FHL Matt McIlvane Named Danville Head Coach & General Manager

[blackngold]

Danville, Illinois–The Danville Dashers, proud member of the Federal Hockey League, announced that Matt McIlvane has been named Head Coach and General Manager of the team. Joe Pace Sr. has been deemed unable to continue leading the Dashers as the result of a freak accident at a Dashers’ practice the resulted in a serious head injury. Coach Pace is recovering, but not to a point that he feels will be adequate to function properly as head coach for the foreseeable future. The Dashers wish Coach Pace a continued, speedy, and full recovery from the injuries sustained will working to heighten the Dashers’ level of play.

McIlvane, has a Degree in Sports Management and Humanities from The Ohio State University where he played four years of Division 1 hockey, serving as Assistant Captain in his Junior Year, and Captain in his Senior year. While he was rehabbing a torn ACL, McIlvane served as an unpaid assistant under last year’s CHL Coach of the Year, Jason Christie’.

Matt is a student of the game, he understands the locker-room dynamics, he understands the concept of team, and he understands the systems that make it all work. Matt has always been the hardest worker on the ice in his playing days, we expect that mindset to continue with the Dashers in short fashion. He is a student of the game that has the tools to carry over and teach and to create a very exciting on ice product. “The Danville Fan base will certainly appreciate Matt as our next head coach” says Barry Saskin, Owner/Governor

McIlvane, a Naperville, Illinois native logged 100 games in his professional career with five different teams. He saw action in the AHL, ECHL, CHL, IHL, and overseas in Germany Top League the DEL during his three-years on the ice. An eighth-round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2004, McIlvane accumulated 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists) and 92 penalty minutes during his three-plus years at the pro level. From 2004-08, he was a four-year letter winner at The Ohio State University where he earned 52 points (15 goals, 37 assists) in 156 games. He was named an alternate captain of the Buckeyes in 2006-07 and captained the team a year later.

“I feel so blessed to have this opportunity with the Danville Dashers. I used to play against the Danville Wings in juniors, they always had a great fan base which made it a tough building to play in. I can’t wait to get with the players and start being an active member in the Danville community,” Matt McIlvane.