AlphaDog
08-03-2007, 01:07 AM
Created: Jul 30, 2007
By Brad Young
Mario Cicchillo, known as “Cheech” to nearly everyone in the hockey industry, will be the new bench boss for the Niagara IceDogs when junior hockey makes its return to the Niagara region for the start of the 2007-08 OHL season.
Cicchillo is no stranger to the OHL having served as an assistant coach to the Mississauga IceDogs (now known as the Niagara IceDogs) for the past three seasons.
Cicchillo will be joined by many of the hockey operations staff from Mississauga, most notably general manger Dave Brown.
Cicchillo and Brown have a long and storied past together, which dates back to their days with the Tier II Junior “A” Brampton Capitals. Both Cicchillo and Brown enjoyed success in Brampton as the pair captured two Provincial Championships during their four year tenure. Cicchillo and Brown made a stop in Milton for one year before the tandem made the jump to the ranks of the OHL with the Mississauga IceDogs, where they have spent the last three seasons.
Brown commented on Cicchillo’s head coaching appointment. “He put in his time, he worked diligently to understand the league at an assistant coach’s level and he’s seen what works and what doesn’t work and how the kids respond,” said Brown from his office in St. Catherines.
Brown is excited about making the move to St. Catherine’s where the Niagara IceDogs will be playing their home games out of the Jack Gatecliff Arena. “There’s a deep tradition of junior hockey in the Niagara market,” spoke Brown. “The Jack Gatecliff Arena has a tremendous amount of character and history behind it and there are a lot of guys that have played here that still live in the area.” The St. Catherine Teepees once played out of the Jack Gatecliff Arena, which captured two Memorial Cups in 1954 and 1960 and won two consecutive Hamilton Spectator Trophies from 1957-59.
Brown and the entire IceDogs coaching staff have high expectations for the upcoming season. “We expect to do well and compete for the top spot all year,” stated Brown. “We’re going to make sure the guys work hard night in and night out and the overall bi-product will be team success.”
The IceDogs are expected to have recent NHL draft picks Stefan Legein, Drew Schiestel and Gianluca Caputi in camp this fall. Legein was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in the 2nd round, 37th overall. Legein will be representing Team Canada at the Canada/Russia Super Series next month. Schiestel was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2nd round, 59th overall while Caputi was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 4th round, 111th overall.
By Brad Young
Mario Cicchillo, known as “Cheech” to nearly everyone in the hockey industry, will be the new bench boss for the Niagara IceDogs when junior hockey makes its return to the Niagara region for the start of the 2007-08 OHL season.
Cicchillo is no stranger to the OHL having served as an assistant coach to the Mississauga IceDogs (now known as the Niagara IceDogs) for the past three seasons.
Cicchillo will be joined by many of the hockey operations staff from Mississauga, most notably general manger Dave Brown.
Cicchillo and Brown have a long and storied past together, which dates back to their days with the Tier II Junior “A” Brampton Capitals. Both Cicchillo and Brown enjoyed success in Brampton as the pair captured two Provincial Championships during their four year tenure. Cicchillo and Brown made a stop in Milton for one year before the tandem made the jump to the ranks of the OHL with the Mississauga IceDogs, where they have spent the last three seasons.
Brown commented on Cicchillo’s head coaching appointment. “He put in his time, he worked diligently to understand the league at an assistant coach’s level and he’s seen what works and what doesn’t work and how the kids respond,” said Brown from his office in St. Catherines.
Brown is excited about making the move to St. Catherine’s where the Niagara IceDogs will be playing their home games out of the Jack Gatecliff Arena. “There’s a deep tradition of junior hockey in the Niagara market,” spoke Brown. “The Jack Gatecliff Arena has a tremendous amount of character and history behind it and there are a lot of guys that have played here that still live in the area.” The St. Catherine Teepees once played out of the Jack Gatecliff Arena, which captured two Memorial Cups in 1954 and 1960 and won two consecutive Hamilton Spectator Trophies from 1957-59.
Brown and the entire IceDogs coaching staff have high expectations for the upcoming season. “We expect to do well and compete for the top spot all year,” stated Brown. “We’re going to make sure the guys work hard night in and night out and the overall bi-product will be team success.”
The IceDogs are expected to have recent NHL draft picks Stefan Legein, Drew Schiestel and Gianluca Caputi in camp this fall. Legein was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in the 2nd round, 37th overall. Legein will be representing Team Canada at the Canada/Russia Super Series next month. Schiestel was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2nd round, 59th overall while Caputi was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 4th round, 111th overall.