The Savannah Ghost Pirates have announced that they have hired Brenden Kotyk as the team’s assistant coach. He replaced Nick Tuzzolino, who had taken the job of General Manager/Associate Head Coach with Worcester Railers. Kotyk had spent the previous four years behind the South Carolina Stingrays bench, including the last two seasons as the team’s Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations as the Rays went 94-56-8-4 under Kotyk, including a South Division title during the 2022-23 season. The Stingrays would be eliminated from Kelly Cup Playoff Contention on the final day of the 2023-24 season. Kotyk would play in 151 games as a player with the Toledo Walleye and Greenville Swamp Rabbits, putting up 20 goals and 30 assists for 50 points.
“I had a good feel right away that he would be an excellent addition to our staff,” Staal said. “I reached out to people who knew him and he has an extremely good track record. He loves teaching which is something I really wanted to target with a younger team in Savannah with a lot of Florida prospects.”
Jared Staal on the addition of Kotyk via Team’s Press Release
The hiring of Kotyk completes the Savannah Ghost Pirates coaching staff after the team had previously hired Jared Staal as the team’s head coach earlier this Summer. The Saskatchewan native will be a huge help to Staal who is entering his first season of coaching experience in the ECHL. Savannah is expected to announce their first signing for the 2024-25 season next Thursday at 5:30 on Facebook.
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