Former Ice assistant Troy Ward named to AHL job

Troy Ward, who was Bob Ferguson's assistant with the Indianapolis Ice from 1995-97, has been named the head coach of the AHL Abbotsford Heat.

Ward was part of a successful era with the Ice, who went 87-62-16 in his two years on the bench, winning an IHL division title in 1997. He went from there to a three-year stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an assistant coach. He also has been head coach of ECHL Trenton and Victoria in two different stints, leading Trenton to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2001. He also has served as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin. From 2007-10, he was an assistant with the AHL Houston Aeros before becoming Abbotsford's assistant with ex-Ice player Jim Playfair last year. Playfair recently took a job as the Phoenix Coyotes' associate head coach. Ward is also a former USHL head coach, leading the Dubuque Fighting Saints from 1993-95 before getting the call to Indianapolis with Ferguson.

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