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Career Bio Attached Below |
West Valley City, Utah – Utah Grizzlies Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Jason Christie has announced that former New York Islanders forward Kevin Colley has been named the team’s Assistant Coach.
The 28-year-old comes to Utah after retiring as an Islander on February 24, 2006 due to an injury sustained January 31, 2006 versus Washington. 2005-2006 was Colley’s rookie season in the NHL. He played 16 games and recorded 52 penalty minutes for the Islanders. The native of Connecticut made his NHL debut October 27, 2005 at Madison Square Garden versus the New York Rangers. The Islanders signed him as a free agent on June 11, 2004.
In April of 2006, Colley was honored with the Bob Nystrom Award, which is given to the Islander who best exemplifies leadership, hustle and dedication.
Overall, Colley played in 396 total professional games; including 166 in the ECHL and 214 in the AHL. The 5-foot-11 forward tallied 117 goals and 140 assists for 257 points and 1050 penalty minutes during his professional career. He played in the ECHL with Charlotte, New Orleans, Pensacola, Dayton and Atlantic City; while logging AHL games with Bridgeport, Worcester, Syracuse, Rochester, Providence and Hartford.
“Kevin got his start as a player here in the ECHL and quickly advanced up the ranks to New York,” said Christie. "He has experience at all three levels (ECHL, AHL and NHL) and the players here will be able to relate to that as we develop them for the next step in their career. He will fit well into our organization.”
“I look forward to learning a lot through Jason on the coaching and hockey operations side of the game,” said Colley. “I am anxious to make the transition to coaching.”
The Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, enter their third season in America’s “Premier AA Hockey League.” On May 22, 2007, Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Jason Christie announced an affiliation with the NHL’s New York Islanders and the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Former Grizzlies Ric Jackman and Scott Niedermayer recently won the Stanley Cup as members of the Anaheim Ducks. At the start of the 2006-2007 season, 23 former Grizzlies were on NHL rosters. 12 of those former players advanced to the playoffs.
In addition, during the 2006-2007 season, the team made over 120 community appearances, including two all-team hospital visits and over 30 elementary school assemblies; while donating nearly $120,000 in cash, tickets and merchandise to charity. For more information on Utah Grizzlies community programs and efforts, contact the team’s public relations department at (801) 988-8017.
