Boston Bruins assistant coach Geoff Ward has resigned to pursue a head coaching opportunity overseas, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli announced Thursday morning.
Ward, who had been a part of Claude Julien’s staff since 2007, will take over as head coach of the Mannheim Eagles in the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga next season.
Ward, 52, spent 12 years as a coach the OHL and AHL and another two coaching in Germany before joining the Bruins. He had previously worked under Julien with the Edmonton Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Hamilton, with the two sharing coach of the year honors in 2002-03 after Julien departed to coach the Montreal Canadiens midway through the season.
Mannheim finished second in the DEL regular-season standings last season with a record of 33-16-2-1 (99 points).
