Chicago Wolves head coach Craig MacTavish has left the Vancouver Canucks organization to become the senior vice president of hockey operations for the Edmonton Oilers.
MacTavish was named the eighth coach in Wolves history on Aug. 1, 2011, and led the team to a 42-27-4-3 record and the American Hockey League’s Midwest Division title in his only season as an AHL bench boss. He also recorded a 2-3 postseason mark in Chicago as the Wolves were defeated by the San Antonio Rampage in the Western Conference quarterfinals.
“The Chicago Wolves would like to thank Craig for all his contributions to the Wolves organization this past year,” said Wolves general manager Wendell Young. “We would also like to wish him and his family the best on his future endeavors.”
Prior to joining the Wolves, the 53-year-old MacTavish compiled a 301-252-47-56 record and .537 winning percentage in 656 games spanning eight seasons (2000-09) as a National Hockey League head coach with the Edmonton Oilers.
The London, Ont., native also served as an assistant coach with the Oilers (1999-00) and New York Rangers (1997-99) before taking over head coaching duties in Edmonton.
A veteran of 1,093 NHL contests as a player with the Boston Bruins (1979-1984), Edmonton Oilers (1985-94), New York Rangers (1994), Philadelphia Flyers (1994-96), and St. Louis Blues (1996-97), MacTavish registered 213 goals, 267 assists, and 480 points in 17 seasons. He won the Stanley Cup on four occasions during his playing career: three times with the Oilers (1987, 1988, 1990) and once with the Rangers (1994).
The search for a new Wolves head coach is underway but no timetable has been set.
