2017-18 Ahl Regular Season - Toronto Marlies Bios
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GENERAL MANAGER & GOVERNOR: KYLE DUBAS Kyle Dubas was named Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 22, 2014. In his role with the Leafs, Dubas holds multiple responsibilities including player personnel, managing the club’s player development department and farm system, managing the organizations Research & Development department, and overseeing the organization’s top prospects as General Manager of the team’s AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. In 2015-16, the Marlies were awarded the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as AHL regular season champions for the first time in their 11-year history while capturing their fourth division title in the last five years with a franchise-best record of 54-16-5-1 (114 points). In his three seasons as General Manager, the Marlies have a record of 116-72-18-2 and developed seven members of the 2017 Toronto Maple Leafs final roster (Josh Leivo, Connor Brown, Connor Carrick, Zach Hyman, Nikita Soshnikov, William Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen). Dubas also established the Maple Leafs Hockey Research and Development department as well as the team’s Sports Science and Performance department. Before joining the Maple Leafs, Dubas served as General Manager of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League for three seasons from 2011-12 to 2013-14. During his tenure, his teams finished with an overall record of 109-76-7-12, which included two post-season berths and a West Division title in 2013-14. At the time of his hiring by the Greyhounds, the Sports Management Graduate from Brock University (Dean’s List honours) became the second youngest General Manager in OHL history at the age of 25. From 2011 through 2014, the Greyhounds had 14 players drafted to the National Hockey League; second most of all OHL teams over that span. Prior to his appointment as General Manager of the Greyhounds, Dubas was an NHLPA Certified Agent with Uptown Sports Management for five years from 2006 to 2011. During that time, he was actively involved in recruiting and advising players at the major junior, collegiate and pro level while representing players in their contract negotiations with NHL and American Hockey League clubs. Dubas previously worked for the Soo Greyhounds from 1997 to 2006 in various roles. He was a dressing room assistant from 1997-98 to 1999-2000, a Hockey Operations assistant from 2000-01 to 2002-03 and scouted for the team from 2003-04 to 2005-06. Some of his duties over the years included player personnel, scouting, and player development, as well as developing new corporate partners and revenue streams for the club. In 2015, Dubas was recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the sports industry’s brightest young stars in their annual Top 30 Under 30 in Sports list. He has served on the Brock University Alumni Executive Committee since 2013 and was honoured with the Brock University Distinguished Young Alumni Award in March of 2015. Dubas, 31, resides in Toronto with his wife, Shannon. DIRECTOR, HOCKEY OPERATIONS & ALTERNATE GOVRNOR: MIKE DIXON Mike Dixon joins the Marlies organization with more than 10 years of experience in the NHL. Having previously worked for the Florida Panthers, Dixon held a variety of positions including Manager of Team Services and most recently with the Panthers and most recently served as the club’s Director of Hockey Operations. Dixon holds an MBA in Sports Management from Florida Atlantic University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University. HEAD COACH: SHELDON KEEFE Sheldon Keefe enters his third season as Head Coach of the Toronto Marlies. Last season, Keefe led the Marlies to their sixth consecutive 40+ win season and sixth consecutive playoff berth. In his past two seasons with the Marlies, Keefe has an overall record of 96-45-9-2. During the 2015-16 AHL season, Keefe led the Marlies to 54 regular season wins, claiming top spot in the AHL standings (Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy) for the first time in the organization’s history. Keefe was also named head coach of the North Division All-Star team that year. Keefe, 37, joined the Marlies after a successful three years as Head Coach of the for the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds. After joining the team as a mid-season replacement, Keefe led the Greyhounds back to the playoffs after the team missed out the previous two seasons. In the following two seasons, the Greyhounds skated to a regular season record of 98-29-0-0-2 while reaching the second round (2013-14) and third round (2014-15) of the playoffs. Prior to Sault Ste. Marie, the Brampton, ON native served as GM/Head Coach of the CCHL’s Pembroke Lumber Kings, leading them to five consecutive league championships (2007-2011). Sheldon has also served as an Assistant Coach for Team Canada’s Men’s Summer U18 team which earned a gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in 2015. Prior to coaching, Keefe was a standout in the OHL and named Rookie of the Year in 1999 along with an All-Rookie Team selection. He followed his rookie campaign with a 121-point sophomore season with the Barrie Colts and was named the OHL’s Top Scorer. That same season he captained the Barrie Colts to the MasterCard Memorial Cup. