SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS: COACHES BIOS GEORDIE KINNEAR - HEAD COACH Geordie Kinnear joins the Springfield Thunderbirds as head coach after serving as an AHL assistant coach since 2001. Kinnear began his coaching career with the Albany River Rats following an eight South Division -year professional playing career and also served as a special assignment scout for the New Jersey Devils during the 2004-05 season. After he played three seasons of junior hockey for the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, the New Jersey Devils drafted Kinnear in the seventh round (162nd overall) of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Beginning with the 1993-94 season, he skated with Albany for the first six years of his career, helping the team reach the playoffs each season. Over that time, he was a member of Albany’s 1995 Calder Cup championship team, appeared in four consecutive AHL All-Star Classics (1995-1999) and served as team captain for three seasons (1996-1999). Kinnear signed with the Atlanta Thrashers as a free agent in August of 1999, making his National Hockey League debut by appearing in four games with Atlanta, posting a total of 13 penalty minutes. He split the 1999-2000 season between Atlanta and the Thrashers’ IHL affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears. After starting the 2000-01 season with Orlando, he was traded back to New Jersey on Nov. 6, 2000, and played 14 games with Albany before being forced to retire due to injury in December of 2000. A defenseman originally from Simcoe, Ontario, Kinnear totaled 30 goals, 68 assists and 1,094 penalty minutes over the course of 406 career AHL games with Albany. DOUG JANIK - ASSISTANT COACH Doug Janik is in his second season as an AHL assistant coach after serving in the same role for the Springfield Falcons in 2015-16. A native of Agawam, Mass., Janik played his youth hockey for the New England Junior Whalers before going on to capture a national championship collegiately for the University of Maine in 1999. That same year, Janik was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the NHL Draft. A veteran of more than 800 professional games, Janik played in the NHL for the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, and Detroit Red Wings between 2002 and 2012. At the AHL level, Janik scored 202 points and added 951 penalty minutes in his career, which included a trip to the AHL All-Star game in the 2003-04 season. MIKE RYAN - ASSISTANT COACH Michael Ryan was named as an assistant coach with the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2016, his first pro coaching opportunity. A native of Milton, Mass., Ryan has over thirteen years of professional hockey experience. The majority of his National Hockey League career was spent with the Buffalo Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes. He finished the last four seasons of his professional career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and the Finnish Elite League (Liiga). His primary goal with the Thunderbirds is to help develop and support the Panthers prospects in achieving their goal of playing in the NHL. Prior to turning professional, Ryan was a second round (32nd overall) draft pick of the Dallas Stars. He is a Boston College High School graduate who was inducted into the athletic hall of fame in 2016. Following his two seasons at BC High, Ryan went on to play for Northeastern University where he led the Huskies in goals three straight seasons and was team captain. Ryan currently resides with his wife and four young children in his home town of Milton during the offseason. South Division SAM BRITTAIN (G) Ht: 6'3 Wt: 226 Age: 24 DOB: 5/10/1992 #1 Catches: Left Place: Calgary, AB Drafted: 4th Rd (#92) by Florida Panthers in 2010 NHL Draft CAREER NOTES: 2015-2016 w/ POR (AHL): Appeared in 25 games for 1,313 minutes… Averaged 2.79 GA with 0.906 SV%... Stopped 17 shots for a win in his first ever Portland Pirates start on 10/18/2015… Stopped career-high 45 shots in OT win @ Providence Bruins on 1/17/2016…. Played 4 seasons at the University of Denver between 2010-14… In college had (51-34-11) record, including 11 shutouts, over 97 games… nominated for Mike Richter award in 2014, given to NCAA’s best goalie… Selected in the 4th round (92nd over) of 2010 NHL draft by the Florida Panthers. --- Regular Season --- - Playoffs - SEASON TEAM GP GAA SV% GA MIN SAVES W L OTL SOL SO GP GA 2010-11 Univ. Denver 33 2.28 0.921 2011-12 Univ. Denver 12 2.36 0.932 2012-13 Univ. Denver 13 2.95 0.907 JOSH BROWN (D) Ht: 6'5 Wt: 225 Age: 23 DOB: 1/21/1994 #3 Shoots: Right Place: London, ON Drafted: 6th Rd (#152) by Florida Panthers in 2013 NHL Draft Career Notes: 2015-2016 w/ Manchester Monarchs (ECHL): Appeared in 54 games recording 1 goal and 11 assists… Saw action in 5 playoff