The Chicago Wolves announced yesterday they have named five-time AHL champion and Chicago Wolves all-time winningest head coach John Anderson as the team’s new bench boss. Anderson returns to the Chicago Wolves with four years of NHL experience, leading the Atlanta Thrashers from 2008-10. He most recently served as an asst. with the Phoenix Coyotes from 2011-13
The Wolves will host a press conference to introduce John Anderson at 11 a.m. today at Harry Caray’s Restaurant. You can can watch the livestream here: youtube.com/chicagowolveshockey.
Wolves GM Wendell Young on John Anderson’s return: “The Wolves have not had the type of success we has grown accustomed to since he left.”
Here’s an exclusive with John Anderson from today’s media day:
John Anderson won the 2002 and 2008 Calder Cup Championships with the Wolves. He also guided Chicago to the IHL’s Turner Cup in 1998 and 2000. The Toronto native returns as the winningest coach in Wolves history. He led them to four titles and ten playoff berths in 11 years.
The Toronto Maple Leafs first pick (11th overall) in the 1977 amateur draft, John Anderson played 12 seasons in the NHL with the Maple Leafs (1977-85), Quebec Nordiques (1985-86), and Hartford Whalers (1986-89). He collected 282 goals, 349 assists, and 631 points in 814 career NHL games.
I’ll be back later with exclusives from Wolves GM Wendell Young, Senior Executive Vice Presidet Wayne Messmer and more with the Wolves from their intro presser later. I’ll be writing about the team much more this season too.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. The correspondent/analyst for 95.7 The Fan, also writes on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)