Americans Hire Steve Martinson as Head Coach

[chilly666]

In a press conference at the Allen Event Center on Monday night, the Allen Americans introduced the team’s new head coach, Steve Martinson. The former NHL and AHL player has been a head coach for 16 seasons, nine of those in San Diego with the Gulls of the WCHL and the ECHL. Between 1996 and 2003, Martinson won five WCHL titles with the Gulls.

Last season, Martinson coached the expansion Chicago Express of the ECHL missing the post-season for the first time in his coaching history despite finishing with a strong 34-26-12 record (the 80 points for the Express tied them for the final playoff spot but they missed out due to the tiebreaker).

The Minnetonka, Minnesota native has compiled an impressive 727-305-103 record in 1135 career games never losing more than 26 regulation games in any regular season and totaling six championships (five with San Diego and one with Rockford-UHL).

As a player, Martinson skated for 12 professional seasons and won two championships. He played in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, the Montreal Canadiens and the Minnesota North Stars and collegiately, Martinson was a two-time NCAA All-Star selection at St. Cloud State University.