PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC | Two former student-athletes from the University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey program were behind the bench at the recently-completed International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, with Jay Woodcroft assisting the gold medal Canadian squad and Karlis Zirnis coaching Latvia.
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Canada routed Russia to win the IIHF Championships by a score of 6-1 this past weekend, garnering the team's first gold since 2007. Woodcroft was an assistant coach on the bench for Canada, after spending the previous five seasons as an assistant with the NHL's San Jose Sharks.
Woodcroft previously played collegiately with the Chargers from 1996-2000, appearing in a total of 113 contests in the Blue and White. The Toronto, Ontario, native recorded 123 points on offense from 50 goals and 73 assists in his four years of collegiate hockey. He went on to play six years professionally before taking on a role as a coach.
Zirnis – who coaches the NA3HL's Nashville Jr. Predators – participated in his second IIHF World Championship after having been an assistant coach last year for Latvia. The Riga, Latvia, native played in 133 career games in four years with UAH, scoring 119 points on 46 goals and 73 assists from 1999-2003.
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UAH hockey recently released the 2015-16 schedule that includes nine home series in the upcoming campaign, beginning at the Von Braun Center on Oct. 9-10 vs. UConn. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting the UAH Athletic Office or by calling (256) UAH-PUCK to purchase group tickets.
Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or at Ticketmaster.com. Further information on tickets for UAH events can be found here.Â
