Fuel bring back coaching staff for 2018-19 season

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indy Fuel, proud ECHL Affiliate of the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs, announced Friday that they have agreed to one-year contract extensions with Head Coach and VP of Hockey Operations Bernie John, and Assistant Coach Ryan McGinnis. John will return for his third full season as the Fuel's head coach, while McGinnis will begin his second season in Indianapolis.

"After wrapping up the most exciting year this franchise has seen, I am thrilled to have Bernie and Ryan back behind our bench for the 2018-19 season,” said Fuel Owner and Chairman Jim Hallett. "Our team made significant steps forward last season, finding their way into the playoffs for the first time while building a core of players Indianapolis can be proud of. With that said, it is important to keep our organization moving in the right direction. In 2018-19, our goal is to not just make the playoffs but contend. I am confident that Bernie has gained the experience over the past four seasons - and the last two as a head coach - to attract the talent and assemble the team to do so.”

John returns after leading the Fuel to the best regular season in franchise history - coaching his team to a 36-30-5-1 record and the club's first-ever appearance in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The 2017-18 Indy squad set new club standards in wins, points (78) and road wins (16), while matching the best home record in franchise history. Since taking over as head coach late in the 2015-16 season, John has compiled a 64-78-17 record. The former Indianapolis Ice standout and native of Sudbury, Ontario has been part of the Fuel coaching staff since the team's inaugural season in 2014-15, starting as an assistant coach.

“I am excited to be back for the 2018-19 season. I appreciate the Hallett family having confidence in me to build off what we accomplished last season, while continuing to push forward in building a championship team,” John said. “We had a lot of positives last year, and I plan on building off of those to take bigger steps forward this upcoming season. I look forward to hearing the best fans in the ECHL continue to cheer us on and give us great energy to play hard for them every night.”

The first full-time assistant coach in club history, McGinnis will return to the Fuel bench in 2018-19. Originally from Scottsdale, Ariz., McGinnis came to Indianapolis last fall after serving as the head coach of the U18 AAA Phoenix Jr. Coyotes program. The former defenseman spent five years in the AHL and ECHL, winning a Kelly Cup with the Florida Everblades in 2012.

Ticket Plans for the Fuel's fifth anniversary season are now on sale! Lock up your seat for every second of the action in 2018-19 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum by heading to IndyFuelHockey.com or by calling the Fuel front office at 317-925-FUEL. Don't forget to follow the Fuel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (IndyFuel) for news, updates, contests and much more throughout the offseason.

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