The Kamloops Blazers have added a former Stanley Cup champion to their bench for the remainder of the season, the team announced today (Feb. 12).
Darryl Sydor will be joining the team as a full-time assistant coach for the duration of the 2018-19 season. Sydor has been helping the team at various points throughout the year since his family moved to Kamloops last summer.
“We’ve been fortunate to have Darryl join our coaching staff on the ice for practices at different times throughout the season and are excited that he will now be able to join Serge (Lajoie) and Dan (Kordic) on a regular basis for the remainder of the season,” said Matt Bardsley, the team's general manager, in a press release.
“His playing and coaching experience, along with his familiarity with our team, will be another great resource for our players and coaches as we prepare for the final stretch of the season and the goal of making the 2019 playoffs.”
The Blazers are currently three points back of the Seattle Thunderbirds for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with a game in hand.
Sydor played for the Blazers from 1988 to 1992, helping the team to their first Memorial Cup. He then played in the NHL for 18 years as a defenceman, winning the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999 and with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004.
His coaching experience includes working as an assistant with the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues.
Sydor is also part of the Blazers ownership group that includes Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and chairman Tom Gaglardi.
His first official game as an assistant coach will come tomorrow (Feb. 13) against the Victoria Royals at 7 p.m.
