January 16, 2007
The United States Hockey League is pleased to announce that is has named its coaching staffs for the 2007 Prospects/All-Star Game, to be held at Young Arena in Waterloo, Iowa January 29-30, 2007.
Ted Hampson, chief scout for the NHL's Colorado Avalanche and former Black Hawk and longtime USHL off-ice official Bill Dobbyn will be the honorary coaches as chosen by the league. They will be joined on the bench by the assistant coaches of the two teams leading their divisions, Bobby Kinsella of Sioux City in the west division and Shane Fukushima and Derrick Johnson of Waterloo in the east division.
"Each year, we try to find people in the hockey world that are tied to the market hosting the event or the league as a whole and we definitely did that this season with Ted Hampson and Bill Dobbyn," said USHL President Gino Gasparini. "Both men have ties to the league. Anyone who has come through Waterloo in the last 25-30 years has crossed paths with Bill. He's one of our longest tenured off-ice officials and his contributions to the game are invaluable.
"Ted is a guy who has been in the game for a long time and had a long career at the NHL level. But he also spent some time in our league when he was with Bloomington, so it's a homecoming of sorts for him as well."
Sioux City assistant coach Bobby Kinsella will join Hampson on the bench of the West Division All-Stars. Kinsella, along with head coach Dave Siciliano, has helped lead the Musketeers to a first-place standing in the race for the Anderson Cup.
"Coaching in the All-Star game is a privilege that I know he respects. He knows the hard work that goes into building a team, so he appreciates the benefits. He is very excited to be with the best players in the USHL competing in its major showcase of the year," said Siciliano.
The East Division All-Stars will have a hometown feel on the bench, as Dobbyn will be assisted by Waterloo's Shane Fukushima and Derrick Johnson. Fukushima (1st season in Waterloo) and Johnson (2nd season in Waterloo) have helped spur a turnaround for the Black Hawks, who currently sit atop the east division after failing to make the playoffs a season ago.
Honorary Coach Biographies
Bill Dobbyn
No stranger to Waterloo, Dobbyn is back behind the bench after a 35-year hiatus. Dobbyn coached the Black Hawks for 32 games during the 1971-72 season, going 15-17-0. Since that time Dobbyn has served the Black Hawks in various capacities, and currently is the scorekeeper for the Black Hawks' games at Young Arena.
Prior to coming to Waterloo, the Melita, Manitoba native was one of the most highly touted prospects in North America and played in the New York Rangers system. The Rangers featured Dobbyn in their 1958-59 game program, meaning his eventual rise to the NHL was imminent. Then in 1958 while playing with the Buffalo Bisons, Dobbyn suffered a freak eye injury that derailed his season, and ultimately his chances to play in the NHL. The accident inspired then-Detroit Red Wings coach Jack Adams to formulate a benefit game between his team and the Bisons, with the proceeds going to Dobbyn. The game was known as the "Bill Dobbyn Memorial Hockey Game" and was the first charity game that featured an NHL team playing a minor league hockey club.
Dobbyn made a comeback to hockey in 1965, making several stops along the way, most notably coaching and playing 5 years in Europe before landing in Waterloo. Dobbyn helped guide the Black Hawks to four-straight USHL championships and was a USHL all-star every year he played in the league. He was also a two-time team captain.
To honor Dobbyn and his contributions to hockey in Waterloo, the Black Hawks retired his number two in 2001.
Ted Hampson
Hampson has enjoyed a long and storied career in professional hockey, first as a player and later as a coach and scout. Currently, Hampson is chief scout for the Colorado Avalanche, a position he took last year. Previously he worked in different capacities with the St. Louis Blues, most recently as their director of player evaluation. He had been with the Blues beginning in 1983.
A native of Togo, Saskatchewan, Hampson was an all-star with the Flin Flon Bombers (the star of the Bombers upon his arrival was none other than Bill Dobbyn) of the SJHL prior to his pro career, which began with the Providence Reds in 1957. He made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1959. He appeared 676 NHL games over 12 seasons with Toronto, Detroit, Oakland, California, Minnesota and the New York Rangers, scoring 108 goals and 245 assists for 353 points. He was an NHL All-Star in 1969 and the recipient of the 1969 Bill Masterton Award, which goes to the NHL player that best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Hampson later played four seasons in the WHA with the Minnesota Fighting Saints and the Quebec Nordiques, scoring 60 goals and 143 assists for 203 points. In 1973 Hampson was awarded the Paul Deneau Award as the most gentlemanly player in the WHA.
Hampson was the head coach of the Oklahoma City Stars of the Central Hockey League, compiling a record of 106-123-6 in three seasons for the affiliate of the Minnesota North Stars. He served as head coach of the USHL's Bloomington Jr. Stars from 1976-78. Hampson at one time also worked for NHL Central Scouting.
Tickets for the USHL Prospects/All-Star Game and accompanying banquet are available by calling the Young Arena box office at (319) 291-7680. You can also purchase tickets online at www.waterlooblackhawks.com.
