Music: {allcanada} Flames pick Ward to coach AHL club

Thursday, June 30, 2011

{allcanada} Flames pick Ward to coach AHL club

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The Calgary Flames have named Troy Ward as head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate.

Ward will take charge of the Abbotsford Heat after serving as an assistant coach on the team last season. He spent three years with the AHL's Houston Aeros prior to joining the Flames organization in 2010.

Flames general manager Jay Feaster said Ward was selected by a panel that included himself, head coach Brent Sutter, former player and special assistant Craig Conroy, scout Ron Sutter and assistant GM Michael Holditch.

"We were unanimous in our decision that Troy was the right person to lead our revamped development efforts in Abbotsford," Feaster said Thursday in a release. "As an organization we are committed to teaching and developing our players in a nurturing, positive, winning environment that will speed their progression to Calgary and the NHL, and we are confident that Troy is the right head coach to help us achieve our goals."

Ward was named the ECHL's coach of the year for the 2000-01 season when he led Trenton to the Kelly Cup Finals with a 50-18-4 record.

He served as assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins for three seasons, from 1997-2000.