Pirates to unveil new coaching staff this week

The Portland Pirates will announce their coaching staff later this week as they undergo a coaching facelift as Bruce Crowder is leaving the Pirates staff after spending the last two seasons with the team.

Crowder spent the majority of the last two seasons, handling the defensive responsibilities and working with the Anaheim Ducks defensive prospects.

Crowder has taken a job with the medical company in New Hampshire, where he resides in the off-season. He felt it was time to leave in order to spend quality time with his family. Crowder’s son Scott will be entering his third year at UMass-Amherst and this will give Crowder an opportunity to watch his son play hockey for the Minutemen.

The Pirates will also announce a replacement for Eric Weinrich who isn’t expected to return to the Pirates staff this season.

Weinrich was brought on last August as an assistant coach replacing Mike LaZazzera, who took a job with New York Islanders.

For Weinrich, he was one-year removed from playing the game and being behind the bench proved to be too much as he left the suit and tie at home for skates and pads, signing on with the Pirates for the remainder of the year.

He became a free agent after the Pirates missed the playoffs and is currently waiting to see if Anaheim will be resigning him.

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