Jim Montgomery Named Hockey Assistant

TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Director of Athletics Ken Ralph has announced the hiring of Jim Montgomery as assistant men’s hockey coach. A two-time National All-American and former professional standout, Montgomery joins the staff of head coach Seth Appert.

“I’ve always been impressed by the tradition of RPI hockey and the excellence of the academics and athletics at the Institute,” said Montgomery. “I am really looking forward to working with the student-athletes as well as Seth, who has the enthusiasm, intelligence and vision to lead the program to national prominence. I am excited to be part of that vision.”

“We are thrilled to have Jim join the staff,” said Appert, who was hired in April. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on winning, leadership and the work ethic needed to play at the highest levels. His energy and passion for the game are contagious and will be evident daily in his interactions with our student-athletes and the community.”

Montgomery joins the Engineers after spending the past year as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, he played professionally for 12 seasons, including stints in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars.

As a collegiate player at the University of Maine from 1989-93, Montgomery tallied 103 goals and 198 assists for 301 points in 170 career games. As a Black Bear, he led the team to a 138-25-8 record with two Hockey East Championships and the 1993 National Championship. The Montreal, Que., native not only captained the title team, which posted a 42-1-2 record, but he earned the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award.

Montgomery, who ranks fourth in NCAA history in points (301) and assists (198), was named All-Hockey East three times in his career. In addition, he was chosen to the league’s All-Decade Team for the 1990’s and a finalist for the 1993 Hobey Baker Award. He was twice named Maine’s Most Valuable Player and he won the school’s Dale Lick Academic Achievement Award. Montgomery, who had single season point totals of 60, 81, 65 and 95, had his No. 19 jersey retired by the Black Bears.

Signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Blues on June 2, 1993, Montgomery played in 67 games as a rookie with St. Louis, earning six goals and 14 assists for 20 points. He moved on to Montreal in 1994-95 and played five games before being claimed on waivers by Philadelphia, where he played 13 games over two seasons with the Flyers. During the 1995-96 season, as a member of the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears, he led the league in assists (71) on his way to a 105-point season and a selection as an AHL All-Star.

After a year playing in Germany, Montgomery returned to the Flyers and played two more seasons with their AHL team, the Philadelphia Phantoms. There, he helped the Phantoms to the 1998 Calder Cup Championship, finishing second in playoff scoring with 29 points in 20 games. The following year, he was fourth in league scoring and again was selected as an AHL All-Star.

Montgomery signed as a free agent with San Jose in 2000-01, splitting time between the Sharks and their farm team in Kentucky. In 2001-02, the Dallas Stars picked him up and he remained with the organization the next two seasons.

After spending the 2003-04 season in the Russian Super League, Montgomery closed out his playing career in 2004-05 as a player/assistant coach with the Missouri River Otters in the United Hockey League, scoring 20 goals with 27 assists in 42 games.

In 122 regular season NHL games, Montgomery recorded nine goals and 25 assists for 34 points with 80 penalty minutes. He also played in eight playoff games, scoring once and registering two penalty minutes. In 518 AHL games over eight seasons, he tallied 183 goals and 360 assists for 543 points.

While at Notre Dame, Montgomery oversaw the video coordinator’s responsibilities, the team statistical program, face-off development, scoring skills development with the forwards and during games, he communicated from the press-box with an assistant coach on the bench.

Montgomery, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Maine, also served as the director of the school’s hockey camp.

Rensselaer finished the 2005-06 season with an overall record of 14-17-6, including an 8-8-6 league mark. The 2006-07 Engineers return 18 players from this year’s team, including two of the top three scorers and their starting goaltender. In addition, Kirk MacDonald, the team’s top scorer in 2004-05 who was a medical red-shirt this season, is also expected to return.

The Engineers open the season on October 7 against York University before hosting Boston University on October 14. Both games begin at 7pm at the Houston Field House.