Lorne Molleken

General Manager/Head Coach

lorne@saskatoonblades.com

Lorne Molleken re-joined the Blades staff for the 2004-05, continuing a successful career behind benches from the junior ranks to the NHL. The 51-year old former minor league goaltender has also been a head coach with the Chicago Blackhawks as well as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Blackhawks.

Molleken proved himself as an exceptional developmental coach during a previous four-year stint with the Saskatoon Blades of the major junior Western Hockey League from 1991-95. He compiled a 170-101-17 record, reached the Western Hockey League finals in 1992 and 1994, and was named WHL Coach of the Year in 1994 in addition to compiling the best winning percentage in Blades coaching history at .591. He was also a finalist for coach of the year honours in 1992.

Lorne then spent three seasons as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers' developmental clubs in the American Hockey League in Cape Breton and Hamilton. He coached Hamilton to the AHL's Calder Cup finals in 1997.

Molleken worked two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks from 1998-2000, serving as both assistant coach and head coach for the NHL club. He posted a head coaching record of 18-21-8 in parts of two seasons in Chicago.

The native of Regina, Saskatchewan returned home to coach the WHL's Regina Pats in 2000-01, leading the club to a 40-27-3-2 mark as hosts of the Memorial Cup. He then moved on to San Jose where he was an assistant coach on Darryl Sutter's staff for parts of two seasons.

Most recently, Molleken was the general manager of the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors during the 2002-03 season. Following his stint in Moose Jaw, Molleken joined the staff of the Pittsburgh Penguins under bench boss Ed Olcyzk for the 2003-04 season helping to lead the likes of budding star Marc Andre Fleury as well as Mario Lemieux.

Prior to becoming a coach Molleken played in the WHL as a goaltender with the Swift Current/Lethbridge Broncos and the now defunct Winnipeg Clubs. Following his junior career Molleken spent seven years in professional hockey and was a first-team International Hockey League All-Star selection in 1982-83. He won two IHL Turner Cup championships with Toledo in 1982 and 1983.

Coaching Record

Season

Team

Lge

Type

GP

W

L

T

OTL

Pct

Playoff Result

88-89 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL Head/Asst. Coach 72 27 42 3 - 0.396 Lost in round 2
89-90 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL Head/Co-Coach 72 28 41 3 - 0.410 Out of Playoffs
90-91 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL Head/Co-Coach 72 31 39 2 - 0.444 Lost in round 2
91-92 Saskatoon Blades WHL Head Coach 72 38 29 5 0 0.562 Lost in WHL Final
92-93 Saskatoon Blades WHL Head Coach 72 42 27 3 0 0.604 Lost in round 2
93-94 Saskatoon Blades WHL Head Coach 72 49 22 1 0 0.688 Lost in WHL Final
94-95 Saskatoon Blades WHL Head Coach 72 41 23 8 0 0.625 Lost in round 2
95-96 Cape-Breton Oilers AHL Head Coach 80 33 40 3 4 0.431 Out of Playoffs
96-97 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head Coach 80 28 39 9 4 0.406 Lost in Finals
97-98 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head Coach 80 36 22 17 5 0.556 Lost in round 2
98-99 Chicago Blackhawks NHL Head/Asst.  Coach 23 13 6 4 0 0.652 Out of Playoffs
99-00 Chicago Blackhawks NHL Head Coach 24 5 15 4 0 0.292 Out of Playoffs
01-02 Regina Pats WHL Head Coach 72 40 27 3 2 0.560 Lost in Round 1
02-03 San Jose Sharks NHL Asst. Coach 82 28 37 9 8 0.445 Out of Playoffs
02-03 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL General Manager 72 36 22 11 3 0.597 Lost in Round 2
03-04 San Jose Sharks NHL Asst. Coach 82 43 21 12 6 0.634 Lost in Round 3
04-05 Saskatoon Blades WHL Head Coach 72 37 23 6 6 0.597 Lost in round 1
05-06 Saskatoon Blades WHL Head Coach 72 41 25 2 4 0.611 Lost in round 2
06-07 Saskatoon Blades WHL Head Coach 72 27 41 2 2 0.402 Out of Playoffs  
07-08 Saskaton Blades WHL Head Coach 72 29 34 0 9 0.465  Out of Playoffs
08-09 Saskatoon Blades WHL Head Coach  72  49  18  3  2  0.715  
09-10 Saskatoon Blades WH Head Coach  72  46  19  3 4   0.668