The Chicago Blackhawks have named Ted Dent as head coach of the organization’s top affiliate, the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs.
Dent replaces Bill Peters, who was recently named an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings.
"We are proud to promote Ted to the head coaching position in Rockford, an extremely important role in our hockey operations department," Blackhawks Vice President/General Manager Stan Bowman said. "During his time with our organization, Ted has proven himself as a great leader and has developed a solid track record in helping players rise to the National Hockey League level. Our hockey operations department is full of talented individuals and we take pride when we are able to promote someone from within, like Ted."
“I am very honored and fortunate for the opportunity to coach the Rockford IceHogs,” said Dent. “I would like to thank Mr. John McDonough, Mr. Stan Bowman and the rest of the Chicago Blackhawks management team for believing in me. I am excited to continue the development and growth of the young prospects we have in Rockford and at the same time create a positive winning environment.”
A 41-year-old native of Toronto, Dent is entering his sixth season in the Blackhawks organization and his fifth with Rockford. He spent the previous five seasons as an assistant coach under Bill Peters and Mike Haviland with the IceHogs (2007-11) and Chicago’s previous AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals (2006-07). His teams have compiled a regular-season record of 216-145-17-22 and qualified for the Calder Cup playoffs in four of the five campaigns. Dent has been instrumental in the development of 31 players that have been promoted to the Blackhawks from Rockford over the last four years.
Following a collegiate career at St. Lawrence University, Dent played professional hockey for parts of four seasons before serving as the video coordinator for the Washington Capitals from 1999-2004, working with current NHL head coaches Randy Carlyle and Ron Wilson. He began his career behind the bench as an assistant coach with the ECHL’s Kelly Cup champion Trenton Titans (2004-05) and served as the head coach of the ECHL’s Columbia Inferno (2005-06) before joining the Blackhawks organization.
