The Utah Grizzlies, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames and AHL’s Abbotsford Heat, have announced that Tim Branham will become the team’s head coach and general manager for the upcoming 2013-14 season.
Branham is 32-year old and played professionally from 2002 to 2010. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2000 93rd-overall. The Eagle River, Wisconsin, native, spent the last 3 seasons behind the bench of the ECHL’s Reading Royals as an assistant. In his 3 years in Reading, Branham helped the Royals to an overall regular-season record of 252-70-20 including a Kelly Cup Championship this past year. In the Kelly Cup Playoffs, Reading dominated and posted a 16-6 record.
“Tim helped implement a winning culture in Reading that ultimately led to a Kelly Cup Championship,” said Bruder. “He is very well regarded around the ECHL as a bright young coach with high energy. It was more a matter of where then when for his first head coaching job and we are very excited to have him in Utah. He has a very bright future ahead of him.”
Utah opens the 2013-14 season October 18, as the Grizzlies play hosts to the Idaho Steelheads.