The Johnstown Chiefs named Ian Herbers as the ECHL team’s eighth coach in franchise history during a press conference Monday at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
Herbers, 39, is a former NHL defenseman with 12 years’ playing experience at various levels of the professional game. Most recently, he was an associate coach of the major junior Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League.
“Night in and night out, I stand out in front of the War Memorial and I talk to fans,” Chiefs owner Jim Weber said, explaining his decision to hire Herbers as the Chiefs prepare for their 20th-anniversary season in the ECHL.
“I heard you say you want a different product on the ice. I made a couple tough decisions and decided to make some changes.”
Herbers replaced former coach Frank Anzalone, who led the Chiefs to the playoffs in each of his two seasons.
Anzalone lost his job when the Chiefs ended a working agreement with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.
Johnstown and the surrounding areas made an impression on Herbers during an interview last month. He returned last weekend to begin looking for a home for his family, including his wife, Alina, and two daughters.
“That’s all you can ask for as a coach and a player. You want to be in a place that loves hockey and wants a winning team and supports the team all season long,” Herbers said of Johnstown.
The Chiefs are trying to secure another NHL affiliate to help supply players for the upcoming season.
“There are only a few NHL teams that are left out there,” Herbers said. “We need to get a strong core of players to build that team around so that, when you do have those call-ups and injuries, you still have your players that are here and are going to guide this team.”
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