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FORMER AERO SCOTT ARNIEL HIRED AS COLUMBUS BENCH BOSS

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From http://www.moosehockey.com, Tuesday June 8, 2009.

    The Manitoba Moose, the affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, are pleased to announce the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets have hired Scott Arniel as their new Head Coach.

    This will be Arniel’s first head coaching experience in the National Hockey League. Arniel had previously spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Buffalo Sabres from 2002-05. During that time, the Sabres finished with a record of 116-95-17-18.

    Arniel has been the bench boss for the Manitoba Moose since the 2006-07 season. In 2008-09, Arniel helped guide the franchise to their most successful season ever. That year, the Moose set a number of franchise records including most wins in the regular season (50) and most road wins (25), while tying the franchise mark for most home wins in a single season (25). The Moose finished first overall in the American Hockey League for the first time ever with a record of 50-23-1-6 for 107 points. Arniel himself was subsequently named the winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the league’s outstanding coach for 2008-09. The Moose continued their success in the Calder Cup Playoffs by capturing the North Division title with series victories over Toronto and Grand Rapids, as well as their first-ever Western Conference crown and a berth in the Calder Cup Finals after a series win over the Houston Aeros.

    In four seasons under Arniel, the Moose have won over 40 games each year and compiled a record of 181-106-16-17 in 320 games and earned two North Division regular season titles (2006-07 & 2008-09). In the past three seasons, the Moose have used over 50 different players in their line-up, including 54 last season, as well as 14 players who have seen action in the National Hockey League at some point in their career. In 2008-09, his Moose had a league-low 188 goals against and ranked first in the AHL in defense averaging 2.04 goals against per game and were fourth in penalty killing with an 85.6 percent efficiency. In 2006-07, Arniel’s players finished first overall on the penalty kill, stifling their opponents’ chances 89.7 percent of the time.

    Arniel has an extensive history with the Moose as both a player and coach prior to re-joining the team in 2006. He joined the Moose in their inaugural season in 1996-97 in the International Hockey League and spent three seasons with the franchise as a player (1996-99), including the final two as team captain. Upon his retirement in 1999, Arniel remained with the Moose as an assistant coach from 1999-2002. During that span, the Moose compiled an overall record of 78-64-7-13.

    Arniel’s National Hockey League days are also closely tied to the city of Winnipeg, as the former Cornwall Royal, two-time Memorial Cup Champion and member of the first Canadian Gold Medal World Junior Team was drafted in the second round, 22nd overall, in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets. He played in 406 games with the Jets from 1981 to 1986 and 1990-91. Arniel played in 730 NHL games, along with 555 in the IHL and AHL, combining for a total of 1285 professional games played in his hockey career.

-- HOUSTON AEROS --

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