The Brooks Bandits are pleased to announce the hiring of Scott Cunningham in the position of Assistant Coach/Assistant GM.
Scott comes to the Bandits with 19 years of Junior Hockey coaching experience and a long list of accomplishments during that time. Most recently Cunningham was the Head Coach/GM of the Helena Bighorns in the America West Hockey League. His Bighorns have won seven league championships in the past eight seasons along with a USA Hockey National Championship in 2011. Recent Bandit graduate Anthony Petruzzelli was a member of that standout team before his time in Brooks. Cunningham has also held the Head Coach/GM position for the Helena Cutthroats (04-06) , Great Falls Americans (01-03), Liberty Lake Lumberjacks (00-01) and Helena Ice Pirates (95-00). Over the past 10 seasons he has been named Coach of the Year on six occasions.
Cunningham is originally born and raised in Alberta and is excited to be coming home with his family. His full-time move to Brooks will take place in early July and his first official day with the Bandits is slated for July 6th. Joining him will be his wife Kerrie and three sons, Nolan, Camden and Brayden. All three boys are hockey players and will be joining Brooks Minor Hockey for the upcoming year.
Head Coach/GM Ryan Papaioannou said, “We have been looking to expand our coaching staff for some time but wanted to make sure it was the right fit. Assistant Coach Brent Gunnlaugson and myself wanted to find someone with junior hockey experience and an ability to take on roles that presently can use improvement. Scott spent some time in Brooks last year at our Summer Development Camp, which gave him a good opportunity to see what our organization and city are all about. Scott will join us in a role that sees him help us become more involved with our affiliates and recruits. His addition to our coaching staff will be with a fresh set of eyes that will surely be a help to both Brent Gunnlaugson and myself. Our players are fortunate to have this extra support rounding out the development opportunities in Brooks. With Scott's addition to the coaching staff we are well equipped for the future.”
Scott Cunningham stated, “Joining the Brooks Bandits is a great opportunity not only for me but also my family. I feel truly fortunate and lucky to have this opportunity to work with Coach Papaioannou and to be a part of this program he has built. I believe our philosophy's on coaching and hockey in general is very similar, I'm looking to forward to getting to Brooks and start helping to build anther championship team. It's a great time for me and my family!”