Gulls Assistant Coach Heads to Russia

Dave Barr is heading to Russia on a two-year deal as an assistant coach for Avangard Omsk.

Just under four months after being hired as an assistant coach for the San Diego Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks' AHL affiliate, Dave Barr is heading to Russia. The 64-year-old signs a two-year deal with Avangard Omsk as an assistant coach to recently-appointed head coach Guy Boucher.

“Barr could have headed a KHL club himself, as Benoit Groulx did at Traktor. But Dave decided to become an assistant to Boucher, with whom he has been friends for a long time,” RG reports. Barr is expected to handle special teams duties for Avangard.

Before joining the Gulls in August 2024, Barr's coaching stops included 11 seasons as an assistant coach in the NHL from 2008 to 2020 as well as a stint as Team Canada's U18 head coach during the 2020-21 season that saw current Ducks Mason McTavish and Olen Zellweger win gold.

With Barr departing, there is now a vacancy on the Gulls' coaching staff. Bret Hedican, who was hired as a player development analyst this past July, was on the bench for the Gulls' game on Nov. 30, their first without Barr. Although Hedican has minimal coaching experience, he played in over 1,000 NHL games and has 15 years of experience as a broadcast commentator. He also served as Team USA's video coach during the 2013 Women's World Championships.