The Iowa Chops, members of the American Hockey League and proud affiliate of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, have announced Gord Dineen as the new head coach. Dineen is the first head coach in Iowa Chops history and the second in the four-year history of an AHL team in Des Moines, Iowa. Also joining Dineen behind the bench will be Assistant Coach Matt Laatsch.
"Gord Dineen is a top young coach with a lengthy and impressive resume as a player as well," says Brian Burke, executive vice president and general manager of the Anaheim Ducks. “We were impressed with everything he added to our coaching staff in Portland last year, and are extremely pleased to name him as our head coach in Des Moines."
This will be Dineen’s first stint as a head coach in the AHL. He spent last season in the Anaheim Ducks organization as an assistant coach for the AHL Portland Pirates. Prior to coaching in Portland last season, Dineen served as an assistant coach in the AHL for the Louisville Panthers (2000-01), Springfield Falcons (2003-04), Utah Grizzlies (2004-05) and San Antonio Rampage (2005-06). Dineen’s head coaching experience includes stints with the Macon Whoopee (2001-02) and Richmond Renegades (2002-03) in the ‘AA’ ECHL.
“I am very excited and flattered about being named the first head coach in Iowa Chops history,” says Dineen. “My experience with the Anaheim Ducks organization has been a very positive one thus far, and I look forward to continuing that relationship and putting a successful team on the ice. We will be a reflection of the Anaheim Ducks with an up-tempo, in-your-face, physical style of hockey that will prepare and develop our players to win at the NHL level.”
Dineen, 45, was originally drafted by the New York Islanders in 1981 draft (42nd overall) and played professional hockey for 18 seasons. He made his NHL debut in the 1982-83 season with the New York Islanders. He played a total of 528 games in his career, for the Islanders, the Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators. Dineen finished his NHL career with 16 goals, 90 assists and 106 points, and won a Stanley Cup in 1991 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gord and his wife Alexandra are the proud parents of two children, Molly and Finnegan.
The Anaheim Ducks also announced that Matt Laatsch, 28, will serve as the Iowa Chops’ assistant coach behind Dineen. Along with Dineen, Laatsch was one of two assistant coaches in Portland last season, where the team advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Prior to joining the Anaheim Ducks organization, Laatsch was an assistant coach at the University of Denver during the 2006-07 season. Laatsch was a member of both University of Denver teams that won back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2004 and 2005.
