Jun 05, 2013 | SLMH | 1605 views
Shallow Lake Minor Hockey Grad
Niagara IceDogs hire David Bell as New Assistant Coach
Niagara IceDogs Head Coach and General Manager Marty Williamson announced this morning that the team has hired David Bell as their new Assistant Coach, replacing former IceDogs Assistant Coach Jason Brooks who left the team last month.
Bell comes to Niagara after having spent last season as an Assistant Coach with the Sudbury Wolves. Prior to that Bell had previously served as Head Coach and General Manager of the Quad City Mallards of the CHL for a season.
Bell also has past experience working with Williamson, having served as an Assistant Coach for the Barrie Colts with Williamson in 2009-10 and then with Dale Hawerchuk in 2010-11. The season coaching with Williamson included the Colts run to the OHL Finals in 2010. Overall Bell has nine seasons of coaching experience between the OHL, AHL and CHL, having played in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s and in 471 professional games between the AHL, ECHL and UHL.
In the end it was the relationship with Williamson that led Bell to the IceDogs, “I obviously had worked with Marty in Barrie and we had stayed in touch over the years” said Bell. “I made Marty aware I wasn’t returning to Sudbury and asked him to let me know if he heard of any opportunities. When the situation with Brooksie developed, Marty let me know and it was a perfect opportunity for me.”
Bell is excited about the opportunity to join the IceDogs.
“I really think this is the best fit for me since the first couple of years in Owen Sound, which was my hometown” said Bell. “The familiarity with Marty, the success the organization has had since moving to Niagara, including the run to the OHL finals a couple of years ago, and the fact the new arena is coming all help to make it an ideal situation”.
The excitement that Bell has about joining the IceDogs is shared by Williamson.
“I am extremely excited to welcome David to the IceDogs” said Williamson. “While the situation with Jason was unfortunate, the opportunity to bring David on is an exciting one. We have obviously enjoyed some success together in the past, having made it to the OHL final back in 2010 and look forward to hopefully enjoying further success together here with the IceDogs.”
Bell will be joining the IceDogs for their rookie orientation this Saturday before moving to St. Catharines full time at the end of the month.
The entire IceDogs organization would like to welcome David to the IceDogs and look forward to having him on the coaching staff.
Congratulations Dave from all of us at Shallow Lake Minor Hockey!!
Courtesy of www.niagaraicedogs.net