Indy Fuel Picks First Coach
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe new ECHL franchise in Indianapolis has its first coach. The Indy Fuel hockey team has named Scott Hillman to the position. He has spent the past five seasons guiding the Missouri Mavericks of the Central Hockey League. May 27, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Sean Hallett, President of the Indy Fuel, today announced the signing of Scott Hillman to a multi-year agreement to become the first head coach of the ECHL’s newest team. Hillman, 40, recently completed a successful five season stint as head coach of the Missouri Mavericks of the Central Hockey League, leading the team to the CHL’s regular season championship in 2013-14. During his tenure in Missouri, the Mavericks qualified for the playoffs every season and compiled an impressive .607 winning percentage as an expansion franchise.
“Coach Hillman is a rising star in professional hockey,” said Hallett. “His experience coaching a new franchise to immediate success and his commitment to building a winning culture makes him the perfect fit as the Fuel’s head coach.”
Prior to joining the Mavericks in 2010, Hillman was head coach for the Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) where he led the team to two consecutive championships in the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons and was named the SPHL Coach of the Year in 2008-2009.
“I’m honored to be named head coach of the Indy Fuel,” said Coach Hillman. “Indianapolis is known as a great sports city, and this community has been waiting for professional hockey to return for way too long. As the coach, my goal is to create an environment that allows the young men on our roster to grow as players and people – our staff will give them every opportunity to excel and give our fans a disciplined, hard-working team that they can be proud of on and off the ice.”
Before coaching, Coach Hillman also had an excellent nine-season professional career. An offensive defensemen, he was named the 2001-2002 CHL Man of the Year, was a four-time CHL All Star, and retired as the Odessa Jackalopes’ all time leader in games played (446) and assists (260). His offensive prowess also earned him distinction as the second leading scorer in club history with 326 points, and he ranks among the top scoring defensemen in CHL history.
“As a coach and a player, Scott Hillman has displayed a commitment to excellence and a deep passion for the sport of hockey,” added Hallett. “He’ll be an inspirational leader in our locker room, and he also wants to be involved in our community – he’ll help us support the growth of hockey here in Indianapolis and is a great fit with our organization.”
Coach Hillman will be moving to Indianapolis with his wife and two sons in early June, as the franchise builds its roster during the summer. A native of Lasalle, Ontario, he graduated from the University of Windsor and later received a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Texas. Hillman was the leading scoring defenseman in University of Windsor Lancer history; he led the Lancers to two consecutive trips to the National Championship Tournament while being named a 1999 1st Team All-Canadian.
About the Indy Fuel:
The Indy Fuel is bringing professional hockey back to Indianapolis, and will begin skating against rivals in the ECHL – the premier ‘AA’ league for the NHL – in October 2014. The Fuel’s ‘home ice’ is the newly-renovated Coliseum on the Indiana State Fairgrounds, which hosted the city’s first hockey team more than 75 years ago as well as its newest professional franchise. The Indy Fuel will host 36 home games during the 2014-15 season, providing exciting competition and affordable entertainment for the whole family. Fans can learn more at IndyFuelHockey.com, and connect with the team on Twitter @IndyFuel and at Facebook.com/IndyFuel. Source: Indy Fuel