Kings trainer makes history
AHL staffer becomes first woman to work behind an NHL bench
Aisha Visram is believed to have become the first woman to work on the bench of an NHL regularseason game in any capacity when she served as athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Kings in their 6-2 win over the Penguins on Thursday night.
According to the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society and Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Managers, Visram likely made history when she stepped in because three Kings support staffers were unavailable because of COVID-19 protocols.
“That’s incredible. That’s great. We need more of that in our game,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said.
Visram is the head trainer for the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate in Ontario, California. She previously worked with Adirondack of the ECHL and at St. Lawrence University in Canton,New York.
McLellan said having Visram on the bench was a reminder that it takes more than players and coaches for a professional hockey team to function and succeed.
“I can tell you that Aisha is a big part of our organization,” McLellan said. “And we don’t talk about these people. We don’t talk about the trainers or the equipment people, but she’s mentoring with (Kings head athletic trainer) Chris Kingsley and the rest of the staff, and accepted a huge role there and does a tremendous job, so unreal reward for her. And everybody’s a big part of it, so include her in it.”
Beijing plan
Claude Julien was named coach of Canada’s men’s hockey team for the Beijing Olympics, and Shane Doan was named general manager.
Doan and Julien replace St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong and Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper, who vacated their positions on the national team when the NHL pulled out of an agreement to send its players to the Olympics last month.
“We are excited to announce our experienced management group and coaching staff that will lead Canada’s men’s Olympic team at the 2022 Olympics,” Tom Renney, chief executive officer of Hockey Canada, said in a statement.
Julien has a 667-445-162 coaching record in 1,274 regular-season NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. He won a Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011.
Doan, the Arizona Coyotes’ hockey development officer, was assistant GM of the Canadian team that won gold at least year’s world championships.
Senators
Connor Brown is weekto-week for the Ottawa Senators with a broken jaw.
The forward was injured prior to a 4-1 win at the Calgary Flames Thursday but played in the game. He scored a goal with an assist in 19:28 of ice time.
“Took a puck in warmup, didn’t end up being that bad and ends up looking like a broken jaw, cracked jaw at this point, so that’s a huge loss for us,” Senators coach D.J. Smith said Friday. “But again, an opportunity for someoneelse.”
Capitals
Forward Conor Sheary was placed in COVID-19 protocol prior to Saturday’s game.