Christie heads to Buffalo as assistant coach

Jason Christie, who has won an ECHL-record 667 games as a head coach in the league, has been hired as an assistant coach with the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres.

In Buffalo, Christie will be reunited with Sabres' head coach Don Granato, who was his teammate with the ECHL's Columbus Chill, and later his head coach with the Peoria Rivemen, when the team captured the 2000 Kelly Cup title.

Christie's 667 regular-season victories have come in 17 seasons, which includes stints with the Peoria Rivermen (2000-05), Utah Grizzlies (2005-08), Ontario Reign (2011-15), Tulsa Oilers (2015-17) and Jacksonville Icemen (2017-21). While with Ontario, Christie guided the Reign to four consecutive 40-plus wins seasons and three consecutive Pacific Division titles. Christie has made 11 postseason appearances as an ECHL head coach, which is tied for the most in league history, while his 45 postseason victories are tied for sixth all-time. 

As a player, Christie played the last of his 10 professional seasons with Peoria in 1999-2000 and led the Rivermen to the 2000 Kelly Cup championship, earning co-Most Valuable Player honors. In addition, Christie skated in the ECHL with Columbus (1991-93 and 1998-99) and Charlotte (1993-94).

He also played five seasons in the American Hockey League and International Hockey League. Christie totaled 434 points (146g, 288a) with 1,122 penalty minutes during his professional playing career.