When it comes to building a resume with Championships, few can dispute Denver Pioneers Head Coach Jim Montgomery is leading the pack.
Montgomery is no stranger to NCAA Division One hockey though. Montgomery was an assistant coach for Notre Dame2006 season. In 2006 Montgomery began a four year stint as assistant coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
On April 12, 2010 he was named head coach of the USHL expansion franchise Dubuque Fighting Saints. In the team’s first year, Montgomery guided the Fighting Saints to a 37-14-9 record and the 2010-2011 USHL championship with a three games to one victory over perennial powerhouse Green Bay Gamblers. 2013 Montgomery did it again capturing his second USHL Clark Cup Championship with Dubuque.
In June of 2013 Montgomery took on the challenge of taking over the Denver Pioneers hockey team. It should be no surprise that after one season Montgomery can now add NCHC Championship to his resume after defeating the Miami University Red Hawks.
“The ups and downs of our season with all the injuries — I’m just amazed at what they’ve been able to overcome,” Montgomery said in a post game press conference. “The resiliency and responses we’ve had all year — I’m not surprised by what I thought was our best team effort of the year tonight against a great team that probably showed why it was preseason No. 1.”
The former undrafted NHL player knows what it takes to achieve what many may believe is something beyond your ability. As a player, he was named an NCAA All-Star 3 years in a row 1991, 1992, 1993.
He was named NCAA Tournament Championship MVP when he captained Maine to a record of 42-1-2 and the 1993 National Championship. Montgomery finished his career at Maine as the school’s all time leading scoring with 301 points on 103 goals and 198 assists.
One thing is for certain, Montgomery has the ability to get the most out of every player he works with. No matter what the level, Jim Montgomery just wins baby.
Joe Hughes
