Rick Kowalsky - Head Coach
Rick Kowalsky was named head coach of the Bridgeport Islanders on July 13, 2023 after serving two seasons as an assistant with the club. He is the ninth head coach in team history. Kowalsky joined the organization in 2021 following three seasons with the New Jersey Devils.
The Simcoe, Ont. native was head coach of New Jersey’s American Hockey League affiliate for eight seasons, guiding the Albany Devils from 2010-17 and the Binghamton Devils in 2017-18. In addition, Kowalsky was head coach of New Jersey’s ECHL affiliate for four seasons, leading the Trenton Titans and Trenton Devils from 2006-10. He was elected into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2017.
Kowalsky led Albany to back-to-back playoff berths in 2015-16 and 2016-17, including its most successful season in 2015-16. The Devils earned 46 wins and 102 points that season, and Kowalsky was named AHL Coach of the Year. He also guided the ECHL Trenton franchise to a 40-win season in 2008-09 and received the John Brophy Award as the league’s top coach. Trenton’s 40 wins were the most since 2004-05 when the Titans won the Kelly Cup Championship with Kowalsky as team captain.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Kowalsky enjoyed a 12-year professional playing career as a forward in the AHL and ECHL. He had 92 points (35 goals, 57 assists) in 183 AHL games with the Cornwall Aces, Portland Pirates and Norfolk Admirals, and 550 points (221 goals, 329 assists) in 516 ECHL contests with the Hampton Roads Admirals, Trenton Titans and Roanoke Express. He skated in the 1995 and 2003 ECHL All-Star Games and served as North team captain in 2003.
A 10th-round pick (227th overall) of the Buffalo Sabres in 1992, Kowalsky played four seasons with the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 1989-1993. He was named team captain in 1992-93 and led the Greyhounds to the 1993 Memorial Cup Championship.