Rick Kowalsky Explained

Rick Kowalsky (born March 20, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 10th round (227th overall) of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft.

Kowalsky played four seasons (1989 – 1993) of major junior hockey with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 54 goals and 100 assists for 144 points, while earning 259 penalty minutes, in 209 games played. He went on to play 12 seasons of professional hockey, including 183 games played in the American Hockey League and 516 games in the ECHL. Kowalsky retired as a player following the 2004–05 season during which he helped the Trenton Titans capture the Kelly Cup as the 2005 ECHL Champions. In 2017, he was elected into the ECHL Hall of Fame.^[1]

Kowalsky spent 15 seasons as a coach in the New Jersey Devils organization of the National Hockey League (NHL), including spent eight seasons as the head coach of their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Albany Devils and the Binghamton Devils. As the head coach for Albany in 2015–16, Kowalsky was named AHL Coach of the Year after leading the Devils to the second round of the playoffs.^[2] In 2021, he was hired by the New York Islanders, and his former boss Lou Lamoriello when he was with the Devils, as an assistant coach for their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders.Upon head coach Brent Thompson’s departure to the Anaheim Ducks Rick Kowalsky was promoted to be the head coach of the Bridgeport Islanders in July 2023.^[3]

Career statistics

	Team	League		GP						GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1989–90	Thessalon Flyers	NOJHL		8	2	4	6	46		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		43	1	0	1	23		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		46	5	9	14	59		13	4	4	8	17
1991–92	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		66	25	44	69	119		19	6	10	16	39
1992–93	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		54	23	47	70	58		18	7	6	13	35
1993–94	Cornwall Aces	AHL		65	9	8	17	86		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Hampton Roads Admirals	ECHL		49	29	24	53	114		4	0	4	4	4
1994–95	Cornwall Acres	AHL		9	2	1	3	38		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Hampton Roads Admirals	ECHL		52	21	29	50	121		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Hampton Roads Admirals	ECHL		52	14	26	40	94		9	5	4	9	16
1996–97	Portland Pirates	AHL		22	7	8	15	10		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Hampton Roads Admirals	ECHL		24	11	16	27	72		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Portland Pirates	AHL		39	11	25	36	78		10	5	2	7	8
1998–99	Portland Pirates	AHL		47	6	15	21	85		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Hampton Roads Admirals	ECHL		67	23	47	70	109		10	7	1	8	20
2000–01	Trenton Titans	ECHL		12	7	10	17	22		13	8	4	12	12
2001–02	Roanoke Express	ECHL		70	35	48	83	112		4	1	1	2	0
2001–02	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Roanoke Express	ECHL		68	27	55	82	132		4	0	1	1	6
2003–04	Roanoke Express	ECHL		67	31	45	76	122		4	1	2	3	6
2004–05	Roanoke Express	ECHL		55	23	29	52	81		20	10	13	23	26
AHL totals				183	35	57	92	297		10	5	2	7	8
ECHL totals				516	221	329	550	979		68	32	30	62	90

Notes and References

1. News: Rick Kowalsky, a familiar name to Trenton hockey fans, enters ECHL Hall of Fame . . January 18, 2017.
2. Web site: Albany's Rick Kowalsky voted AHL coach of the year . Dougherty. Pete. 2016-04-08. Times Union. 2019-09-21.
3. Web site: Kowalsky Named Bridgeport Assistant Coach . OurSports Central . August 3, 2021.