EEx-McGill captain named asst. coach with LA Kings Jul 11, 06 Ice Hockey (M)
By Earl Zukerman
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League have appointed
former McGill captain and coach Jamie Kompon as an assistant coach.
Kompon, a 39-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ont., recently completed his ninth
season with the St. Louis Blues organization where he served as the club’s
video coach since 1997. The title of "strength & conditioning coach"
was added to his portfolio in 2002 and this past spring, he was on the coaching
staff of Team Canada at the world hockey championships in Latvia where he served
as video coach.
"Jamie has been with the coaching staff in St. Louis for the past nine
years and... has a lot of experience and strengths," said Marc Crawford,
who was hired by the Kings on May 22.
Prior to joining the Blues, Kompon was an assistant coach with the Baltimore
Bandits of the American Hockey League for the 1996-97 season.
Kompon played four seasons on defence for the McGill Redmen from 1985 to 1989,
serving as captain in his last season. He went on to be an assistant coach with
the team for three years and served as a co-head coach with Martin Raymond in
1994-95 after the mid-season departure of coach Jean Pronovost to the junior
ranks.
After graduating from McGill with a physical education degree, Kompon played
two seasons of professional hockey, including stints in the East Coast Hockey
League and in the German Elite League.
Kompon is the fourth former McGill hockey player to coach in the NHL, joining
Lester Patrick (head coach, N.Y. Rangers, 1926-28), George Burnett (head coach
in Edmonton, 1994-95; assistant in Anaheim, 1999-01) and Mike Babcock (head
coach in both Anaheim, 2002-05 and Detroit, 2005-present).
Ottawa Senators' coach Bryan Murray, also attended McGill, but did not play
for the Redmen as he studied at the University's suburban Macdonald College
campus.
Others named by Crawford to complete his coaching staff, include Mike Johnston
as associate coach, Bill Ranford as goaltending coach and Nelson Emerson as
video and player development consultant.
