ECHL: Adirondack Thunder Extend Head Coach Pete MacArthur

The Adirondack Thunder have announced that they have signed Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Pete MacArthur to a two-year extension that carries him through the 2025-26 season. MacArthur, originally hired by the Thunder in June 2022, has led the Thunder to a 75-46-16-3 record and Kelly Cup Playoff appearances in his first two years as the Thunder’s bench boss. It was not disclosed if assistant Mike Bergin’s contract was renewed as the assistant coach. MacArthur finished third behind Kansas City’s Tad O’Had and Greenville’s Andrew Lord in Coach of the Year Voting.

There is no doubt that if MacArthur wanted to continue coaching the Thunder, the job was his. He’s done a great job in his first two seasons despite getting off to a rocky start in his first year as Head Coach, which was to be expected, seeing that this was MacArthur’s first coaching gig. One of the biggest things that MacArthur has adapted to is the constant movement in the ECHL, and being able to adapt on the fly and find guys who are going to be successful, some of MacArthur’s biggest mid-season acquisitions have been; Darion Skeoch, Grant Jozefek, and Travis Broughman as all three players have made a huge impact to the Thunder lineup over the past two seasons.

“My family and I are so grateful to continue with this amazing opportunity in Adirondack,” said MacArthur. “We look forward to continuing to improve on-and-off the ice and fight for a Kelly Cup Championship with the best fans in the league behind us. Go Thunder!”

Head Coach Pete MacArthur via The Adirondack Thunder press release

Prior to jumping behind the Thunder bench, MacArthur played parts of seven seasons in the ECHL, putting up 76 goals and 164 assists for 240 points in 265 games. Four of those seven seasons came with Adirondack, and in three of those seasons, he would be the team’s captain. He would also spend parts of five seasons in the AHL, playing in 190 games, putting up 29 goals and 57 assists for 190 points.