Stirling gets new post with Senators

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The Ottawa Senators announced today the appointment of Steve Stirling to the dual roles of NCAA recruitment coordinator and professional scout.

Stirling, 67, has spent the past seven seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Binghamton Senators after being hired by the club to join Kurt Kleinendorst’s staff on Aug. 26, 2010. Alongside Kleinendorst, he helped guide the B-Sens to the city’s first professional championship as the team captured the 2011 Calder Cup.

A native of Clarkson, Ont., Stirling’s new role will primarily see him attend games across the National Collegiate Athletic Association in an effort to evaluate potential collegiate free agents. He will also attend both American Hockey League and National Hockey League games in a professional scouting capacity for the Senators. Additionally, and ahead of the upcoming season, Stirling will lean on his extensive AHL experience in an effort to help with the transition of the Senators’ AHL team to Belleville, Ont.

Prior to joining Binghamton in 2010, Stirling served as head coach of Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliates in Springfield (2006-07) and Norfolk (2007-08), as well as the New York Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport (2001-03) before spending a season and a half as head coach of the Islanders. Stirling was also an assistant coach with the Lowell Lock Monsters from 1998 to 2001.

Stirling’s playing career included parts of five seasons in the AHL with Boston and Rochester.