Goring Is Top Prospect to Be Next Duck Coach

The Mighty Ducks wouldn’t say Friday whether Butch Goring has emerged as the front runner to replace Pierre Page as their coach.

But Duck officials were expected to interview Goring, coach of the Utah Grizzlies of the International Hockey League, for a third time.

Goring has a summer home in Canada next door to Edmonton Oiler Coach Ron Low, who indicated that Goring would meet with Walt Disney Co. chairman Michael Eisner this weekend.

Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira failed to return phone calls. Goring, also unavailable for comment, has been interviewed separately by Ferreira and team President Tony Tavares.

The Ducks also are believed to have an interest in Craig Hartsburg, former Chicago Blackhawk coach, and Andy Murray, former Canadian national team coach.

Ferreira also has interviewed minor league coaches John Van Boxmeer and Dave Tippett, but they evidently are no longer in the running to replace Page, who was fired June 15.

Ferreira was attending minor-league hockey meetings in Hilton Head, S.C.

Goring coached the Boston Bruins for two seasons in the mid-1980s and also played for the Bruins, Kings and New York Islanders.

Hartsburg was fired in April after the Blackhawks missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 29 years. He coached the Blackhawks for three seasons. He also played for the Minnesota North Stars for 10 seasons, including one while Ferreira was general manager there.

Murray spent two seasons coaching the Canadian national team but resigned recently to search for an NHL job.