There has been plenty of change in the American Hockey League through 2021.

NHL clubs have switched affiliates, relocations have transpired and three clubs opted to sit out the truncated season that was 2020-21.

There will be a plethora of new faces behind the bench for the 2021-22 campaign as the reorganisation of the league has extended to head coaching roles.

The majority of change is within the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division.

Atlantic Division

Bridgeport Islanders – Brent Thompson (8th season)

Charlotte Checkers – Geordie Kinnear (5th season)

Hartford Wolf Pack – Kris Knoblauch (3rd season)

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – J.D. Forrest (2nd season)

Hershey Bears – Scott Allen (NEW HEAD COACH)

Scott Allen replaces the well-respected and successful Spencer Carberry, who was hired as an assistant coach by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Hershey Bears’ top job is one of the toughest in the AHL and replacing Spencer Carberry will not be an easy feat.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms – Ian Laperrière (NEW HEAD COACH)

Ian Laperrière replaces Scott Gordon, who was ‘let go’ in a mutual agreement with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Gordon had led the Phantoms as head coach for six seasons and posted a 186–121–40 record.

Providence Bruins – Ryan Mougenel (NEW HEAD COACH)

Ryan Mougenel takes over from Jay Leach, who was hired as an assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken.

Mougenel was promoted from within, having held an assistant coaching position on the Bruins.

Leach posted a record of 136-77-16 in four seasons with Providence as Head Coach.

Springfield Thunderbirds – Drew Bannister (NEW HEAD COACH)

Drew Bannister takes over from Geordie Kinnear, who was the coach of the Thunderbirds the last time they had competitive action in 2019-29.

Bannister was previously the HC in San Antonio and most recently an associate coach with Utica.

North Division

Belleville Senators – Troy Mann (4th season)

Cleveland Monsters – Mike Eaves (3rd season)

Rochester Americans – Seth Appert (3rd season)

Syracuse Crunch – Benoît Groulx (6th season)

Toronto Marlies – Greg Moore (3rd season)

Laval Rocket – Jean-François Houle (NEW HEAD COACH)

Jean-François Houle takes charge after Joël Bouchard left in rather unceremonious circumstances.

Bouchard compiled an 83–67–24 record over three seasons and looked to be a bright young star in the Montreal organisation.

Houle has served six seasons as an assistant coach with the Bakersfield Condors.

Utica Comets – Kevin Dineen (NEW HEAD COACH)

With Trent Cull retained by the Vancouver Canucks and relocated with the new team in Abbotsford, a vacancy opened with the club now affiliated with New Jersey Devils.

Kevin Dineen brings a wealth of experience and worked most recently as Head Coach of San Diego Gulls.

Central Division

Chicago Wolves – Ryan Warsofsky (2nd season)

Grand Rapids Griffins – Ben Simon (4th season)

Iowa Wild – Tim Army (4th season)

Milwaukee Admirals – Karl Taylor (3rd season)

Rockford IceHogs – Derek King – (4th season)

Texas Stars – Neil Graham (3rd season)

Manitoba Moose – Mark Morrison (NEW HEAD COACH)

Pascal Vincent stepped down to take a position with the Columbus Blue Jackets coaching staff. We know how that ended up.

Mark Morrison is well known to the organisation. He previously worked for the Winnipeg Jets as an assistant coach for their AHL affiliates, the St. John’s IceCaps and the Moose, from 2011 to 2017.

Pacific Division

Bakersfield Condors – Jay Woodcroft (4th season)

Colorado Eagles – Greg Cronin (4th season)

Henderson Silver Knights – Manny Viveiros (2nd season)

Ontario Reign – John Wroblewski (2nd season)

San Jose Barracuda – Roy Sommer (7th season/24th with the franchise)

Abbotsford Canucks – Trent Cull (NEW HEAD COACH)

With Vancouver having purchased the AHL affiliate in Utica and moved it to B.C, the organisation opted to retain Head Coach Trent Cull for the club’s inaugural season.

Head Coach of the Comets since 2017, Cull led the team to a 122–93–17–9 record.

San Diego Gulls – Joël Bouchard (NEW HEAD COACH)

It was somewhat of a surprise when San Diego let Kevin Dineen walk at the end of his contract but it made perfect sense when they hired the very promising Joël Bouchard.

Dineen led the Gulls to a 56–36–7–2 record, whilst Bouchard’s statistics in the Laval section and his player development record speak for themselves.

Stockton Heat – Mitch Love (NEW HEAD COACH)

Mitch Love takes over from Cail MacLean, who has been promoted to assistant coach with the Calgary Flames.

MacLean posted a 72–65–16 record with the Heat.

Mitch Love is a rookie to the professional coaching ranks having previously been with the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL.

Tucson Roadrunners – Jay Varady (NEW HEAD COACH)

Jay Varady isn’t so much a new coach as returning to his post.

Steve Potvin filled in when Jay Varady was brought up to the Arizona Coyotes’ staff as an assistant coach for the last campaign.

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