CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Former UPEI Panther Joel Ward is getting into coaching.
He will be an assistant coach with the new Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL. The team was announced in May as the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights’ affiliate.
Ward and Jamie Heward will be assistants on Manny Viveiros’ coaching staff in Henderson, Nev.
Ward played four seasons with the Panthers and graduated with a sociology degree in 2006. He played 726 regular season games in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks. His number 22 hangs from the rafters at MacLauchlan Arena.
Ward’s coach during his three-year tenure in San Jose was Peter DeBoer, who is now the head coach with the Golden Knights.
Ward, who turns 40 on Dec. 2, is a member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance.