The Calgary Flames announced that they have hired Robbie Ftorek as the assistant coach with the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League.
“In light of our commitment to rebuilding, and providing our young players with a chance to play, there is even greater importance being placed on development and getting our prospects ready to contribute as quickly as possible in Calgary,” said Flames general manager Jay Feaster. “In support of that mission, we are thrilled to be able to add such an experienced coach and teacher as Robbie Ftorek to our organization.
“Robbie’s experience at every level of hockey provides our players, and our coaching staffs, an incredible wealth of hockey knowledge on which to draw, and we believe he and [Heat head coach] Troy Ward will do a great job together in developing players for the Flames.”
Ftorek has an incredible coaching resume which includes ranking sixth all-time in head coaching victories in the AHL, compiling a record of 353-310-80 over 11 seasons with the New Haven Nighthawks, Halifax Citadels, Utica Devils and Albany River Rats. Ftorek won the Louis A.R. Pieri award as the AHL’s outstanding coach in both 1994-95 and 1995-96, making him one of two men in the award’s 46-year history to win it in back-to-back seasons. In 1994-95, Ftorek guided Albany to the Calder Cup championship.
Ftorek played more than 800 professional games in the NHL, WHA, AHL and CHL, and has been an NHL head coach with Los Angeles, New Jersey and Boston. Most recently, Ftorek spent six seasons as head coach of the OHL’s Erie Otters.
A former U.S. Olympian, Ftorek was enshrined as a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.
