Published: September 25, 2009 10:08 pm      

Chiefs introduce Flanagan as new head coach

The Johnstown Chiefs introduced Jeff Flanagan as their new head coach Friday morning at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

Flanagan, 33, was raised in rural Dublin, Ontario. He appreciates the hometown atmosphere and camaraderie associated with the ECHL’s Chiefs.

“I grew up on a farm and I really like the small-town attitude and small-town people because that’s where I came from,” Flanagan told a group of about

20 Chiefs fans who attended the news conference. “That’s what makes Johnstown a perfect fit.”

Flanagan will take over a team largely assembled by his predecessor, Ian Herbers, who accepted a job as an AHL assistant coach of the Milwaukee Admirals on Aug. 3. Herbers’ unexpected and sudden departure left General Manager Bill Bredin and owner Neil Smith scrambling to find a replacement. But Herbers already had received commitments from as many as 23 players and most have since signed.

“Ian put together a good core of guys,” said Flanagan, the ninth coach in Chiefs’ history. “We’ve got a lot of skill. Some of our guys are at American League camps, which shows the type of skill level we have. What we were looking for between Bill (Bredin), (assistant coach) Jason (Spence) and I was to get a little more grit. We signed a couple guys that we think will bring that to our team.

“In the North it’s a tighter game,” Flanagan said, referring to many of the teams in the American Conference.

“Teams like Elmira always like to have real tough teams, so we’ve got to be able to play like that. We want to be at the same time fast but also hard-hitting in the corners and to stand in front of the net.”

Chiefs owner Smith is a television hockey analyst who formerly served as GM of the Stanley Cup-winning New York Rangers franchise. Smith believes Flanagan’s diverse resume, which includes hockey coaching experience in Europe as well as in the ECHL, college and junior ranks, will enable him to mold a talented team.

“Jeff brings to us a number of qualities that I really admire in any field, but especially in coaching young people,” Smith said. “Jeff is going to be coaching a number of 21-year-olds, 22-year-olds.

“Some of them will have college degrees. Some of them will be coming from Europe and they don’t speak English too well. Some of them are Canadian players who played junior hockey and are still looking to make their dream come true of making it to the NHL.

“Jeff is a highly educated person, a teacher by trade. He’s played the game of hockey. He has hockey throughout his entire family, including his wife who coaches a team back in Canada. Hockey is in his blood.”

Flanagan has four college associate diplomas in agriculture, horticulture, history and education. He also is a professional singer/songwriter who released a critically acclaimed record, “Caught in the Rain,” in 2004 and had a top five single, “Hold On,” on the Canadian country music charts.

Of more importance to the Chiefs, Flanagan served one season as an assistant coach to Karl Taylor with the Reading Royals. That ECHL experience in 2006-07 will be important over the next few months.

“Having been in the ECHL before, I know the North is crazy with call-ups,” Flanagan said. “I know sometimes the fans get a little upset when one of our best players leaves. But one of the reasons we’re here is to help those guys to be better players and help them along with their dream of becoming American League players. We hope that one of our players sometime makes it to the NHL.

“At the same time, walking that fine line, we want to have a winning organization, make the playoffs and win the Kelly Cup.”

Flanagan coached HC Gardena in Italy last season. The team went 18-11-3 and advanced to the playoff semifinals. In 2007-08 he was an associate coach at his alma mater, the University of Guelph.

Flanagan also was the associate coach and assistant GM for the Powell River Kings of the Junior A British Columbia Hockey League in 2005-06.

“Jeff is a hard worker who grew up in a small town working on his family farm and will fit in the culture and fabric of Johnstown,” said former Royals coach Taylor, who now coaches the ECHL’s Ontario Reign, during an earlier interview.

The Chiefs also introduced a familiar name as the team’s new assistant coach.

Jason Spence recently retired as a player, but the fan favorite now will be on the bench as Flanagan’s assistant.

“I guess I don’t have to tell you I’m officially retired now,” Spence said, drawing laughs from the small crowd.

“It’s a great opportunity,” he added. “I love it here. I want to use my energy, what I gave on the ice and hopefully have it rub off on the players.”