Derek Lalonde '95 Named Assistant Coach for NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning

Former Cortland men's ice hockey goalie Derek Lalonde '95 has been named as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). The announcement was made on July 12 by Lightning vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman. The Lightning won the NHL's Atlantic Division title last season and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing in seven games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals. Lalonde spent two successful seasons as head coach of the Iowa Wild, an American Hockey League (AHL), the top minor-league affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild. He is the Wild's leader in career games won (69) and winning percentage (.536), including a team single-season record 36 wins in 2016-17. Prior to Iowa, Lalonde served as head coach of the ECHL's Toledo Walleye. He posted a combined record of 97-35-12 (.715) and was named the league's Coach of the Year in 2015. Lalonde was the head coach of the Green Bay Gamblers for three seasons from 2011-14 and led the organization to the 2012 United States Hockey League (USHL) Clark Cup. A native of Brasher Falls, N.Y., Lalonde served as head coach in 2013 and as an assistant in 2012 for United States World Junior U-19 teams that won gold medals at the World Junior "A" Challenge. He was an assistant coach from 2006-11 at the University of Denver, with the program making four straight NCAA appearances from 2007-11, and he began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Ferris State University from 2003-06. Lalonde played in 41 games for the Red Dragons from 1991-95 and recorded a 3.93 goals-against average and .877 save percentage. In 22 games during his senior year he registered an .880 save percentage and two shutouts. Lightning Press Release Lalonde Year-by-Year Coaching Record