The Express head coach will assume his new duties at the conclusion of the AJHL season
February 27, 2013
CHESTERFIELD, VA. – The Atlantic Junior Hockey League (AJHL) has announced that Mark Kumpel has been named its director of hockey operations.
Kumpel, who is currently serving as the head coach of the Walpole Express, will assume his new duties at the conclusion of the AJHL season.
“We couldn’t be happier to have such an experienced and well-respected individual like Mark oversee our league,” said Northern Cyclones governor Bill Flanagan, who also serves as chairman of the AJHL’s board of governors. “He’s a prominent hockey figure not only in New England, but across North America, and his familiarity with our league and the Junior and college hockey landscapes are tremendous assets as we continue to advance more and more of our student-athletes to the NCAA and professional ranks.”
“I’m excited for the opportunity to help build on the tremendous success the AJHL has experienced over the last 10 years,” said Kumpel. “With all our ownership groups committed to the development and advancement of our student-athletes, coupled with our experienced and well-connected coaching staffs, the AJHL has established itself as one of the most highly-regarded Junior leagues in North America and I’m looking forward to helping build on its already-strong foundation.”
Among Kumpel’s day-to-day duties will be handling all AJHL hockey operations, working with each coaching staff to ensure new AJHL standards are met across the board and helping brand the AJHL name with youth players around the country.
No stranger to the AJHL, Kumpel has guided the Express to three consecutive league playoff championships from 2009-12, including two regular-season titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
During that span, Walpole fashioned a 124-14-8 overall record; the Express finished this year’s regular season with a 29-11-4 mark, good for 62 points and a second-place finish in the AJHL standings.
As a player, the Wakefield, Mass., native skated for the University of Massachusetts-Lowell from 1979-83 before embarking on a lengthy professional career in the National Hockey League (NHL) and American Hockey League (AHL).
Kumpel, who was also a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team, played 288 games in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques, Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets, totaling 38 goals for 84 points.
Prior to his head coaching stint with the Express, Kumpel served as the head coach of the Nashville Knights and Dayton Bombers of the ECHL and Portland Pirates of the AHL. He also scouted for the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers.
Attached Photo: Mark Kumpel
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2012-13, the AJHL, a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A league boasting 12 teams from seven states, prides itself on the social maturity and skill development of student-athletes ages 16-20 with aspirations of advancing to collegiate and/or professional hockey. For more information on the AJHL, visit http://ajhlhockey.pointstreaksites.com.
– AJHL –
