Islanders name Goring coach

Archived from 1998-99 season.

Butch Goring won four Stanley Cups as a player with the New York Islanders during their dynasty of the early 1980s. Now he hopes to return to glory with the Isles as a head coach.

"Butch is the right person for a lot of reasons," GM Mike Milbury said. "He has been a champion as both a player and a coach. He is an excellent communicator who knows how to develop young players. Just as important, Butch has Islander blood."

Goring replaced Bill Stewart, who was promoted from his assistant's job on Jan. 21, taking over Milbury, who had been both general manager and coach.

"For me, this is almost a dream come true," said Goring, whose coaching career began in 1981 as a playing assistant under Al Arbour. "Since Al Arbour made me an assistant, there hasn't been a day when I haven't wanted to step into Al Arbour's shoes and be as successful."

Goring, 49, was coach and general manager for the International Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies last season. He coached for just over a year with the NHL's Boston Bruins during the 1985-86 season and coached in the American Hockey League.

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