Tony Curtale to continue as GM and head coach - Junior Hockey News

Published: Wednesday, 27 Jun 2012

By: Tornado Media

Tornado head coach will be back behind the bench for his 12^thseason with Texas

The Texas Tornado have announced that the team and Tony Curtale have agreed to terms to extend his contract as head coach and general manager. As per organizational policy, the terms of the contract will not be released.

"We are pleased to have Tony back as we strive to build another championship team and to move players on the NCAA programs," CSH, International and Tornado president Gary Gelinas said. "Tony brings a passion and commitment to the local community that is important for our organization. We look forward to him working with our youth teams, supporters and players as we try to repeat as National Champions. We are the most successful sports team in North Texas and Tony is a large part of that success."

Curtale was named the Texas Tornado's first head coach in 1999. In 11 seasons with the team, he has proven to be one of the best coaches in all of junior hockey. The team's victory over the New Mexico Mustangs on October 28th gave him 530 NAHL wins, setting the all-time United States junior hockey record. In addition to the 2012 Robertson Cup, the Tornado won their first in 2001 (the organization's second season) and three straight from 2004-2006, all with Curtale at the helm.

"I've been here since the start of the Tornado organization, so it goes without saying that I'm glad to be back," Curtale said. "This season, we have one of the best recruiting classes the team has ever had, so I'm excited to get moving as we get set to defend our Robertson Cup championship."

In each of his first seven seasons with Texas, Curtale guided the Tornado to seven straight 40+ win seasons, including an expansion team-record 42 wins in 1999-2000 and an NAHL-record 48 wins in 2003-2004. Before coming to the Tornado, Curtale served as the head coach of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League from 1997-1999. Before coaching in Windsor, he began his head coaching career in the NAHL with the Springfield Jr. Blues, where he won the first two of his seven Robertson Cups.

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The Texas Tornado, proud members of the 24-team North American Hockey League, play at the state-of-the-art Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco. They are five-time Robertson Cup winners, champions of the NAHL in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, and most recently, 2012. Since their inception in 1999, the Texas Tornado have set the standard for excellence for hockey for players ages 21 and under in the United States. Besides their three straight National Championships from 2004-2006, the Tornado have won seven NAHL Regular Season Division titles and had seven straight 40+ win seasons from 1999-2007. Since 1999, the Tornado have developed and moved on over 120 players onto NHL, NCAA and professional teams.

Discuss:

posted Jun. 27th, 2012 - 6:18pm

Stephen Heisler says:

Now THAT is funny!

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