MacDonald named head coach for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Former ECHL player and coach Kirk MacDonald has been named the head coach of the American Hockey League's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

MacDonald played parts of three seasons in the ECHL with Florida and Reading, totaling 111 points (51g-60a) in 134 games, and capturing a Kelly Cup title with the Royals in 2013. He spent tne majority of his career in the AHL, recording 106 points (45g-61a) in 272 regular-season games with Albany, Providence, Iowa and Houston.

Upon the completion of his playing career, he was named an assistant coach with Reading, before taking over as the club's head coach late in the 2016-17 season. He posted an overall record of 158-86-34 through the 2021-22 season when he accepted the head-coaching role with Dubuque of the United States Hockey League. This past season, MacDonald led Dubuque to the best record in the USHL’s Eastern Conference, going 41-13-8 in the regular season before capturing the USHL Eastern Conference championship in the Clark Cup Playoffs.

MacDonald becomes the 18th active head coach in the AHL with ECHL ties, including the 11th who was a coach in the league.