"Butch" Cassidy To Lead Providence

Boston Bruins Name Bruce Cassidy as Head Coach of Providence

Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that they have named Bruce Cassidy head coach of the club's American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins.

Cassidy, 46, becomes the 10th head coach in Providence history after serving as the team's assistant coach for the past three seasons, during which time the P-Bruins compiled a 117-103-10-10 (W-L-T-OT/SOL) record. He replaces Rob Murray.

A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Cassidy has a lengthy resume from both his playing and coaching careers. He was selected 18th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. He played with the Blackhawks and their affiliates from 1985 to 1990. During those years Cassidy appeared in 36 NHL games for Chicago, scoring four goals while adding 13 assists. The following three years, he played in the Italian Ice Hockey League and German Hockey League, suiting up for Alleghe HC in Italy and Kaufbeuren. He retired with the Indianapolis Ice in 1996 to accept a head-coaching job with the Jacksonville Lizard Kings of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).

Cassidy was promoted to head coach of the team in Indianapolis during the 1998-99 season and went on to coach the Trenton Titans of the ECHL and the IHL's Grand Rapids Griffins before being hired as Head Coach of the Washington Capitals in 2002-03. That season he lead the Capitals to the postseason where they were eliminated by Tampa Bay in the first round. The Capitals had an overall record of 47-45-9-6 while Cassidy was Head Coach.

Cassidy signed with Chicago in June 2004 as an assistant coach, working with the AHL's Norfolk Admirals during the 2004-05 NHL lockout season and then the Blackhawks in 2005-06. He again became a head coach in 2006-07, guiding the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs to a 31-30-7 mark and a trip to the playoffs. His time in Kingston concluded with a two-year record of 33-39-8, bringing his overall head coaching record to 295-253-36-37 (W-L-T/SOL-OTL) in 621 games.

Cassidy resides in Providence, Rhode Island, with his wife Julie and their daughter Shannon.

Cassidy will be made available to the media during the team's upcoming Development Camp. The schedule of the upcoming Development Camp will be released at a later date.

*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com