Erie Adds Jay McKee as Assistant Coach
Erie, Pennsylvania – The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League are pleased to announce the hiring of Jay McKee as an assistant coach with the team.
“This is a very proud moment for us and a special moment for this city and for the Erie Otters,” said General Manager and Governor Sherry Bassin. “For Jay McKee to join us…it’s great for our hockey program. It’s a great relationship.”
McKee, a 14-year-veteran of the NHL playing with Buffalo, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh, will fill the assistant coach role left by Chris Hartsburg who took up the head coaching position with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL.
“I look forward to being a part of this (team),” Jay McKee, Otters new Assistant Coach said Friday. “I expect our players to want to be NHL players. What I want to do here is not only develop the players on the ice…but improve them as people.”
McKee recently held an assistant coach position with the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. He also volunteered as an assistant coach with the Niagara University men’s ice hockey team during the 2010-2011 season. His duties will include overseeing the team’s defense and penalty kill.
“We are very fortunate to have Jay a part of the team,” Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said. “We felt Jay was our guy. What he brings to our team would be perfect for our defensemen. I think we’re going to pick up right where we left off last year.”
