Jamie Russell loves working with young players. © TASR/PM Ritten

Master Ritten is betting on a completely new card

The search for a new coach is over: The Rittner Buam have found the most important person in Jamie Russell. Introducing the Canadian.

June 07, 2024

From: pm

The 57-year-old Canadian has gained a lot of experience in the USA; last season he filled in for the Slovakian first division club HKM Zvolen in January. Now he stays in Europe and stands on the high plateau on the side wall.

As a player, Russell was active for four seasons and played two years each in the NCAA (at Michigan Tech) and in the ECHL (at the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds). He also played four games in the AHL for the Binghamton Wailers. In 1994, the Canadian from British Columbia took on a coaching position for the first time. First he was an assistant coach at Ferris State University for five seasons, then at Cornell University for another four seasons. He was hired as head coach for the first time in 2003 at his former club, Michigan Tech.

After eleven more years in the NCAA, eight of them at Michigan Tech and three as an assistant coach at Providence College, Russell made his breakthrough in the ECHL, where he not only worked as head coach but also as athletic director for the Elmira Jackals. From 2016 to 2020 he was general manager and head coach of the Worcester Railers before the Canadian worked with various youth teams in the USA. The jump across the pond followed last season. Russell led HKM Zvolen to seventh place in the Slovakian first division Tipos Extraliga.

That's why Russell was chosen

When you take a look at his curriculum, you immediately notice the many years in the NCAA college league and the last few years in the youth divisions. “Jamie Russell has a lot of experience in developing young players. As is well known, there are many young players in our team, especially from Ritten. “He is a great asset and can take our boys to the next level,” said sports directors Dan Tudin and Alexander Eisath. “He is also a very positive person, he is very communicative and very committed. We are convinced that Jamie Russell is the right man for the Rittner Buam SkyAlps,” the two conclude.