Shane Willis Hired As Youth And Amateur Hockey Coordinator

by Bob Wage on Sep 9, 2011 2:50 PM EDT in Hurricanes Newsstand

It was announced yesterday that former NHL winger Shane Willis would return to the Carolina Hurricanes to serve as the club's youth and amateur hockey coordinator. Willis was a promising rookie for the team back in the 2000-01 season as he scored 20 goals and chipped in with 24 assists in 73 games. He made the NHL's All Rookie team later that year.

The fast skating forward was injured during the 2001 playoffs when Scott Stevens lined him up and took him out with a devastating hit that most attending fans will never forget. Shane was then traded to Tampa Bay the following season as part of a deal that brought Kevin Weekes to Carolina.

Willis will be taking over for Paul Strand, who formerly held the position.

In case you missed it from a couple of weeks earlier, another Paul has moved on as well. Paul Branecky, former web guy for the Hurricanes, will undertake a similar role for the Charlotte Checkers. Michael Smith has been hired to take his spot.

Good luck to all four gentlemen in their future endeavors!

HURRICANES HIRE SHANE WILLIS AS YOUTH AND AMATEUR HOCKEY COORDINATOR

Former Carolina winger to lead team’s youth and amateur hockey initiatives

RALEIGH, NC – Jon Chase, Director of Community Relations and Promotions for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has hired former Hurricanes forward Shane Willis as its youth and amateur hockey coordinator. In this role, Willis will spearhead the Hurricanes’ initiatives through Carolina Youth & Amateur Hockey (CYAH), including the team’s summer camps and the Junior Hurricanes’ annual trip to the Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament.

"Shane brings a wealth of hockey experience to this important role for the Hurricanes organization," said Chase. "The team is committed to the continued growth of youth and amateur hockey in our community, and Shane, as a former Hurricanes player and longtime Triangle-area resident, is a great fit for this position."

Willis, 34, played parts of six NHL seasons with the Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring 31 goals and earning 43 assists (74 points) in 174 career regular-season games. The Edmonton, Alb., native had his best season in 2000-01, when he scored 20 goals and earned 24 assists with Carolina, and was named to the NHL’s end-of-season All-Rookie Team. Willis also notched 152 goals and earned 161 assists (313 points) in 399 career regular-season games with top-level minor-league teams in the American Hockey League and the International Hockey League. He retired from his playing career following the 2008-09 season.

The Carolina Hurricanes will open their 2011 exhibition schedule on Sept. 19 at Buffalo. For information on 2011-12 Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I hope he teaches the kids to keep their heads up……..

by wylde4canes on Sep 9, 2011 3:28 PM EDT reply actions

I like this – nice to have Willis back with the org.
I had actually considered applying for this job – lmao!

by Caniac1026 on Sep 9, 2011 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

replace shane willis with paul maurice in this article and you have my dream headline

Of Maurice, Karmanos said: "I’m happy Paul is back but he’s going to be judged the same way as any other coach. We need to win more consistently."

by Sergeant Stinky on Sep 9, 2011 4:33 PM EDT reply actions

Irony?

Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.

Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!

by MichaelProcton on Sep 9, 2011 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll be honest, I chuckled at that one Stinky.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

by anonymousJ on Sep 9, 2011 6:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

"Whatchu talkin bout........"

Congrats to Shane Willis…*

"It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times..."

by Gramm Matthew Esq. on Sep 9, 2011 6:34 PM EDT reply actions

Branecky

It looks like Branecky was demoted, since he was sent to Chartlotte. Management did not like him?

by MHodak on Sep 10, 2011 5:55 AM EDT reply actions

I’m not privy to the inner workings of the Hurricanes organization, but my personal impression is that Paul Branecky was and still remains well-respected. His new title with the Checkers is Director of Digital Media which is a titled promotion from the Producer role he had with the Canes and he has new responsibilities that he didn’t have here. And he wasn’t “sent” to Charlotte, he has family there. I’d say he’s doing just fine.

Canes Country Phoblographer and resident Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Sep 10, 2011 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Here’s Paul’s goodbye in his own words:

Paul Branecky – Tracking the Storm: Thank You

Canes Country Phoblographer and resident Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Sep 10, 2011 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions

While I’m researching this morning, here’s Paul Strand’s destination. He’s now the head coach for Keyano College in his home town of Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Canes Country Phoblographer and resident Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Sep 10, 2011 8:33 AM EDT reply actions

Paul Strand put Canes youth hockey on both the national and international map. The before and after is astonishing and he deserves enormous amounts of credit. Is a name that we will see again one day in a professional role.

by JussiJuice on Sep 12, 2011 12:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Thanks Everybody !!

I too am loking forward to Shane’s contributions in the area of youth hockey and keeping the fire alive for the kids…We of the Caniac Nation are a truely blessed bunch of fans…and thgings like this announcement is like a cherry on top of a good ice cream sudae…thanks again…gonna take a nap as i over did it at the air show here in Winston Salem..as I loved the chopter ride !!

Long Live #63The Condor!!
Go Canes & Checkers !!

by CaniacSteve on Sep 10, 2011 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

I read that Cory Stillman retired to take on a role with the Panthers. What happened to all of the talk in the spring from JR that he would be offered a job with the ’Canes?

by hotchipsnsalsa on Sep 11, 2011 9:57 AM EDT reply actions