AHL Coach of the Year Arrives on the Island

The search for a head coach is over.

After a long interviewing process involving multiple candidates like John Tortarella, Bob Hartley, Gerard Gallant, and Marc Crawford, AHL Coach of the Year Scott Gordon has been named the newest head coach of the Isles, the 14th in franchise history. He coached the Providence Bruins, leading them to a record of 221-141-20-27 over five seasons as head coach, spending eight years in all with the team. He also coached the IHL's Atlanta Knights and Quebec Rafales, and the ECHL's Roanoke Express. A native of Massachusetts, he was a goaltender for Boston College and then the Quebec Nordiques.

The hiring comes after a controversial break with former coach Ted Nolan, who reportedly was at odds with GM Garth Snow's ideas about the direction of the team. In Gordon, Snow hopes and seems to find a young coach with a feel for the younger players on the team, as well as a former goalie who can help out franchise netminder Rick DiPietro. As the only coaching candidate not to have NHL experience, Gordon will have to assert himself quickly behind the bench on the largest stage in North American hockey.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/ny-spisles0813,0,3307014.story

http://islanders.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=379621

Welcome to the Island, Coach Gordon!

Let's Go, Islanders!