SUNDOGS INK PIETRONIRO THROUGH 2010-11 SEASON

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – The 2008 Central Hockey League Ray Miron President’s Cup Champion Arizona Sundogs today announced that the Club has extended Head Coach and General Manager Marco Pietroniro’s contract through the 2010-11 season. The third-year coach had one year remaining on his contract before signing the extension on Monday.

Pietroniro has guided the Sundogs to consecutive playoff appearances in each of his first two seasons behind the bench, including the 2008 CHL title this past May. He was named head coach of the Central Hockey League’s Southern Conference during the 2008 CHL All-Star Game, leading the South to an 11-6 victory, its first in five years. During the 2006-07 season, Pietroniro was awarded the Rick Kozuback Award for best exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, determination and commitment to the game, sport and business of hockey.

“We knew from the Club’s inception that Marco was the person we wanted guiding our franchise,” said Co-Owner Eric Lacroix. “It has always been our goal to build a competitive team and to hoist the Ray Miron President’s Cup trophy and to do so in just our second year proves we’ve selected the right person for the job. The success our team has had under the guidance of Marco speaks volumes and we’re pleased to have him on board for seasons to come.”

The 2007-08 Southwest Division Champions finished the regular season with a franchise best 39-19-6 record and 84 points.  

“The support I’ve received from ownership, our front office staff and our fans has made my job that much more enjoyable,” said Pietroniro. “We accomplished our goal of winning the last game of the season this past year and now we’ve got to go back to work and do it again. It’s something I’m committed to and very much looking forward to.”

Pietroniro assumed the reigns as the first head coach/GM in franchise history on August 1, 2005. The 37-year-old provides the direction and development of the Club’s hockey operations, both on and off the ice. In addition to his coaching duties, Pietroniro’s responsibilities extend to the fulfillment of the hockey-related matters of the Club and its player personnel, including recruiting players, immigration matters, travel and player housing.

Pietroniro has played hockey at the junior and professional levels throughout North America and Europe. Between his beginning with Trois-Rivieres in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and end with the San Angelo Outlaws (WPHL), Marco played professionally in the Italian League with Bressanone, Torino, Milano, and Brunico from 1989 to 1997. He moved back to the United States in 1997, serving as a player/captain/assistant coach with the Idaho Steelheads for two seasons before bringing his professional playing career to a close in 2001. A leader on and off the ice, Pietroniro was tapped as captain or an alternate captain for eight of the eleven teams he played for during his junior and professional career.