Van Boxmeer Joins Kings

The Kings hired Long Beach Ice Dog Coach John Van Boxmeer as an assistant coach, signing him to a multiyear deal Wednesday.

Van Boxmeer, 50, has been with the Ice Dogs for seven seasons, as vice president of hockey operations as well as coach.

He replaces Dave Tippett, who was hired as coach of the Dallas Stars.

Van Boxmeer said that after he knew Tippett had the opportunity to get a head-coaching job, he called King General Manager Dave Taylor to let him know of his interest.

Van Boxmeer is familiar to the Kings. He interviewed for the team’s head-coaching job after the 1998-99 season, when Andy Murray was hired. The Ice Dogs have been a minor league affiliate of the Kings in past seasons, making Van Boxmeer familiar with several of the Kings’ home-grown players.

He also was considered for the Mighty Duck head-coaching vacancy after the 1997-98 season.

“I think his familiarity with our players and our organization is very important and will make the transition much easier,” Murray said. “There was no question, he was a top candidate right away.”

The Kings’ power play will be among Van Boxmeer’s duties. The Kings had the NHL’s top power play last season at 20.7%

“This is a team that has made great strides the last few years,” Van Boxmeer said. “You want to go somewhere where it’s a stable organization that is going in a positive direction.”

Van Boxmeer had an 11-year career as a defenseman in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Rockies, Buffalo Sabres and Quebec Nordiques that ended in 1984. He won the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1976. He had 84 goals and 358 points and was selected to play in the 1982 All-Star game.

He spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Sabres from 1990-92. He had a 313-181-60 record as Ice Dog coach.

“Obviously he has credibility as a good player and as a successful coach,” Murray said. “He has a proven track record.”

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The Ducks, unable to come to terms with free-agent right wing Tie Domi last week, found some toughness by signing free-agent defenseman Todd Reirden. Reirden, who is 6 feet 5, 225 pounds, had three goals and 82 penalty minutes in 65 games with the Atlanta Thrashers last season.

The Ducks also signed Jason Krog, a center who won the Hobey Baker Award at New Hampshire in 1999. Krog’s career has fizzled since, as he played only 28 NHL games, all with the New York Islanders.