Wranglers coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan tapped Mike McBain, an original member of the ECHL organization, as his assistant coach.
McBain was a defenseman for the first four seasons of the club. The first two, he played with older brother Jason McBain. They were the first two players signed by Gulutzan, in September 2003.
Last season, Mike McBain served Gulutzan as a sort of volunteer assistant, watching games from a luxury box in the rafters of the Orleans Arena and giving his advice to Gulutzan between periods.
Gulutzan's top assistant's position became available when Brent Bilodeau took the head coach's spot with the Wichita Thunder, of the Central Hockey League, in June.
McBain, 31, played in two games last season, pumping his Wranglers total to 258 and his career total to 600.
In a statement, he said he’s excited about the new opportunity in the game.
“The organization has been very good to me and I am thrilled to continue working with this team,” McBain said. “We want to win a championship here and I want to be a part of it.”
Tampa Bay picked him in the second round, with the 30th overall selection, in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, and McBain had seven assists in 64 games for the Lightning.
Gulutzan said McBain has meant a lot to the club over the past five seasons and he was an easy choice because he’s been such an important part of the Wranglers.
“He knows our systems,” Gulutzan said. “He knows how I operate and he understands what it takes to win. He was a great hockey player and captain for us, and we expect nothing less from him as an assistant coach.”
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