Utica Head Coach Kevin Dineen | THREE THINGS

Kevin Dineen was announced this afternoon as the newest head coach of the Utica Comets, as the Devils' AHL franchise is set for its inaugural season in Utica. Dineen has a lengthy career in both coaching and as an NHL player, having suited up for over 1,000 NHL games with the Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators, and Columbus Blue Jackets.
As a coach, Dineen won a Stanley Cup as an assistant in Chicago in 2015 and comes to the Devils organization with ample experience at all levels.
Dineen was part of some pretty unique moments in NHL history, which we take a look at in Kevin Dineen: Three Things.

1. A First and Last In Franchise History

The new head coach of the Utica Comets holds a very unique place in NHL history. On April 13, 1997, Dineen stood at center ice on his skates at the Hartford Civic Center to address the Hartford crowd one final time.
Dineen was the Hartford Whalers captain, and it was the final appearance for the franchise that would later move to Carolina. It was the final moment in the franchise's history in Connecticut, with the staple "Brass Bonanza" playing in the background when Dineen addressed the crowd thanking them for their support. Dineen followed his teammates off the ice, the final Whaler to step off the ice and into the locker room.
Not only was Dineen the final player to step off the ice for the Whalers franchise, but the captain also scored the final goal in Whalers history, the 2-1 game-winner against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Not only did Dineen have that closing moment in franchise history, but he also holds a club record. During the 1990-91 season, Dineen scored in each of the first five games of the season, for a franchise record. His five is followed by Eric Staal's four in 2005-06 and most recently in 2021 when Andrei Svechnikov had three goals in the opening three games of the year.

2. Can't Beat 'Em? Join 'Em.

In his first role as an NHL head coach, Dineen was at the helm of the Florida Panthers. Under him, the team had immediate success leading to its first-ever Southeast Division title. The Panthers would make their first postseason appearance in 12 years, but unfortunately, Dineen and his team ran into the New Jersey Devils.
The Devils beat Dineen's Panthers in a seven-game series, which included back-to-back overtimes in the final two games of the series.

3. Swooping In For Gold

Although Dineen spent most of his life in the United States, Dineen was born in Quebec City, Quebec, and is Canadian. In 2014, with just two months' notice before the Olympic Games, after Dan Church abruptly left the position, Dineen was appointed the head coach of Canada's National Women's team.
Two months after his December 17 hiring, Dineen had a gold medal around his neck, after one of the most exciting games in women's hockey history. The United States was leading the Canadian squad with 3:26 left to play in the gold medal game when Marie-Philip Poulin hit the back of the net with just 55 seconds left on the clock. With the game tied, Poulin would strike again in overtime to secure Canada's gold medal at the Sochi Games and Canada's fourth consecutive gold medal.