Vellucci leaving Hurricanes group | TheAHL.com

The Carolina Hurricanes introduced at present that the staff has mutually parted methods with Mike Vellucci, their assistant common supervisor/director of hockey operations and Charlotte Checkers head coach.“I’m grateful for my time with the Hurricanes group,” stated Vellucci. “We created some nice reminiscences in Charlotte, together with successful the franchise’s first Calder Cup and bringing the primary championship to Charlotte final season. After 27 years it’s arduous to go away, however I’ve been offered with an thrilling alternative that is smart for my future.”Vellucci, 52, received the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award because the AHL’s excellent coach in 2018-19, main Charlotte to the most effective regular-season report within the league and later a Calder Cup championship. The Checkers’ 51-17-7-1 report (.724) was the 10th-best in AHL historical past, and the staff led the league in penalty killing whereas rating second in targets allowed and fifth in targets scored.Vellucci was instrumental in growing prospects for the Hurricanes, who reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2018-19 for the primary time in a decade; 13 totally different Checkers gamers earned recollects to Carolina through the season.Vellucci spent 5 years with Carolina following 14 seasons with Plymouth of the Ontario Hockey League, the place he was twice named OHL Coach of the 12 months. He additionally coached Detroit Compuware of the North American Hockey League from 1994-99.