Stan Drulia joins Admirals as new assistant coach

WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Admirals announced Monday that Stan Drulia has been hired as the team’s new assistant coach. Drulia’s appointment comes after Ian Herbers was elevated to be the team’s head coach last week.

Drulia brings an impressive coaching and playing resume to the Milwaukee, having most recently served as the head coach for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. During his time in Wheeling, Drulia helped the Nailers to a combined 49-35-0-5 record. In 2010-11 they posted a 38-29-0-5 record which was good for second place in the ECHL’s North Division and made it the third round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Last season Nailing saw 18 different players promoted to the American Hockey League.

“We are excited to have Stan join us here in Milwaukee,” noted Herbers. “He has extensive head coaching experience at the ECHL level and brings different skills and perspective to the table that will certainly benefit our organization. Stan has a great work ethic and a very positive attitude and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

Prior to joining the Wheelers, the  Elmira, NY native spent three seasons as the head coach for the Port Huron Icehawks of the International Hockey League where he accumulated a notable 132-75-21 record. In his first year with the Icehawks Drulia guided the team to a 41-29-6 record and berth in the IHL Finals where they lost a 3-2 overtime decision in game seven. The following season he led Port Huron to a 44-21-11 mark and was selected as the IHL Coach of the Year.

Drulia also spent two seasons as the bench boss of the Augusta Lynx of the ECHL and in his only year as the head coach of the Orlando Seals of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League he guided the club to the league title, earning ACHL Coach of the Year honors in the process.

A two-time Turner Cup Champion as a player, Drulia completed a remarkable 13-year playing career in 2001. He played in 126 NHL contests with the Tampa Bay Lightning, finishing with 42 points on 15 goals and 27 assists. Three times in his career he posted more than 100 points in a single season, including the 1993-94 campaign when he tallied 114 points (54g-60a) for Atlanta, and was named the IHL Playoff MVP as the Knights captured the Turner Cup. Drulia also won the Cup with the Herbers and the Detroit Vipers in 1996-97 and he earned his second N.R. “Bud” Poile award as IHL Playoff MVP in 1999, even though the Vipers lost in the Finals.  Before turning pro Drulia cranked out an OHL record 479 points with three different teams, a record that still stands today.

Drulia will make his debut behind the Admirals bench when the Ads return home Friday, Dec. 9 at 7:00 pm against Grand Rapids.