Chicago Blackhawks hire Rob Cookson as assistant coach
Another change is being made on the Chicago Blackhawks bench.
The club has hired Rob Cookson as an assistant coach, while also naming Marc Crawford an associate coach on current interim head coach Derek King’s staff, the Blackhawks announced Wednesday.
“Rob’s extensive NHL experience will complement our staff immediately,” Blackhawks interim general manager Kyle Davidson said.” It’s his fresh perspective, however, that will really benefit the team as we work on this transition. We look forward to Rob meeting us on this road trip and I know he is eager to get going with this group.”
Cookson, 60, has been coaching in the professional ranks since 1998-99 when he got his first NHL job with the Philadelphia Flyers as a video coach. After a three-year stint there, Cookson was hired as an assistant coach of the Calgary Flames with whom he spent nine years before taking a job with the University of Calgary in the same role in 2011-12.
Cookson did a four-year stint as an assistant with the NLA’s ZSC Lions, before returning to the NHL with the Ottawa Senators, as once again, an assistant coach.
The native of Lacombe, Alta. has been with HC Lugano as an assistant coach for the last two seasons.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.