Glen Gulutzan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glen Gulutzan |
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Gulutzan in 2007
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| Born | August 12, 1971 The Pas, Manitoba, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Fresno Falcons Utah Grizzlies Las Vegas Thunder |
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| Coached for | Dallas Stars Calgary Flames |
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| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 1986–2003 | ||
| Coaching career | 2001–present | ||
Glen Gulutzan (born August 12, 1971) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and a former player. He grew up loving hockey and played the game professionally for many years. Today, he helps coach one of the biggest teams in the sport. He is currently an assistant coach for the Edmonton Oilers.
Becoming a Hockey Player
Glen Gulutzan started his hockey journey playing in junior leagues. From 1986 to 1992, he played for teams like the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings, and Saskatoon Blades. These teams are part of the Western Hockey League, a major league for young players.
In 1996, Glen joined the Fresno Falcons in the West Coast Hockey League. He was a fantastic player, scoring 30 goals and making 80 assists in just 60 games during the 1996–97 season. He even had short tryouts with bigger teams like the Utah Grizzlies and the Las Vegas Thunder.
After playing in North America, Glen went to Finland to play for a team called Sport. He played there for a short time before returning to the Fresno Falcons in 1998. He spent his last five years as a player with the Falcons. He even became a player-assistant coach, helping to lead the team. In 2002, his team won the Bruce Taylor Cup, which is a championship trophy.
From Player to Coach
After his playing days, Glen Gulutzan became a coach. From 2003 to 2009, he was the head coach and general manager for the Las Vegas Wranglers in the ECHL. He was very successful, guiding the team to win two division championships. They also won the Brabham Cup and made it to the Kelly Cup Finals.
In the 2005–06 season, Glen was named the best coach in the league. He received the John Brophy Trophy for his amazing work. His team, the Wranglers, made history in 2008. They were the first team in the ECHL to have three years in a row with over 100 points. This showed how consistently good his coaching was.
Coaching in the Big Leagues
Glen's success in the minor leagues caught the attention of bigger teams. In 2011, he became the head coach of the Dallas Stars in the NHL. This was a big step up to the highest level of professional hockey. He coached the Stars for two seasons before moving on.
In 2013, Glen became an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks. He helped the team from behind the bench. Then, in 2016, he got another chance to be a head coach in the NHL. He was announced as the new head coach for the Calgary Flames. He led the Flames for two seasons.
After his time with the Flames, Glen Gulutzan joined the Edmonton Oilers. Since 2018, he has been an assistant coach for the Oilers. He continues to share his knowledge and experience with the team.
