Geordie Kinnear

Geordie S. Kinnear (born July 9, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and current head coach of the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). He played 4 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999–00 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1993 to 2001, was mainly spent in the minor American Hockey League. After retiring he turned to coaching, and was named head coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2016.

Geordie Kinnear
Born (1973-07-09) July 9, 1973
Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Atlanta Thrashers
NHL Draft 162nd overall, 1992
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 19932001

Playing career

After playing three seasons of junior hockey for the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, Kinnear was drafted in the seventh round, 162nd overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. One of the team's original players, he skated with River Rats for the first six years of his eight-year professional career (1993–94 to 1998–99), helping them reach the playoffs every year. Over that time, he was a member of the River Rats' 1995 Calder Cup championship team, was selected to four consecutive AHL All-Star Classics (1995–1999) and served as Albany's captain for three seasons (1996–1999).[1]

In August 1999, Kinnear made his National Hockey League debut after he signed with the Atlanta Thrashers as a free agent. He appeared in four games with Thrashers and played for the other part of the 1999-2000 season with Atlanta's IHL affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears.[2] After starting the 2000-01 season with Orlando, he was traded back to New Jersey on Nov. 6, 2000, and played 14 games with the Albany River Rats before being forced to retire due to injury in December 2000. He retired as the all-time leader in games played and penalty minutes for the River Rats and was one of the first inductees into the Albany River Rats Hall of Fame. He was honoured during a game versus Providence with a special "Geordie Kinnear Night" when his #4 sweater was retired and hoisted to the rafters.[3]

Coaching career

After an eight-year professional career, Kinnear began his coaching career when he joined the Albany River Rats coaching staff in August 2001. He worked for the New Jersey Devils' minor-league affiliate from 2001–2006, serving as Albany's assistant coach for four seasons and working as a special assignment scout with the New Jersey Devils during the 2004-05 season. He spent the 2006-07 season serving as a part-time assistant and special consultant for Albany during their first year as the Carolina Hurricanes top minor-league affiliate. During the Charlotte Checkers' 2015-2016 campaign, he spent his eighth full season working for the Carolina Hurricanes organization and his thirteenth season as an assistant coach in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Kinnear was hired by the Florida Panthers as head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, for the 2016–17 season. This was Kinnear's first head coaching position.[4] After four seasons as coach with the Thunderbirds, Kinnear returned to the Charlotte Checkers as head coach following an affiliation change with the Panthers for the 2020–21 season.[5]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1989–90 Norwich Merchants NDJCHL 100019
1989–90 Tillsonburg Titans WOHL 34257153
1990–91 Peterborough Petes U18 AA OHL Jr B 606651
1991–92 Peterborough Petes OHL 6351621195 1002236
1992–93 Peterborough Petes OHL 5862228161 1915643
1993–94 Albany River Rats AHL 5931215197 500021
1994–95 Albany River Rats AHL 6851116136 91127
1995–96 Albany River Rats AHL 734711170 40112
1996–97 Albany River Rats AHL 592911175 1001115
1997–98 Albany River Rats AHL 7811516206 1311268
1998–99 Albany River Rats AHL 5511314162 50110
1999–00 Orlando Solar Bears IHL 69156231 60009
1999–00 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 400013
2000–01 Orlando Solar Bears IHL 1100041
2000–01 Albany River Rats AHL 1411248
AHL totals 4061768851094 46257113
NHL totals 400013

References

  1. "Kinnear coaching profile". Carolina Hurricanes. July 5, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  2. The National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book/2009. Triumph Books. 2007. p. 621. ISBN 978-1-60078-148-3.
  3. "Geordie Kinnear player profile". legendsofhockey.net. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  4. "Kinnear named coach of Florida's AHL affiliate". AHL. June 7, 2016.
  5. "Geordie Kinnear returns to Charlotte as head coach". Charlotte Checkers. September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
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