowell, he served as a member of the team's scouting staff for five seasons, including four as a special assignment scout and one season as professional scout. He joined the New Jersey organization as an assistant coach as part of Larry Robinson's staff in 2000.
Kleinendorst spent three seasons from 1997-98 to 1999-2000 as general manager/coach of the Manchester Storm, leading the team to the British Super League championship while also being recognized as coach of the year following the 1998-99 season. Kleinendorst served two terms spanning five seasons as coach and director of hockey operations for the ECHL's Raleigh IceCaps from 1991-94 and 1995-97 and was named the league's top coach in 1992-93. He spent the 1994-95 campaign as assistant coach and assistant general manager of the International Hockey League's San Diego Gulls.
Selected by the New York Rangers with their fourth-round pick (No. 77) in the 1980 Entry Draft, Kleinendorst played professionally for six seasons. He played two seasons in Europe, one with Iserlohn (Germany) and Peliitat (Finland) in 1986-87 and one with the Rotterdam Pandas (Netherlands) in 1987-88. He played professional hockey in North America for parts of five seasons between 1983 and 1990 in the Central Hockey League, IHL and AHL.
Kleinendorst is the sixth coach in Binghamton's time as Ottawa's AHL affiliate. He replaces Don Nachbaur, who led Binghamton to a 36-35-6-3 record in 2009-10, his only season with the club.
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Kleinendorst, 49, spent last season as coach of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program's under-18 team, leading it to a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF U-18 World Hockey Championship in Belarus. He also served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2008 IIHF World Hockey Championship in Halifax and Quebec City.
A native of Grand Rapids, Minn., Kleinendorst spent the previous nine seasons with the New Jersey Devils organization, including three as coach of the AHL Devils, from 2006-07 to 2008-09. Prior to coaching Lowell, he served as a member of the team's scouting staff for five seasons, including four as a special assignment scout and one season as professional scout. He joined the New Jersey organization as an assistant coach as part of Larry Robinson's staff in 2000.
Kleinendorst spent three seasons from 1997-98 to 1999-2000 as general manager/coach of the Manchester Storm, leading the team to the British Super League championship while also being recognized as coach of the year following the 1998-99 season. Kleinendorst served two terms spanning five seasons as coach and director of hockey operations for the ECHL's Raleigh IceCaps from 1991-94 and 1995-97 and was named the league's top coach in 1992-93. He spent the 1994-95 campaign as assistant coach and assistant general manager of the International Hockey League's San Diego Gulls.
Selected by the New York Rangers with their fourth-round pick (No. 77) in the 1980 Entry Draft, Kleinendorst played professionally for six seasons. He played two seasons in Europe, one with Iserlohn (Germany) and Peliitat (Finland) in 1986-87 and one with the Rotterdam Pandas (Netherlands) in 1987-88. He played professional hockey in North America for parts of five seasons between 1983 and 1990 in the Central Hockey League, IHL and AHL.
Kleinendorst is the sixth coach in Binghamton's time as Ottawa's AHL affiliate. He replaces Don Nachbaur, who led Binghamton to a 36-35-6-3 record in 2009-10, his only season with the club.