WARRIORS LOOKING FOR COACH

Moose Jaw Warriors Head Coach Mike Stothers has been hired by the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings to be their new head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs.

Stothers joined the Warriors in the summer of 2011, and was on the bench for their inaugural season in Mosaic Place. With Stothers on the bench for the 2011-2012 season, the Warriors set franchise records for wins (45), home wins (30), fewest losses (19), and points (98), they also won the teams third East Division title and advanced to the 2012 Eastern Conference Final. After three years in Moose Jaw, he coached the Warriors in 216 games, he is tied for third all-time in games coaches on a Warriors bench.

“This is a great opportunity for Mike with the Los Angeles Kings organization and we wish him all the best,” said Warriors General Manager Alan Millar. “Mike is a very good coach and an even better person. His impact on our hockey club and players will be felt for years to come. On behalf of our Board of Directors, Management, staff, and players, we thank Mike and his wife Judi for everything they have done for our team and community.”

Stothers played his junior hockey with the Kingston Canadians of the OMJHL from 1979 to 1982, in 1980 the Philadelphia Flyers drafted him in the first round, 21st overall. From 1981 to 1992 he went on to play 672 games in the American Hockey League and 30 in the National Hockey League.

He began his coaching career in the AHL in 1991 as an assistant coach, he spent 2000-2002 as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers. In 2002 he returned to major junior hockey, where he coached the Owen Sound Attack for the next five years. After spending the 2007-2008 season back in the AHL with Grand Rapids, Stothers returned to the NHL in 2010-2011 as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Thrashers.