Photo: Sporting News
The Vegas Golden Knights announced on Wednesday that former Washington Capitals right-wing Joel Ward has been named an assistant coach on their NHL team. He served as an assistant on the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights, Vegas’ minor league affiliate, for the past three seasons.
Ward served on Vegas’ coaching staff for one game during the 2020-21 shortened season when a coach tested positive for COVID-19 and the whole staff had to quarantine. He has been in Henderson since their inaugural campaign.
Ward announced his retirement in 2020 after 726 career regular-season games with Washington, the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks. He recorded 57 goals, 121 points, and a +22 rating in 276 games with Washington from 2011-15.
We are thrilled to announce that Dominique Ducharme and Joel Ward have been named assistant coaches for the Golden Knights!!! 👏
Congratulations, Dominique and Joel! #VegasBorn
Full details ⬇️https://t.co/MILmieIHbj
— 🏆 – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 12, 2023
On June 8, 2020, Ward became an inaugural executive board member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, whose goal is to address intolerance and racism in hockey.
Vegas also hired former Montreal Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme, who led Montreal to a six-game victory over Vegas in the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals, as an assistant to join head coach Bruce Cassidy’s staff.
Vegas is scheduled to make their lone visit to Washington on Tuesday, November 14.
By Harrison Brown