COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS NAME DAN HINOTE ASSISTANT COACH

Hinote recently concluded a playing career that included 503 NHL games and a Stanley Cup championship

JULY 1, 2010 -- COLUMBUS, OHIO – Former National Hockey League player Dan Hinote has been named an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the club announced today. Hinote (pronounced HIGH-note) is the third member of new Head Coach Scott Arniel’s coaching staff, joining assistant coach Brad Berry and strength & conditioning coach Kevin Collins.

“As a player, Dan was a leader who put the team first and was very well-respected, so I think he is going to be a real asset to our coaching staff,” said Arniel. “His recent experience as a player, including winning a Stanley Cup, combined with his enthusiasm and work ethic will allow him to relate very well to the young players on our team.”

Hinote, 33, wrapped up a 13-year playing career in 2009-10 with Modo in the Swedish Elite League. Prior to that, he spent nine seasons in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues. He registered 38 goals and 52 assists for 90 points with 383 penalty minutes in 503 career NHL games. He added 6-9-15 and 67 penalty minutes in 72 career Stanley Cup Playoffs games and helped the Avalanche win the 2001 Stanley Cup championship.

Hinote played two seasons at the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1994-96. After being selected by Colorado in the seventh round, 167^th overall, of the 1996 Entry Draft, he played parts of two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals before signing with the Avalanche and spending parts of three seasons with the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears. He tallied 27-38-65 and 254 penalty minutes in 353 games with Colorado between 1999-00 and 2005-06 and participated in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his five full seasons with the club. He signed with St. Louis prior to the 2006-07 season and collected 11-14-25 and 129 penalty minutes in 150 games with the Blues, helping the club reach the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Hinote was born on Jan. 30, 1977 in Leesburg, Florida and grew up in Elk River, Minnesota. He and his wife, Amy, are the parents of a four-month-old son, Charlie.

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SCOTT ARNIEL NAMED HEAD COACH

JUNE 8, 2010 -- COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have named Scott Arniel as the new head coach of the National Hockey League franchise, club General Manager Scott Howson announced today. Arniel (pronounced ahr-NEEL) agreed to a three-year contract through the 2012-13 season and was introduced at a press conference today at Nationwide Arena.

“Scott Arniel possesses all the qualities we were looking for in a head coach and we are very pleased to have him join the Blue Jackets organization,” said Howson. “He played in the NHL for many years, was an assistant coach in the league and has been successful in developing young players. Scott has been one of the top coaches in the American Hockey League the past four years, averaging 45 wins and 99 points a season playing an attacking, up-tempo game.”

“I am excited to have Scott Arniel join Scott Howson to lead our team together as the Blue Jackets begin a new era in our 10th NHL season in 2010-11,” said club president Mike Priest. “I think in these men we have two individuals whose abilities and compatibilities will compliment each other very well as we continue to build a team that will compete at a very high level year in and year out.”

Arniel, 47, joins the Blue Jackets after spending four seasons as head coach of the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose, the top affiliate for the Vancouver Canucks. He led the club to a 181-106-33 record (.617) from 2006-10, including North Division titles during the 2006-07 and 2008-09 seasons, four playoff appearances and a trip to the 2009 Calder Cup Final.

Arniel was named the winner of the 2008-09 A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach after guiding the club to a 50-23-7 record, which marked the most successful season in franchise history. The team set franchise records for wins, home wins (25-tied) and road wins (25) and finished first overall in the AHL for the first time in club history. Prior to his stint in Manitoba, he served as an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres for three seasons from 2002-06 and helped the club to a 52-24-6 record and a berth the Eastern Conference Final in 2005-06. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Moose, serving in that capacity from 1999-2002.

“I am extremely flattered and honored to be the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets and want to thank Scott and the organization for giving me this opportunity,” said Arniel.  “I’ve been impressed by a lot of what I see here.  I see myself as a young coach and this is a young, talented team with great potential and I am ready to get to work.”

Winnipeg’s second pick, 22nd overall, in the 1981 Entry Draft, Arniel spent parts of 11 seasons in the NHL from 1981-92 and registered 149 goals and 189 assists for 338 points and 599 penalty minutes in 730 career games with the Sabres, Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins. He helped his teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in eight of those seasons and tallied 3-3-6 and 39 penalty minutes in 34 career playoff games. He set career highs with 21-35-56 and 68 penalty minutes in 80 games with Winnipeg during the 1983-84 season.

The Kingston, Ontario native also played eight seasons in the AHL and former International Hockey League, collecting 201-273-474 and 713 penalty minutes in 555 career games with Maine (AHL), New Haven (AHL), San Diego (IHL), Houston (IHL), Utah (IHL) and Manitoba (IHL). He added 25-17-42 and 88 penalty minutes in 55 career playoff games and helped the Utah Grizzlies win the Turner Cup in 1995-96. He retired as a player following the 1998-99 season.

Prior to his professional career, Arniel played three seasons of major junior hockey with the Cornwall Royals and tallied 92-125-217 and 196 penalty minutes in 153 career games. He helped the Royals win the Memorial Cup in 1980 and 1981. He also was a member of Team Canada at the 1982 World Junior Championships and helped the team to its first-ever gold medal at the tournament.