FORT COLLINS, Colo. – After guiding the Colorado Eagles to an unparalleled level of success over the past five seasons from behind the bench, Chris Stewart is stepping down as the team’s head coach. Stewart will remain heavily involved in the franchise, maintaining his roles as president and general manager of the organization.
Taking over the reins is four-time Stanley Cup winner Kevin McClelland, recently the head coach of the Mississippi RiverKings (2005-06 thru 2007-08). A fourth round draft pick of the Hartford Whalers, McClelland spent parts of 12 seasons in the NHL, seven of them with the Edmonton Oilers during the team’s 1980s dynasty.
McClelland played a rugged game as a checking line winger, accumulating the second-most penalty minutes in Oilers history. In the mid-’80s, he strung together four consecutive seasons of over 200 PIMs and finished his NHL career with a total of 1,672 (1,952 including playoffs). Part of his job description included protecting Wayne Gretzky.
McClelland’s most famous offensive contribution came in Game One of the Oilers first Stanley Cup championship series in 1984. With the Oilers and rival Islanders skating to a 0-0 tie, McClelland’s goal stood up as the only score of the game, propelling Edmonton to their first of five championships in seven years.
With his playing days over, McClelland’s coaching career began in 1997 as assistant coach of the OHL’s Barrie Colts, and he has been either a head coach or assistant coach every year since. After spending one year with the Colts, he got his first head coaching job with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. Following two years with the Raiders, he advanced to the AHL, becoming assistant coach of the St. John’s Maple Leafs for five seasons.
Over the past three seasons, McClelland guided the RiverKings to a regular season record of 100-77-15, two playoff berths and a trip to the Northern Conference Finals in 2007 (where they lost to Colorado in six games). McClelland was named the CHL’s Coach of the Year for 2006-07 and was the recipient of the league’s Ralph Backstrom Soul of Service Award following the 2007-08 season for “demonstrating the qualities of excellence and dedication to providing outstanding customer service.”
A native of Oshawa, Ontario, McClelland now lives in Windsor, Colorado with his wife Wendy and their three sons, Jack, Max and Matt.
Quotes From The Colorado Eagles
Ralph Backstrom, Founder – “We’re excited to have Kevin McClelland coaching our team. He’s certainly got some big shoes to fill, but I’m confident that he’ll do a great job and continue what Chris Stewart started. Kevin’s been a winner all his life – with four Stanley Cup rings – and he’s got the same mindset and coaching philosophy as Chris so there shouldn’t be a lot of shake-up.”
Martin Lind, CEO – “Coach Stewart has certainly set the bar extremely high, but I know that Kevin McClelland is one of the few people in the nation that has the knowledge of the game, the player’s respect, and the tenacity and work ethic to continue the championship level we all have come to enjoy and expect here in Northern Colorado…and obviously, it doesn’t hurt to now have 10 Stanley Cups worth of expertise in the front office (including Ralph Backstrom’s six). On the other side of the coin, I’m selfishly looking forward to having Chris Stewart in the corporate office full time; he is one of the best businessmen I have ever met and a great asset for the organization.”
Chris Stewart, President & General Manager – “I feel extremely lucky to be a part of this organization and a part of the Northern Colorado community. I’m grateful for the incredible support I’ve received from my family, Martin Lind, the investors and Eagles fans. I’m really looking forward to this next chapter of my life. Coaching has been my career for the past 25 years, but my passion has always been the business side of hockey.”
Kevin McClelland, Head Coach – “I’d like to thank the Colorado Eagles organization for allowing me to be a part of this great franchise; it’s certainly one of the top minor pro sports franchises around. I’m both excited by the chance to coach this great team, and energized by the vote of confidence that Martin Lind, Ralph Backstrom, Chris Stewart and the entire organization has given me by selecting me as Head Coach. I look forward to the challenge and opportunity.”
J.P. Puma, Manager of Communications – “There’s no downside to these related changes. The Eagles organization is gaining yet another top-notch hockey influence in Kevin McClelland, while enabling Chris Stewart to have an even greater impact on the franchise. A lot of people don’t realize that for all of the incredible success Coach Stewart has brought the Eagles on the ice, he’s been even more instrumental in the franchise’s success off the ice, and this move will allow him to devote even more time and energy to those avenues. On top of that, we’re gaining a four-time Stanley Cup winner and former CHL Coach of the Year who’s coached at the AHL level. This really is a win-win series of events and a step forward for the organization as a whole.”
