Two Former DU Hockey Captains Reunited
From: Portland Pressby Paul Betit
(left) DU Alum Kevin Dineen starred at the University Of Denver before playing 18 seasons in the NHL
Portland, Maine - The Portland Pirates are expected to announce the hiring of two assistant coaches today.
According to NHL.com, Gord Dineen, the older brother of Pirates head coach & DU Alum Kevin Dineen, and Matt Laatsch, who played four seasons at the University of Denver, have been hired to replace Bruce Crowder and Eric Weinrich.
Crowder was rumored to be a finalist for the University of Denver head coaching job back in 1994 when DU named George Gwozdecky as head coach. Crowder, a former assistant coach at the University of Maine, spent the past two seasons with the Pirates after serving 14 years as the head coach at Northeastern. He was informed of the change weeks ago.
"Kevin called me and said they were going in a different direction," he said.
Crowder, 50, took a job as the New England sales manager for Atrium Medical Corporation, a surgical supply company based in Hudson, N.H.
"I have a lot of confidence in my coaching abilities, and I have no doubts I will be successful at this," he said. "I'm actually looking forward to having my weekends to myself."
Gord Dineen, 44, has spent the last three seasons as an assistant with AHL teams in Springfield, Utah and San Antonio. During an NHL career spanning 14 seasons, he played a total of 528 games.
Laatsch, 26, moves into the professional ranks as a coach after serving one season as a volunteer assistant at his college alma mater. He was captain of Denver's 2004-05 team and anchored DU to back-to-back NCAA titles.
According to NHL.com, Gord Dineen, the older brother of Pirates head coach & DU Alum Kevin Dineen, and Matt Laatsch, who played four seasons at the University of Denver, have been hired to replace Bruce Crowder and Eric Weinrich.
Crowder was rumored to be a finalist for the University of Denver head coaching job back in 1994 when DU named George Gwozdecky as head coach. Crowder, a former assistant coach at the University of Maine, spent the past two seasons with the Pirates after serving 14 years as the head coach at Northeastern. He was informed of the change weeks ago.
"Kevin called me and said they were going in a different direction," he said.
Crowder, 50, took a job as the New England sales manager for Atrium Medical Corporation, a surgical supply company based in Hudson, N.H.
"I have a lot of confidence in my coaching abilities, and I have no doubts I will be successful at this," he said. "I'm actually looking forward to having my weekends to myself."
Gord Dineen, 44, has spent the last three seasons as an assistant with AHL teams in Springfield, Utah and San Antonio. During an NHL career spanning 14 seasons, he played a total of 528 games.
Laatsch, 26, moves into the professional ranks as a coach after serving one season as a volunteer assistant at his college alma mater. He was captain of Denver's 2004-05 team and anchored DU to back-to-back NCAA titles.Despite his age and a limited pro experience that consists of just four games with Utah of the AHL, Laatsch said he doesn’t see credibility being an issue with AHL players.
“The way I look at it is I’m a winner. I’m going into an organization that’s a winner,’’ Laatsch said. “Coaching is knowing how to develop and foster relationships. I think guys figure out pretty quick whether a guy knows the game or he doesn’t.’’
Dineen was DU's Captain in 1982-83 as a Sophmore, under head coach Ralph Backstrom. Kevin & Gord are sons of longtime WHA & NHL coach Bill Dineen.
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