Malone leaving Ontario Hockey League coaching job for post in AHL

Oshawa Generals coach Brad Malone, who took over behind the bench 30 games into the season (in a move that surprised fans and hockey insiders alike) and led the team to their second straight Ontario Hockey League final, is leaving the club to become an assistant coach with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Malone was hired as a development coach for the Generals just a few months after ending a 14-year playing career that included 217 games in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers.

With the club underachieving slightly at 18-10-2, the Generals fired coach Steve O’Rourke in early December and installed Malone in the job as interim coach.

Malone went 23-11-4 and took the team into the playoffs, where they beat Brampton and Brantford in six games each and swept Barrie to set up a rematch from last season with the powerhouse London Knights.

The Generals took the opener in London before the Knights roared back to win the OHL title in five games and book their ticket to the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Quebec.

London won junior hockey’s biggest prize Sunday night, beating Medicine Hat 4-1 in the championship game.

Malone’s record with Oshawa stands at 36-19-4.

The organization added two-time Memorial Cup-winning coach Mario Pouliot to their squad just before the playoffs to assist Malone but it is unclear if Pouliot is staying on or who will be behind the bench for the club next season.

“The Oshawa Generals would like to wish Brad nothing but the best in his coaching career. Once a General, Always a General, thank you Brad.”