Former NHL star jumps behind the bench

The WHL’s Spokane Chiefs have announced that they’ve hired former NHLer Adam Deadmarsh as an assistant coach. The 42-year-old is a Stanley Cup champion and Olympian with NHL coaching experience, having been behind the bench with the Colorado Avalanche from 2009 to 2012. 

Dead marsh played over 10 seasons in the NHL with the Avs and the Los Angeles Kings franchises. He scored 184 goals and 373 points in 567 career NHL games and was a key player in the Av’s 1996 Stanley Cup championship. Unfortunately for Deadmarsh, severe concussions and head injuries forced him from the game early, retiring from professional hockey at just age 30 in 2005. 

“I am very excited to be joining the Chiefs organization and family,” said Deadmarsh in the team’s announcement. “I look forward to assisting the coaching staff in any way I can. The Chiefs have an amazing fan base with tremendous enthusiasm and excitement for the game. I look forward to joining the staff and players in that environment.”

Deadmarsh, a dual Canadian/American citizen who has represented USA at both the Winter Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey is no stranger to the WHL game. As a teenager he played four seasons for the Portland Winter Hawks and appeared in a record 21 games for USA during the World Junior Championships.