Pirates’ Army returning to PC

Providence College today announced the appointment of Tim Army as the head coach of the men’s hockey team.

Army, a 1985 graduate of the College, spent the last three seasons as the head coach of the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. He posted a 99-89-32-20 mark in 240 games with the Pirates.

Army becomes the 11th coach in the 54-year history of the program. He is the first PC alumnus to coach the team since his former coach Lou Lamoriello guided the Friars (1968-83). He also is the first former Hockey East player to be a head coach in the league.

Prior to coaching at Portland, Army spent nine seasons as an assistant coach in the NHL for two different teams. He worked for four seasons as an assistant for Friar great Ron Wilson with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (1993-97) and five years under Wilson with the Washington Capitals (1997-02).

Army is one of the top players in Friar history. He ranks first all-time in games played (151), sixth in points (179), 11th in goals (71) and tied for fourth in assists (108). He was a member of the winningest class in Friar hockey history. He helped the squad post a 97-50-8 mark over four seasons, including the top single-season record ever at Providence in 1983 (33-10-0). The Friars won 20 or more games in each of his four seasons as a player and reached the Frozen Four twice (1983 and 1985).