The Atlanta Thrashers have named John Anderson the fourth head coach in team history, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.
Anderson, 51, has won five championships in 13 seasons as a head coach and most recently guided the Chicago Wolves to the American Hockey League’s 2008 Calder Cup Championship. He has 30 years of experience in professional hockey as a player and coach, including the past 11 years as head coach of the Wolves, the Thrashers primary minor-league affiliate since 2001. During his tenure with Chicago, he has earned a 506-283-99 regular-season record, a 105-60 post-season record and captured two Calder Cups (2008, 2002) and two Turner Cups (2000, 1998) when the team was a member of the International Hockey League. Anderson earned his first of five league titles as a head coach with the Quad City Mallards of the Colonial Hockey League in 1997.
“John has an impressive record of success as a head coach and we are excited to be adding him to our organization,” said Waddell. “He’s a proven winner whose leadership and experience behind the bench will play a vital role in the resurgence of our hockey club.”
Throughout his 13 seasons as a head coach, Anderson has made the playoffs on 12 occasions, including 10 of his 11 seasons with the Wolves. Overall, he has led his teams to the league finals eight times and has advanced to the conference finals 10 times. He has won 40-or-more games in a season 10 times, including 50-or-more wins on four occasions, and has reached the 100-point mark seven times. He is also the Wolves all-time leader in regular-season wins (506) and playoff wins (105).
Under his leadership, the Wolves have set several single-season team records, including 55 wins (1997-98); 114 points (1999-2000); 29 home wins (1997-98, 1998-99, 2007-08); 27 road wins (1999-2000, 2006-07); 331 goals (2006-07); and 208 goals-against (2003-04). Anderson collected his 500th career regular-season coaching victory with the Wolves on March 22, 2008 at San Antonio in the squad’s 3-1 win. Since the team joined the AHL in 2001, Anderson has racked up 306 regular-season wins and has led the squad to a 16-4 series record in the Calder Cup Playoffs. He also led Canada to a 15-13 win in the 2003 AHL All-Star Classic.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Chicago but I’m thrilled to now have the opportunity to take those achievements and advance my career in Atlanta with an exciting organization like the Thrashers,” said Anderson. “This team has some great talent, and I look forward to the challenge or maximizing our potential and returning to the playoffs.”
Prior to joining the Wolves, Anderson spent the 1996-97 season as head coach with Quad City (CoHL), leading them to a 51-20-3 record and the Colonial Cup Championship. The previous season (1995-96), he began his coaching career with the Winston-Salem Mammoths, leading them to the Southern Hockey League finals and a 30-23-7 regular-season record.
In July of 2007, Anderson made his international coaching debut when he led the United States squad to the Gold Medal in the World Jewish Cup in Metulla, Israel.
