Ryan Parent Named Interim HC in Utica | RELEASE

The New Jersey Devils today announced that they have relieved Kevin Dineen of his duties as head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate in Utica and named assistant coach Ryan Parent as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The announcement was made by Devils President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald and Devils Assistant General Manager/Utica Comets General Manager Dan MacKinnon.

Additionally, New Jersey named Eric Weinrich as interim assistant coach in addition to current assistant coach David Cunniffe and goaltending coach Brian Eklund. Weinrich previously worked as a player development coach for the Devils organization. Parent and Weinrich will begin their roles at practice on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, after we started this season, the organization felt it was time to make a change while the season is still young,” MacKinnon said. “We thank Kevin for his time with Utica and wish him and his family the best moving forward.”

“During his seven years with our AHL affiliate, Ryan Parent has developed a reputation for communicating transparently with young players and teaching good habits while drawing on his own playing experience,” MacKinnon said. “These qualities will serve him well in this new role, where he will need to develop, lead and communicate with players at all stages of their professional hockey career.”

Parent, 37, is in his seventh season with the organization and was hired on August 23, 2018 as an assistant coach by the AHL’s Binghamton Devils under Mark Dennehy. This was the first coaching job of his career after retiring as an active player. .

Parent was drafted in the first round, 18th overall, by the Nashville Predators in 2005. He played in 106 NHL games for Vancouver and Philadelphia, scoring one goal and adding six assists. He also played in 27 Stanley Cup playoff games during his career. Between 2006 and 2016, the left defenseman played 251 AHL games for seven teams, recording four goals, 24 assists and 261 penalty minutes. He also played in 31 Calder Cup playoff games. Parent last played for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton during the 2015-16 season.

Parent was a member of Team Canada that won the gold medal at the 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships. He spent his junior hockey playing for the Guelph Storm in the OHL, winning the league championship in the 2003–04 season.

Prince Albert, a Saskatchewan native, has previous coaching experience, serving as head coach of the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL (2012-13) and the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL (2011-12). While with the Bobcats, Parent also served as the team’s general manager.

Dineen was in his fourth season coaching at Utica and finished with a record of 110-84-31. He was 0-8-1 this year before being fired.