SILVER KNIGHTS HIRE VIVEIROS
HENDERSON (August 31, 2020) – Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon announced today, August 31, that the Henderson Silver Knights have hired Emanuel “Manny” Viveiros as the first head coach of the new American Hockey League team. Prior to joining the Silver Knights, Viveiros was the Head Coach of the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs for the 2019-20 season. He was also an assistant coach for the Edmonton Oilers during the 2018-19 season and served as General Manager, Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel for the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos from 2016-18.
“Whether it’s been on the ice, behind the bench or in the front office, Manny Viveiros has been a part of the game at every level,” said Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon. “In our search for the Silver Knights Head Coach, we were looking for someone who could not only lead a winning team to the Calder Cup Championship but could set a positive example for our prospects. We’re confident Manny is up for the task and are excited to see his impact on our organization.”
Viveiros, 54, has spent over 13 years coaching in North America and internationally. In his year with Spokane, the Chiefs ranked fourth overall in the WHL with a 41-18-4-1 record in 64 games played before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. During his time with Swift Current he led the Broncos to the 2018 Rogers WHL Championship and was named the WHL’s 2017-18 Coach of the Year.
The St. Albert, Alta. native began his coaching career in 2007 with the Klagenfurter AC of the Austrian Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (EBEL) and was their Head Coach until 2012. He moved on to a role as Sports Manager with the same organization from 2012-14. Viveiros spent stints as Head Coach of Team Austria at multiple international tournaments including the Men’s World Championship from 2012-14 and the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Before taking on a role as bench boss, Viveiros was selected in the sixth round, 106th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1984 NHL Draft. His distinguished junior career with the Prince Albert Raiders lasted from 1982-86, where the defenseman collected 321 points (60G, 261A) in 251 career regular season games, helping lead the team to the WHL Championship and Memorial Cup in 1985. His record still stands as the Raiders player with the most points and most assists by a defenseman in a single season with 93 assists and 109 points in 1983-84. He’s also tied for most career goals with 60 and collected the most career assists with 261 in franchise history.
He played for the Minnesota North Stars in 29 NHL games from 1985-87 and spent time in the AHL and the International Hockey League (IHL) from 1986-91. Viveiros finished out his playing career overseas playing for the EBEL and German DEL from 1991-2007 and competed for Austria in the 2005 IIHF World Championship.