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, 48th overall, Keefe would skate in 125 NHL games for the Lightning before retiring after the 2004-05 AHL season. ASSISTANT COACH: A.J. MACLEAN A.J. MacLean returns to the Toronto Marlies for his third season as Assistant Coach. Prior to the Marlies, MacLean served as an Assistant Coach on Sheldon Keefe’s coaching staff in Sault Ste. Marie. The Antigonish, NS native finished a 10-year semi-professional hockey career with the Dundee Stars of the EIHL for three seasons before leaving to coach the Greyhounds. MacLean played junior hockey with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, recorded 47 points in three seasons and earned QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year honours. MacLean is the son of 2013 Jack Adams award winner Paul MacLean and his brother, David, is a scout for the Montreal Canadians. ASSISTANT COACH: ROB DAVISON Davison joins the Maple Leafs organization with over 500 games of playing experience between the National and American Hockey League. Drafted 98th overall in the fourth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, Davison played five seasons with the Sharks and later suited up for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils. The St. Catharines, ON native registered 18 points (3 goals, 15 assists) and 321 penalty minutes in 219 NHL games. In 310 career AHL games, Davison collected 52 points (13 goals, 39 assists), 560 penalty minutes and was named captain of the Worcester Sharks during the 2013-14 AHL season. Davison also played three seasons in Europe with HC Ocelari Trinec (CZE) and EC Red Bull Salzburg (EBEL). Following his playing career, Davison transitioned into coaching. During the 2014-15 season, Davison returned to the Austrian Hockey League and joined EC Salzburg as an assistant coach where he won back-to-back Austrian Championships. Last season, Davison joined the coaching staff of HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and helped lead the club to a third-place finish and a KHL Garagin Cup playoff berth. GOALTENDING COACH: PIERO GRECO Piero Greco is in his fourth season as the Toronto Marlies Goaltending Coach. Prior to joining the Marlies, Greco served as the goaltending coach for the Kitchener Rangers from 2010-2012. The Toronto native played parts of four seasons in the OHL with Sudbury, Belleville and the Toronto Marlboros. A 12-year career playing in Europe, enjoying his best season in 1996-97 when he appeared in 44 games posting a 2.75 GAA and .903 save percentage with the Sheffield Steelers of the BISL. The Steelers would capture the British Super League title, while individually Greco was awarded Team MVP and league leader in GAA. After retiring from the game in 2002, Greco went on to found the Greco Goaltending School in 2002, which he still runs today. HOCKEY OPERATIONS ANALYST: WILL SIBLEY Will Sibley arrives to the Toronto Marlies after previously serving as Video Coach and Statistical Analyst of the Kitchener Rangers (OHL). Prior to his work with Kitchener, Sibley completed his Master’s degree at the University of Windsor in Sport Management. Sibley has also worked in various coaching roles with local teams and has owned Control the Crease Goaltending for the past four years where he works with elite level netminders in the Waterloo region. GOALTENDERS (3) #30 KASIMIR KASKISUO G Height: 6’3 Weight: 195 Catches: L Born: October 2,1993 Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland Acquired: Signed to a two-year entry-level contract on March 28, 2016. 2016-17 Highlights: • Made his AHL postseason debut against the Albany Devils, playing 10 games with five wins and three losses. Career Notables: • 2015-16: Made his AHL debut on April 4, 2016, making 26 saves in a 4-3 win over the Syracuse Crunch. • 2015-16: Appeared in 39 games for the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC), posting a record of 19- 15-5 and set a new Minnesota-Duluth single season record for goals against average (1.92). • 2014-15: Appeared in 36 games for the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC). • 2014-15: Posted a record of 18-14-3 with a 2.30 Goals Against Average and a .917 Save Percentage. REGULAR SEASON SEASON CLUB LEAGUE GP W L OT SO SV% GAA MIN 2014-15 MINNESOTA-DULUTH NCHC 36 18 14 3 1 .917 2.30 2114 2015-16 MINNESOTA-DULUTH NCHC 39 19 15 5 5 .923 1.92 2350 2015-16 TORONTO AHL 2 1 0 1 0 .906 2.40 125 2016-17 ORLANDO ECHL 32 14 11 2 1 .899 3.45 1842 2016-17 TORONTO AHL 7 5 1 0 1 .934 1.84 391 PLAYOFFS SEASON CLUB LEAGUE GP W L OT SO SV% GAA MIN 2016-17 TORONTO AHL 10 5 3 0 0 .892 2.66 564 #31 CALVIN PICKARD G Height: 6’1 Weight: 280 Catches: L Born: April 15, 1992 Birthplace: Moncton, NB Drafted: 49th overall in the second round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche Acquired: Acquired in trade with the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Oct.