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Jack Capuano has come home. Sort of.
The former University of Maine first team All-American defenseman has bought a home in Bangor with wife Donna (Stevenson), a Bangor native, and their two children (Adriana, 14, and Anthony, 12).
Capuano was an associate head coach with the Bridgeport (Conn.) Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League this season and will be the head coach of the Sound Tigers next season. They are the top minor league affiliate of the New York Islanders.
Former Black Bear and NHL goalie Garth Snow was the first-year general manager of the Islanders this season and he led them to a playoff berth.
“Garth did an excellent job. A lot of people criticized when he first got the job, but he has proven a lot of people wrong,” said Capuano, who noted that the late-season acquisitions of defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron and Ryan Smith from the Edmonton Oilers played an important role in the Islanders’ successful playoff run.
“Ryan Smith is one of the best players in the league,” said Capuano, shortly before teeing off at Bangor Municipal Golf Course with his father-in-law, Bob.
He said Snow has a good rapport with the coaching staff, but he still maintains a “business-like personality” when necessary. And he said Snow hasn’t lost his sense of humor.
Capuano is excited about being the head coach of the Sound Tigers. He had been an assistant with the Islanders two years ago before winding up with Bridgeport last season. He had previously been a coach and general manager for Pee Dee Pride (S.C.) in the East Coast Hockey League where he led them to a 312-206-52 record between the two jobs from 1997-2005.
“I’ve been given an opportunity to develop future Islanders and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Capuano. “I’m looking forward to working with Garth Snow and the Islanders. With the salary cap and the new NHL, you’ve got to be able to develop these kids. Hopefully, we can do that.”
He knows there can be a fine line between winning games in the NHL and developing players and he is hoping to be able to do both.
“Obviously, all coaches are competitive and want to win. We’ll do our best to develop players and, hopefully, create an environment for a winning team,” said Capuano.
He will preach an aggressive style of play with defensemen encouraged to get involved in the attack.
Capuano was always an offensive-minded defenseman, notching 31 goals and 89 assists in 124 career games over three seasons at Maine.
The fifth-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs played seven seasons in pro hockey and appeared in six NHL games for three teams.
The Cranston, R.I., native, who will turn 41 on July 7, said he has maintained his ties with his former teammates and enjoyed spending time with Eric Weinrich and Scott Pellerin, who were assistant coaches in Portland and Manchester, N.H., respectively.
“And it was nice to see a Maine guy like Dustin Penner score the game-winner for Anaheim [Monday],” said Capuano.
He likes being back in the Bangor area, saying he is fond of the area and he was tired of moving his family around.
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