Firebirds’ Nightingale joins AHL’s Rockford IceHogs as Assistant Coach

Rockford Ill. – The Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, today announced that former team captain Jared Nightingale has joined the coaching staff as an Assistant Coach.

Nightingale, 39, served as the IceHogs team captain during the 2013-14 season, his lone playing campaign with the organization. In 67 games, the Jackson, Michigan, native, scored on goal and three assists for four points and led the team with 114 penalty minutes. Overall, he played in 674 professional games in the AHL and ECHL, totaling 102 points (23G, 79A).

Following his playing career, Nightingale moved behind the bench as an assistant coach in the junior hockey ranks starting in 2017-18. Most recently, he served as the assistant coach with the Flint Firebirds of the OHL for the past two seasons, where he helped the club to a 6-5-0 record to start this season. He was also a member of the Saginaw Spirit coaching staff during the 2019-20 season and reunites with IceHogs forward D.J. Busdeker. The former 6-foot-3, 205-pound defenseman was also behind the bench with the US. National Team Development Program in the USHL in 2018-19.

“I’d like to thank Rolf, Terry, Ted, and the whole Firebird organization for supporting me in this decision to further my coaching career,” Nightingale said in a Flint release. “It speaks to their character to give me their blessing as the season has already started. This is the best decision for my family and career.”

“We are very happy that Jared Nightingale has been offered this opportunity,” Firebirds President of Hockey Operations Terry Christensen said. “It is the goal of our franchise to see not only our coaching staff but our players fulfill their dream of working at the highest level in hockey possible. When we hired Jared last summer, we knew that we were getting a very talented coach and this is no surprise that he has been given this opportunity.”

For more information visit icehogs.com and flintfirebirds.com.