Gillette names Steve Kruk as new head coach

March 20, 2018

The Gillette Wild of the NA3HL have announced the hiring of Steve Kruk to be the third Head Coach and General Manager in franchise history.

 

Kruk will be entering his first season as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Gillette Wild in 2018-19. Kruk spent the 2017-18 season as an Associate Coach with the Metro Jets of the NA3HL.

 

Kruk has also been a Varsity High School Head Coach for the last three seasons with the Birmingham Unified Kings in Birmingham, Michigan. This past season was one of the best in the program's history, with a regular season record of 19-3-2.

 

In addition to high school hockey, Kruk was also a Co-Head Coach with the Oakland Junior Grizzlies 16U Tier II team, and won back to back USA Hockey National Championships 2016 and 2017. 

 

His playing background includes four years of Junior hockey with the Motor City Chiefs, Wallace burg Lakers, Sarnia Blast, Leamington Flyers, and Chatham Maroons. In his final season in Leamington, he was named captain of the team, a rarity for an American born player. 

 

Following Junior hockey, he attended main camp and played in exhibition games with the 1000 Island Privateers of the Federal Hockey League (minor professional), but left due to family reasons.  

 

He will be moving to Gillette with his wife Jessica, daughter Hailey, and sons Aiden and Grayson.