Americans Name Price as Assistant Coach; Bilodeau Resigns Position with Club

KENNEWICK, WA – Tri-City Americans’ Governor/General Manager Bob Tory announced today that the club has named Dan Price as the team’s new assistant coach for the upcoming 2012-13 season.  Additionally, Tory announced that assistant coach Brent Bilodeau has resigned his position with the team.

Price, a former varsity goaltender at the University of Regina (1995-98), has put together a solid coaching resume since graduating from the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Law in 2001. Following graduation, Price joined the WHL’s Regina Pats in 2003, spending three seasons as a scout for the Calgary and Southern Alberta region.  Then, in 2006, Price switched conferences and became an assistant under current Americans Head Coach, Jim Hiller, as a member of the then Chilliwack Bruins.  After two seasons, Price was promoted to Associate Coach in 2008-09, the same season the Bruins were honored as the WHL’s Scholastic Team of the Year.  The 2008-09 season also saw Price serve as an assistant with Team Pacific, which took home silver medals at the 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.

“Dan brings a wealth of coaching experience to our club and his knowledge of the WHL is a tremendous asset,” explained Tory.  “He brings passion and professionalism to our program and is a welcomed addition.”

Following his 3-year stint with the Bruins, Price took on the dual role of General Manager and Head Coach of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Drumheller Dragons.  From 2009 to 2011, Price guided the Dragons to a 38-68-14 record before leaving the Dragons to work as a coach for NXT Level Sports.

“We added another great person and talented coach to our team,” Hiller said.  “I am excited to be working alongside Dan again.”

“I’m thrilled with the opportunity to work with the best in the business in my opinion, Jim and Bob, and I look forward to being a part of the tradition of excellence that they, the staff and the players have created (in Tri-Cities),” expressed Price.  “I’ve watched what’s developed in Tri-City over the years and I can’t wait to get down there and be a part of it.”

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Meanwhile, Bilodeau, a former first round NHL Draft pick by the Montreal Canadiens in 1991, concludes his two-year tenure with the club after being recently introduced as Coaching Advisor for the Tri-Cities Amateur Hockey Association.

Bilodeau wrapped up a 17-year playing career in 2005 before joining the coaching ranks as an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL.  In three seasons in Las Vegas, Bilodeau helped lead the Wranglers to two Pacific Division and National League regular season titles before getting his first head coaching job.  In 2008, Bilodeau took the reigns as head coach of the Central Hockey League’s Wichita Thunder before being replaced early into the 2009-10 season.

Tri-City Americans season tickets are now available for the 2012-13 season.  Season ticket plans can be purchased by using several, convenient monthly payment schedules after a one-time service charge.  Call 509.736.0606, visit AmsHockey.com or drop by the Americans offices’ at the bottom level of the Toyota Center for more information.