Railers name Cunniff as head coach/general manager

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester Railers Hockey Club, ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, announced that the club has relieved Jamie Russellof general manager and head coaching duties and named David Cunniffas the club’s new general manager and head coach.

In addition, Derek Armyhas been relieved of his assistant coaching duties.

Cunniff, 49, joins the Railers with 18 years of coaching experience in the American Hockey League from 2002-19, including serving as an assistant coach with the Hartford Wolf Pack this season where the club holds an 11-4-0-5 record and is currently in first place in the Atlantic Division. He was a member of the Iowa Wild’s coaching staff for four seasons from 2015-19 where he served as an associate coach, as well as the team’s interim head coach for part of the 2015-16 season. In addition, Cunniff spent 12 seasons as either the associate coach or assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate, which included eight seasons with the Worcester Sharks from 2006-14. He also spent one season with the Albany Devils in 2014-15.

During his playing career, Cunniff played parts of three seasons in the ECHL with Jacksonville, Raleigh, Louisiana and Richmond, totaling 57 points (33g-24a) in 148 games. He added 25 points (5g-20a) in 120 career AHL games with Albany.