Oil Kings Name Steve Pleau Head Coach

Edmonton, AB — The Edmonton Oil Kings today announced the hiring of Steve Pleau as their Head Coach. Pleau was the Assistant Coach of the Spokane Chiefs (WHL) last season, and helped the team advance to the playoffs for the first time in three years with a record of 36-28-4-4. Prior to that, Pleau spent eight years working for the St. Louis Blues organization, most recently as Head Coach of the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen (46-26-3-5), and Assistant Coach with the Worchester IceCats.
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r“We wanted to bring in a Head Coach who could work well with young players and build our hockey team into a contender, and Steve is certainly that person,” said Bob Green, General Manager of the Edmonton Oil Kings. “After doing a great deal of due diligence into the hiring of a Head Coach, I kept coming back to Steve as the ideal candidate for the job. I look forward to working with Steve to build a team that our fans will be proud of, and enjoy watching.”
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r“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to come to Edmonton and coach the Oil Kings,” said Steve Pleau. “This is a great opportunity for my family and I to join a quality organization, and work with a very well respected hockey person like Bob Green. I believe that we have the opportunity to build a very successful program that in the future can compete for league championships and Memorial Cups. I look forward to getting settled in Edmonton and begin preparing for training camp.”
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rSteve Pleau has also been involved with the USA National Development Program at various international events, including the Viking Cup, where he was the Head Coach of the USA under-18 team.
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rTEAM 1260 TO BROADCAST OIL KINGS GAMES
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rThe Edmonton Oil Kings have reached a radio rights agreement with Standard Radio that will see all 72 games of their inaugural Western Hockey League season broadcast on the TEAM 1260.
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r“The TEAM was a natural fit when we set out to find a radio rights partner,” said Nick Wilson, Vice President of Business Operations for the Edmonton Oil Kings. “As Edmonton’s only exclusive sports radio station, the TEAM has a built-in audience of sports enthusiasts that live and breathe hockey. We’re confident that the TEAM’s listeners will embrace the fast-paced action of the Western Hockey League, and will become diehard fans of Edmonton’s newest major junior franchise, the Oil Kings.”
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r“It’s great to see the return of junior hockey to Edmonton, and we’re absolutely thrilled to be partnering up with the Oil Kings. The raw energy of the young talent on the ice, combined with the enthusiasm of our three stations, should be a winning combination,” said Marty Forbes, Vice President & General Manager of Standard Radio Edmonton. “Over the past five years we’ve tried very hard to develop a style and attitude on the TEAM 1260 and we fully expect to carry that blend over to our Oil King radio broadcasts”.
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rThe Edmonton Oil Kings inaugural season will kick-off this September at Rexall Place when the 2007/08 WHL season begins. For more information on the Edmonton Oil Kings, including Season Seat information, please consult their website at www.oilkings.ca.
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