The Pittsburgh Penguins have almost entirely overhauled their coaching staff over the last few months.
And they just named a new bench boss for one of their organizational affiliates.
On Thursday, the Wheeling Nailers - Pittsburgh's ECHL affiliate - hired Ryan Papaioannou as their head coach. Papaioannou replaces Derek Army, who left Wheeling to take an assistant coaching position with the Colorado Eagles, AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.
"Adding Ryan to the organization as the head coach of the Wheeling Nailers is a pivotal hire for the Penguins," said Pens' Assistant GM Jason Spezza, who helped lead the search. "Ryan has consistently delivered winning results, including multiple championships during his 16 years as head coach and general manager of the Brooks Bandits. Additionally, he has a long track record of developing elite players, helping them to reach their potential, and contributing to a winning program."
Papaioannou, 41, was with the Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for 17 seasons, leading the team to nine total championships in that time - including a BCHL league championship last season, which was their first in the BCHL.
"Being the head coach for the Wheeling Nailers is an opportunity that my family and I couldn't pass up and an opportunity to get involved with a storied team," Papaioannou said. "Wheeling is a great place to raise a family, it's an organization with a storied history, and the tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins all made this somewhere we wanted to be."
A three-time Coach of the Year (2013, 2019, 2022), Papaioannou will join assistant coach Mitch Giguere and goaltending coach Karel Popper on the staff.
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