The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that Scott Gordon will return to the club’s AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, as head coach in 2019-20.
Kerry Huffman, who was elevated to head coach of the Phantoms when Gordon was named interim head coach of the Flyers on Dec. 17, 2018, will return to his role as assistant coach.
Gordon, 56, led the Phantoms to a record of 15-9-1-1 in 26 games in 2018-19, following a division title and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017-18.
A native of Brockton, Mass., Gordon ranks ninth in AHL history with 365 career victories (365-256-42) over parts of 10 seasons as head coach of Lehigh Valley and Providence. He won the Louis A.R. Pieri Award in 2007-08 as the AHL’s outstanding coach.
Before joining the Flyers organization in 2015, Gordon served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs for three seasons and was head coach of the New York Islanders for parts of three seasons from 2008-11.
Gordon also played eight professional seasons from 1986-94, including 150 games in the AHL with the Halifax Citadels and New Haven Nighthawks.
Huffman, 51, will be back for his fourth season with Lehigh Valley. He led the Phantoms to a record of 24-21-3-2 over its final 50 games in 2018-19, and has served on Gordon’s staff since 2016.
A native of Peterborough, Ont., Huffman produced 37 goals and 108 assists in 401 career NHL games with Philadelphia, Quebec and Ottawa. He also played 77 AHL games with the Hershey Bears.
