The San Diego Gulls have hired a European coaching veteran as the fifth on-ice boss in the team’s AHL history.
Matt McIlvane, 37, comes to San Diego following four seasons at EC Red Bull Salzburg of Austria’s ICE Hockey League. He led the club to back-to-back league titles in the final two season, and finished with a 92-42-22-19 record. McIlvane spent five seasons with EHC Red Bull München in ’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga. He has also coached with the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL and the Danville Dashers of the Federal Prospects Hockey League.
He replaces Roy Sommer, who retired following the Gulls’ 20-49-2-1 season. San Diego finished in last place of the AHL’s Pacific Division.
McIlvane said he was “humbled” to be named the Gulls’ new coach, and thanked general manager Pat Verbeek “for the trust to take on this responsibility.” He will be introduced at a later date.
“The Samueli family runs a first-class organization, and it is an honor to the hockey club,” he said. “I can’t wait to meet the rest of the management, staff and players. We are ready for the challenge to develop Ducks prospects into NHL players and give the fans at Pechanga Arena San Diego an exciting team to cheer for.”
Verbeek praised McIlvane’s “winning pedigree.”
“Our players in San Diego will benefit from his leadership, philosophy, and his championship experience in Europe and the international level,” he said.
A native of Naperville, Ill., McIlvane played collegiately at Ohio State before becoming an eighth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2004. He played professionally from 2008-12 before suffering an injury.
