ECHL: Maine Mariners Hire Rick Kowalsky as Head Coach

The Maine Mariners announced their new Head Coach this afternoon as ECHL Hall of Famer Rick Kowalsky. He has had a successful hockey career as both a player and a coach. The Mariners also announced that Zach Tolkinen will stay on as the team’s assistant coach.

Playing Career

A Memorial Cup Champion in 1993 with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL would help lead him to being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 10th round of the 1992 NHL Draft. Although never playing in an NHL game, Kowalsky built a strong 12-year professional playing career across the AHL and ECHL.

In the AHL, he played 183 games with the Cornwall Aces, Norfolk Admirals, and Portland Pirates. He registered 92 points and nearly 300 penalty minutes. Returning to Portland will be a homecoming for the former Pirate.

As for the ECHL, he made a major impact with 550 points over 516 games. He was a two-time ECHL All-Star and captained the Trenton Titans to a Kelly Cup championship in his final season (2004–05).

Transition from Player to Coach

Immediately following his retirement as a player, Kowalsky transitioned into coaching, starting as an assistant with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals.

“I am extremely excited to join the Maine Mariners as Head Coach and General Manager,” said Kowalsky. “Through this whole process with Dexter and Adam, just seeing their passion and enthusiasm towards striving to make Maine a top organization in the ECHL is something that really resonates with me. I am grateful for the opportunity Dexter has given me.”
-Kowalsky on being named Head Coach of the Maine Mariners (Via Maine Mariners Press Release)

Time in New Jersey

Later, he took the helm of the ECHL’s Trenton Titans/Devils, where his coaching acumen became evident. He was awarded the John Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year in 2009 and was later inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2017, a testament to his leadership and influence on the game at that level.

Kowalsky’s coaching career reached new heights in the AHL when he became the inaugural head coach of the Albany Devils in 2010.

Under his guidance, the team reached the playoffs in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, he was named the AHL Coach of the Year, receiving the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award after leading Albany to a 46-win season. His tenure with the Devils’ AHL affiliates, including Binghamton, resulted in over 280 career wins.

Moving on to Long Island

In 2021, Kowalsky joined the New York Islanders organization as an assistant coach for the Bridgeport Islanders. Two years later, he was promoted to head coach of the team.

In March 2024, he achieved a major milestone by recording his 300th career AHL coaching win, becoming just the 26th coach in league history to do so. This win came across 667 regular-season games with Albany, Binghamton, and Bridgeport. However, his tenure in Bridgeport came to an end in May 2025 when he was relieved of his head coaching duties.

Throughout his career, Kowalsky has been known for his dedication to player development and his adaptability behind the bench.

Hopefully, Kowalsky can bring new energy to Portland and get the Mariners back to the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Although last season was rough, a stint on old stomping grounds will be just the right mix for success.