The IIHA has officially announced this year’s Men’s National team coaching and management panel.
General Manager: Mark Bowes
Mark Bowes has been involved with Irish Ice Hockey for the last 24 years. He was an avid player of the game and has featured for the Irish National team 20 times over the years. He is now looking to give back to the sport that has brought him so much excitement over the years. Mark now has the task of organising the National team’s preparations leading up to and including the World Championships in April.
Head Coach: Jim Tibbetts
Jim Tibbetts has been the head coach of the Irish National team for the past two years and been involved with Irish Ice hockey since 2004. Coach Tibbetts has had coaching experience in the NHL with both the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Jim has several years coaching pro teams in France. He was the General Manager of the French National team in the Nagano Olympics in 1998. Coach Tibbetts has been the coaching director in France for the last 20 years.
Assistant Coach: Tony Griffin
Tony Griffin has been an assistant coach on the national team for the last three years. He has mentored under the tutelage of Jim Tibbetts and is a Graduate of the Vierumaki Sports Institute in Helsinki, Finland. He was recently involved with the Swedish U-20 team in their prepartations for the recent 2008 World Junior Hockey Championships. Tony is currently the Head Coach of the IIHL’s league leading Dundalk Bulls.