REIRDEN NAMED WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS INTERIM HEAD COACH

WILKES-BARRE, PA –Todd Reirden has been named interim head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, it was announced on Wednesday morning.  Reirden takes over head coaching duties from Dan Bylsma, who was named interim head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, February 15.

A veteran of 183 National Hockey League games, Reirden joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coaching staff as an assistant on August 18, 2008.  Prior to that he served as an assistant at his alma mater, Bowling Green State University, for the 2007-08 season.

Selected by New Jersey in the 12th round (242nd overall) of the 1990 NHL Draft, the 37-year old Reirden played professionally for 13 seasons, retiring after the 2006-07 campaign with Graz EC of the Austrian Hockey League.

Reirden appeared in games with the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers and Phoenix Coyotes between 1998 and 2004, recording 46 points (11+35) and 181 penalty minutes.  The Deerfield, Illinois native has also appeared in an additional 533 games combined in the AHL, IHL and ECHL during his career.  He made his professional debut with the Raleigh Icecaps (ECHL) in 1994-95, and appeared in his first AHL game that season with the Albany River Rats.

No decision has been made on an assistant coach at this time.  A search for an assistant is ongoing.