McGill grad Kompon appointed to coaching staff of NHL's Blackhawks

(FORMER McGILL HOCKEY CAPTAIN JAMIE KOMPON, NOW AN ASSISTANT COACH WITH THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS, APPEARS TO QUESTION HIS DECISION TO NOT WEAR HIS McGILL TIE BEHIND THE BENCH OF THE LA KINGS.  PHOTO COURTESY OF BERNARD BRAULT)

MONTREAL -- The Chicago Blackhawks appointed Jamie Kompon as an assistant coach, Tuesday. The 45-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ont., is a McGill University graduate, who previously served as captain of the McGill Redmen and later coached the team.

This is the third National Hockey League coaching stint for Kompon, who also had stops in St. Louis and was behind the Los Angeles bench last month when the Kings captured the Stanley Cup. He became the 14th former McGill hockey player to get his name engraved on the Cup and only the fourth to do so as a coach.

Kompon will be reunited with head coach Joel Quenneville and assistant coach Mike Kitchen, after previously working with them in St. Louis. The threesome guided the Blues to a franchise-record 113 points in 1999-2000, en route to claiming the Presidents' Trophy for the league's best record.

"We are excited to add Jamie as assistant coach and certainly welcome the Stanley Cup pedigree he brings," Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said in a press release. "He has over 15 years of NHL coaching experience and some obvious familiarity with our staff, having worked under Joel and Mike in St. Louis, which will help our staff and players with the transition."

"Jamie will bring us all the great qualities you look for in a coach, most notably his work ethic and a winning resume," said Quenneville. "We have a great working relationship and I am confident he will be a great fit with us here in Chicago."

Kompon spent six seasons with the Kings and was named to the club's coaching staff on July 10, 2006.  He also held the title of director of amateur development. Prior to joining Los Angeles, he worked for nine seasons with the Blues, serving as an assistant coach, a video coordinator and a strength and conditioning coach. In the spring of 2006 he was on the coaching staff of Team Canada at the IIHF world championships in Latvia where he handled video duties.

Before joining the Blues, Kompon was an assistant coach with the Baltimore Bandits of the American Hockey League for the 1996-97 season.

He also served as co-head coach (with Martin Raymond) at McGill in 1994-95 after being employed there as an assistant coach for three seasons. Kompon played four seasons as a defenceman at McGill (1985-89), serving as team captain in his senior year before graduating with a degree in physical education. He also played two seasons of pro hockey, including stints in the East Coast Hockey League and in the German Elite League.

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

McGill Athletics & Recreation

514-398-7012