Niagara, ON – The Niagara IceDogs have announced, Rick Wamsley as a Hockey Consultant.
IceDogs General Manager, Darren DeDobbelaer shared, “I’m really excited to add Rick to our team. I believe we have a great foundation in place, we just need help in getting us across the finish line”.
Rick Wamsley had a very successful 12-year NHL career as a goaltender. After being drafted 58th overall to the Montreal Canadiens in 1979, Rick went on to play professional hockey until the 1993 season. The majority of Ricks’s career was spent between the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and Calgary Flames. He finished off his successful goaltending career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1992-1993 season and retired with 204 wins under his belt.
Since retiring as a goaltender, Rick’s passion and hockey knowledge allowed him to immediately move into a hockey operations role in Toronto. Wamsley has served as a pro and amateur scout with the Maple Leafs and also as an assistant coach under Pat Burns. In the 2000 expansion, Rick joined the Columbus Blue Jackets as a scout and goaltending coach for six years. Following the 2005-2006 season, Wamsley accepted a position with the St. Lous Blues coaching staff. He served as an assistant coach and goalie coach for 4 seasons before moving back to Canada. From there, Rick joined the Ottawa Senators as a goaltending coach from 2010-2016.
“I am grateful for the opportunity presented by Darren to join the IceDogs team”, said Rick Wamsley. The Simcoe native is no stranger to the Niagara Region. Beginning his junior hockey career with the St. Catharines Fincups in 1976, he shared, “I am especially excited to give back to the Niagara Region and the OHL, which was so instrumental for my journey as I pursued a career in hockey”.
“Rick’s resume speaks for itself” states IceDogs GM, Darren DeDobbelaer. “He is a character person, as well as a ‘been there, done that’ guy. He will for sure help the IceDogs get to the next level”.
