Penguins, assistant coach Mike Vellucci agree to 2-year extension

Tribune-Review
Monday, Aug. 22, 2022 10:22 a.m. | Monday, Aug. 22, 2022 10:22 a.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Mike Vellucci has spent the past two seasons as a Penguins assistant coach.

The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed assistant coach Mike Vellucci to a two-year contract extension on Monday.

Vellucci, 56, has spent the past two seasons on Mike Sullivan’s staff, overseeing forwards and the penalty killing unit. Last season, the Penguins’ penalty kill finished third in the NHL with an 84.4% success rate, and is ninth overall in the league (81.5%) since Vellucci joined the team in 2020.

“Mike is a dedicated coach who has proven to be a valuable addition since joining Pittsburgh,” general manager Ron Hextall said in a statement. “We’re excited to have him back behind the bench for two more seasons.”

The Penguins gave assistant coach Todd Reirden a contract extension and upgraded his title from assistant coach to associate coach last week.

• Penguins sign college defenseman Jack St. Ivany
• Penguins give assistant coach Todd Reirden contract extension, new job title
• Penguins add to player development, scouting staff

Vellucci joined the organization in 2019-20 and spent one season as the general manager and head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, leading the team to a 29-26-3-5 record.

The Michigan native spent five seasons as the assistant general manager and director of hockey operations for the Carolina Hurricanes from 2014-19, where he oversaw player development and scouting. During the 2017-19 seasons, Vellucci also served as the Charlotte Checkers’ head coach where he compiled a record of 97-43-8-4.

Vellucci guided the Checkers to a Calder Cup Championship in 2018-19 and won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award for AHL Coach of the Year.

Prior to his time with the Hurricanes organization, Vellucci spent 14 seasons in the same dual role as general manager and head coach of the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL from 2001-14. He became the first to receive both the OHL Executive of the Year award and OHL Coach of the Year award in the same season in 2012-13. He also won the Coach of the Year award during the Whalers’ 2006-07 championship season.