Stu Bickel, a former player for the Iowa Wild, has been named the team’s new head coach. Bickel, 39, started his professional playing career with the Iowa Chops in the AHL in 2008-09 and also played for the Iowa Wild in 2014-15. He played 10 seasons of professional hockey, including 76 NHL games with the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild.

Coaching Experience

Bickel joins the Wild organization after five seasons as an assistant coach in the AHL, including four with the Coachella Valley Firebirds and one with the Springfield Thunderbirds. During his five seasons as an AHL assistant coach, Bickel helped guide his team to the Calder Cup Playoffs each year, including three straight appearances in the Calder Cup Finals.

Bickel began his coaching career as an assistant coach with his alma mater, the University of Minnesota, for two seasons, before spending one season as head coach and assistant general manager of the Minnesota Magicians of the North American Hockey League.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.