The Portland Pirates announced today that the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim have named Kevin Dineen as the head coach of the Pirates, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).
“As a player, Kevin was a great on-ice leader who played the game with passion,” said Anaheim’s Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Burke. “Those traits will serve our prospects in Portland well in the years to come.”
“Kevin’s approach to the game will suit both our fans and players well as we begin this new and exciting chapter of Portland Pirates hockey,” said Pirates Managing Owner/CEO Brian Petrovek. “We’re thrilled with the selection and look forward to great success on and off the ice under Kevin’s leadership.”
Dineen, 41, spent 18 years in the NHL as a player from 1984-85 to 2002-2003. He earned 355-405=760 points and 2,229 penalty minutes in 1,188 games with Columbus, Ottawa, Carolina/Hartford and Philadelphia, in the process becoming one of just eight NHL players to record more than 300 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes in an NHL career. He was drafted by Hartford in the third round (56th overall) of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft.
Dineen spent part of one season in the American Hockey League, recording 23 points in 25 games for the Binghamton Whalers in 1984-85. The AHL in the 1980s was overflowing with Dineens, as Kevin was one of four brothers to play in the AHL during the decade, joining Peter (1980-90), Gord (1984-86) and Shawn (1983-84, 86-88), while dad Bill Dineen coached the Adirondack Red Wings to Calder Cup championships in 1986 and 1989.
After retiring as a player with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 5, 2002, Dineen spent two seasons working in the Columbus hockey operations department, assisting general manager Doug MacLean in player development.
The Quebec City native appeared in two NHL All-Star Games as a member of the Hartford Whalers (1988 and 1989). He was also named the 1990-91 NHL Man of the Year and was a three-time finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (1995, 2001 and 2002), given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Dineen also represented Canada on many occasions, playing on the country’s national team at the 1984 Olympic Games, 1987 Canada Cup and three World Championship Tournaments (1985, 1989 and 1993).
