The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Born in Flin Flon and then spending four years dressed as a Bomber, Ray Maluta has moved on to bigger things as he has been named head coach of the 2010 US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. Starting in 1973, Maluta earned 97 points as a Bomber defenseman Ð now as coach he will be helping physically challenged athletes gain a few points. Having moved on to the Boston Bruins after Flin Flon, he knows a thing or two about playing on the big stage, which will come in handy for the upcoming season. But this isn't Maluta's first coaching experience. "Most recently," according to a USA Hockey news release, Maluta "coached the US National Sled Hockey Team to its first-ever world title at the 2009 International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic, last month." In addition, the article noted Maluta led Team USA to second-place finishes at the 2009 Hockey Canada Cup in Vancouver in March and the 2009 Japan Four Nations Tournament in January. He also guided the US National Sled Hockey Team to a bronze medal at the 2008 International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship in Marlborough, Mass. Maluta is currently the executive general manager of the ESL Sports Centre in Rochester, N.Y., a position he has held for 10 years, notes the release. "In his role, he has served as host for numerous USA Hockey National Championships and Player Development Camps that have been held at the ESL Sports Centre," it reads. According to the release, USA Hockey also announced that J.J. O'Connor, chair of USA Hockey's disabled section, will serve as general manager of the 2010 US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. Dan Brennan, manager of ice and inline coaching for USA Hockey, will serve as team leader and director of player personnel. "Our Paralympic sled hockey team is in good hands with Ray, J.J. and Dan," Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey, said in the release. "They have the passion and commitment necessary to help our team in its quest to bring home the gold medal from Vancouver." The US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team will compete at the 2010 Paralympic Games, March 12-21, in Vancouver.