games… 2015-2016 w/ POR (AHL): Played in 10 games recording 1 assist… 2014-2015 w/ Oshawa Generals (OHL): Standout player in final year of junior hockey, won OHL Championship and Memorial Cup… Selected in 6th round (152 overall) by Florida Panthers in 2013 NHL Draft. --- Regular Season --- --- Playoffs --- SEASON TEAM GP G A PTS PIM +/- GP G A PTS PIM +/- 2011-12 Oshawa Generals (OHL) 46 0 4 4 49 -9 2 0 0 0 0 -1 2012-13 Oshawa Generals (OHL) 68 0 16 16 79 17 9 1 4 5 11 1 2013-14 Oshawa Generals (OHL) 56 2 10 12 83 7 9 0 0 0 18 5 2014-15 Oshawa Generals (OHL) 60 6 15 21 92 49 21 2 2 4 30 5 2015-16 Portland Pirates (AHL) 10 0 1 1 7 -2 2015-16 Manchester Monarchs (ECHL) 54 1 11 12 80 10 5 4 0 2016-17 Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) 68 3 8 11 94 -10 Total (AHL) 78 3 9 12 101 -12 Total ECHL) 54 1 11 12 80 10 5 0 0 0 4 0 Total (OHL) 230 8 45 53 303 64 41 3 6 9 59 10 #5 MICHAEL DOWNING (D) Ht: 6'3 Wt: 204 Age: 21 DOB: 5/19/1995 Shoots: Left Place: Canton, MI Drafted: 4th Rd (#97) by Florida Panthers in 2013 NHL Draft CAREER NOTES: 2015-2016 w/ Mich. (NCAA): Appeared in 35 games recording 3 goals and 17 assists for 20 points… All-Big Ten Second Team selection in 2014-2015 and Big Ten All-Rookie Team in 2013-2014… Recorded an assist on college debut vs. BC… Played for U.S. National U17 team… Selected in 4th round (97th overall) in 2013 NHL draft by the Florida Panthers. --- Regular Season --- --- Playoffs --- SEASON TEAM GP G A PTS PIM +/- GP G A PTS PIM +/- 2013-14 Univ. Michigan (NCAA) 34 2 10 12 60 3 2014-15 Univ. Michigan (NCAA) 36 6 16 22 76 3 2015-16 Univ. Michigan (NCAA) 35 3 17 20 66 20 2015-16 Portland Pirates (AHL) 1 0 0 0 4 0 2016-17 Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) 62 2 9 11 65 -10 Total (AHL) 63 2 9 11 69 -10 Total (NCAA) 105 11 43 54 202 26 #6 ED WITTCHOW (D) Ht: 6'4 Wt: 215 Age: 24 DOB: 10/31/1992 Shoots: Left Place: Burnsville, MN Drafted: 6th Rd (#154) by Florida Panthers in 2011 NHL Draft CAREER NOTES: 2015-16 w/University of Wisconsin (NCAA): served as a team captain and played in 32 of 35 games as a senior… led the team with 79 blocks, tied for 13th most in the nation… Appeared in 122 games in career recording 1 goal and 15 assists… WCHA champions in 2012-2013 season… Selected in the 6th round (154 overall) by Florida Panthers in 2011 NHL Draft. --- Regular Season --- --- Playoffs --- SEASON TEAM GP G A PTS PIM +/- GP G A PTS PIM +/- 2012-13 Univ. of Wisconsin (NCAA) 29 0 3 3 28 4 2013-14 Univ. of Wisconsin (NCAA) 37 1 6 7 26 12 2014-15 Univ. of Wisconsin (NCAA) 25 0 0 0 43 -8 2015-16 Univ. of Wisconsin (NCAA) 32 0 7 7 53 -6 2016-17 Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) 33 1 1 2 56 -6 2016-17 Manchester Monarchs (ECHL) 4 0 2 2 0 5 Total (AHL) 33 1 1 2 56 -6 Total (ECHL) 5 0 0 0 2 -3 Total (NCAA) 123 1 16 17 150 2 #7 REECE SCARLETT (D) Ht: 6'1 Wt: 185 Age: 23 DOB: 3/31/1993 Shoots: Right Place: Sherwood Park, AB Drafted: 6th rd (159th overall) by New Jersey Devils in 2011 NHL Draft CAREER NOTES: • Played 276 games with Swift Current (WHL), registering 25 goals and 107 assists for 132 points • Appeared in 2011 CHL Top Prospects Game • Made professional/AHL debut on October 12, 2013 against Utica; scored first professional/AHL goal on November 16, 2013 at Syracuse • Tied for third on team in 2013-14 with six power-play goals and a +11 rating • Registered a career-high 27 points (4g-23a) during 2015-16 season --- Regular Season --- --- Playoffs --- SEASON TEAM GP G A PTS PIM +/- GP G A PTS PIM +/- 2008-09 Swift Current Broncos (WHL) 1 2009-10 Swift Current Broncos (WHL) 65 1 10 11 49 -3 4 0 2 2 4 -2 2010-11 Swift Current Broncos (WHL) 72 6 18 24 59 -37 2011-12 Swift Current Broncos (WHL) 71 9 40 49 74 -14 2012-13 Swift Current Broncos (WHL) 67 9 40 49 66 14 5 0 3 3 10 -2 2013-14 Albany Devils (AHL) 48 6 14 20 18 11 2014-15 Albany Devils (AHL) 57 2 23 25 27 1 2015-16 Albany Devils (AHL) 60 4 22 26 64 -1 10 0 0 0 0 -6 2016-17 Albany Devils (AHL) 50 4 17 21 53 -6 2016-17 Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) 1 1 0 1 0 1 Total (WHL) 216 17 76 93 162 6 10 -6 Total (AHL) 216 17 76 186 162 6 19 4 7 11 4 2 #8 JAYCE HAWRYLUK (F) Ht: 5'11 Wt: 186 Age: 21 DOB: 1/1/1996 Shoots: Right Place: Yorkton, SK Drafted: 2nd Rd (#32) by Florida Panthers in 2014 NHL Draft CAREER NOTES: 2015-2016 w/ Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) : Recorded 47 goals and 59 assists for 106… Won WHL championship, recording 7 goals and 23 assists in 21 playoff games… Recorded 1 goal and 1 assist in two games for the WHL all-stars against Russia… Hawryluk made his WHL debut with Brandon as a 16-year-old and skated for Canada Western in the 2013 U17 World Hockey Challenge… also helped Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team secure a bronze medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships.