Wolf Pack’s Gernander promoted to head coach

The New York Rangers announced today that Ken Gernander will assume head coaching responsibilities for the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, becoming the fifth head coach in franchise history.

"Ken has been an invaluable member of the Wolf Pack organization," said Jim Schoenfeld, who has been promoted to assistant general manager, player personnel for the Rangers and general manager of the Wolf Pack. "His dedication, leadership and knowledge of the game have contributed to his success as a player and assistant coach, and will serve him well in his new role as head coach."

Gernander, 38, has served as an assistant coach of the Wolf Pack for two seasons under Schoenfeld after concluding an illustrious 14-year playing career in 2005. A member of the Rangers organization since signing as a free agent in 1994, Gernander served as captain of the club’s AHL affiliate in each of his last 10 years on the ice (all eight years in Hartford, plus the final two seasons in Binghamton).

The native of Coleraine, Minn., accumulated 624 points (293 goals, 331 assists) in 973 career AHL games, and is the highest-scoring American-born player in AHL history. He ranks eighth all-time in AHL games played (973), and first with 123 Calder Cup Playoff games played.

A three-time AHL All-Star, Gernander also captained the 1999 PlanetUSA team at the AHL All-Star Classic in Philadelphia. He was twice voted recipient of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award for sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey in 1996 and 2004, and he captained the Wolf Pack to the Calder Cup championship in 2000.

Former Stanley Cup champion and long-time NHL stalwart J.J. Daigneault will continue his duties as an assistant coach with the Wolf Pack.