The Flyers on Monday named John Snowden the new head coach of AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.
The 43-year-old will be joined by assistant coaches Nick Schultz and Terrence Wallin.
“We’re excited to have John along with Nick and Terrence lead the Phantoms,” Flyers general manager Danny Briere said in a statement released by the team. “This is an important time for our organization with the young talent we have coming through the pipeline, and we believe this group has the right mix of experience, teaching ability and leadership to guide our prospects. Their impact in Lehigh Valley will be a big part of our long-term success.”
For the last two seasons, Snowden was an assistant under Ian Laperriere, the Phantoms’ former head coach who became an advisor to the Flyers’ hockey operations department in May.
Snowden has four seasons of experience as an AHL assistant and parts of two seasons as an ECHL head coach. He went 62-27-7 with the Newfoundland Growlers, leading the club to a 2019 ECHL Kelly Cup title.
He has been a coach at Flyers development camps.
“Having him here and his mind for development, which is a big part of what we’re going to do with the Phantoms, it helps me out a ton,” Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong said a week and a half ago. “And, then, on the other side, I help him out a ton because we think the game the same way.”
Schultz, who turns 43 next month, was the Flyers’ assistant director of player development the last two seasons. As a player, he suited up in 1,069 NHL games between four teams, playing his final three seasons for the Flyers.
The 33-year-old Wallin worked for the ECHL’s Maine Mariners the last four seasons. The Yardley, Pennsylvania native served the club as a general manager, head coach and assistant coach over that span.