June 17, 2005
NHL GREAT KIRK MULLER TO LEAD QUEEN'S HOCKEY
(Kingston, ON) - Today, retired NHL star Kirk Muller signed on as head coach of the Queen's Golden Gaels men's hockey team. It's a rarity for a professional player of such caliber to bring his expertise to collegiate level coaching, yet the opportunity to return to hockey at the helm of a highly motivated team in his home town has tempted Muller to once again lace up his skates.
"I'm looking forward to working with a focused group of students who have already shown great commitment to the sport with its grueling university hockey schedule and yet continue to keep their academic standards high," says Muller, who will start his coaching duties on July 1. "The same work ethic found at the professional level exists here at Queen's."
"It will be great to get back to my hockey roots here in Kingston," adds Muller, a Kingston native. "I am looking forward to lacing up my skates and recharging the Golden Gaels hockey program."
Queen's Athletics feels that Muller's 19 years of experience in the NHL will lend an even higher level of professionalism as well as a greater profile to Queen's long-standing program.
"Kirk is well connected in the hockey community and will be a valuable recruiter for our Golden Gaels program," says John McFarlane, Chair of Queen's Athletics. "He also has a career track record of success both on and off the ice, and the innate ability to motivate others to achieve to the best of their abilities."
Muller's exceptional leadership abilities were well-proven during a National Hockey League career where he was nicknamed "Captain Kirk" while serving at the head of the Montreal Canadiens from 1994 to 1995. He was also awarded the Most Valuable Player twice with the Canadiens and three times during his tenure with the New Jersey Devils.
Muller's career in professional hockey began in 1984 when he was the first-round draft pick of the Devils. He also played for the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as the Canadian National Hockey Team, and won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens. He retired from pro hockey in 2003.
A well-known supporter of charitable causes in Kingston, Muller has been chairperson of the Market Square Feb Fest as well as an advocate for such projects as Almost Home, Kingston Minor Hockey, Help Line for Kids and Ride for Dad. Most recently, Muller has played an active role for the Professional Athlete Transition Institute on behalf of NHL Alumni Members. He has also worked as a freelance Broadcaster for TSN and the CBC Radio.
(Source: Henk Pardoel, Queen's Sports Information)
"I'm looking forward to working with a focused group of students who have already shown great commitment to the sport with its grueling university hockey schedule and yet continue to keep their academic standards high," says Muller, who will start his coaching duties on July 1. "The same work ethic found at the professional level exists here at Queen's."
"It will be great to get back to my hockey roots here in Kingston," adds Muller, a Kingston native. "I am looking forward to lacing up my skates and recharging the Golden Gaels hockey program."
Queen's Athletics feels that Muller's 19 years of experience in the NHL will lend an even higher level of professionalism as well as a greater profile to Queen's long-standing program.
"Kirk is well connected in the hockey community and will be a valuable recruiter for our Golden Gaels program," says John McFarlane, Chair of Queen's Athletics. "He also has a career track record of success both on and off the ice, and the innate ability to motivate others to achieve to the best of their abilities."
Muller's exceptional leadership abilities were well-proven during a National Hockey League career where he was nicknamed "Captain Kirk" while serving at the head of the Montreal Canadiens from 1994 to 1995. He was also awarded the Most Valuable Player twice with the Canadiens and three times during his tenure with the New Jersey Devils.
Muller's career in professional hockey began in 1984 when he was the first-round draft pick of the Devils. He also played for the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as the Canadian National Hockey Team, and won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens. He retired from pro hockey in 2003.
A well-known supporter of charitable causes in Kingston, Muller has been chairperson of the Market Square Feb Fest as well as an advocate for such projects as Almost Home, Kingston Minor Hockey, Help Line for Kids and Ride for Dad. Most recently, Muller has played an active role for the Professional Athlete Transition Institute on behalf of NHL Alumni Members. He has also worked as a freelance Broadcaster for TSN and the CBC Radio.
(Source: Henk Pardoel, Queen's Sports Information)
