Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Derek King has been appointed as head coach of the Hershey Bears.
King, 58, spent parts of six seasons with AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, starting as an assistant coach in 2016-17. He helped the team to reach the Western Conference Finals in 2018 and was elevated to head coach on November 6, 2018, until his promotion to the Chicago Blackhawks as an interim head coach on November 6, 2021.
King was recently an assistant coach at Chicago for three seasons from 2022 to 2025.
In 165 games with Rockford, King led the Icehogs to a record of 72-81-12.
King joined the Blackhawks organization after Stints as an assistant and associated coach at the AHL’s Toronto Marlies of 2009-15. He helped the Marlies to conquer three northern division titles and the Western Conference Championship in 2012.
A resident of Hamilton, Ont., King played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League with the islanders, whales, Maple Leafs and Blues, with 612 points (261 goals, 351 assists) in 830 career regular seasonal competitions. He appeared in 171 games in the AHL with the Springfield Indians (1987-90) and Grand Rapids Griffins (2002-04).
King succeeds Todd Nelsonwho was hired earlier this summer as an assistant coach at the Pittsburgh Penguins.
#King #called #Bears #coach