News release
18 April 2006
Elmira, NY The Elmira Jackals team owner Dr. Mostafa Afr announced today that long-time UHL General Manager Robbie Nichols has been hired as the General Manager for the Jackals and the First Arena.
Nichols brings 9 years of experience as a General Manager and coach in the United Hockey League and he is one of the All-Time winningest hockey GMs in UHL history. In 570 games as a GM/Coach Nichols has amassed a record of (309-205-56), totaling a 55.1% winning percentage, working for the Flint Generals, the Adirondack IceHawks and the Richmond Riverdogs. He won the UHLs Colonial Cup Championship in his first year as the General Manager/coach in Flint in 1995-96, going 51-18-5 in the regular season on his way to his first Championship Ring as a General Manager. Most recently Nichols has been the General Manager for the Richmond Riverdogs in the 2005-06 season, working a short roster to an 8th place tie for the final playoff spot, losing out to the Motor City Mechanics only through a tiebreaker.
Nichols, who assumes control as the General Manager effective immediately, will be in charge of the day-to-day operation of the First Arena and the Jackals; Nichols is also taking over the GM side of the hockey operations. He will be in charge of all administrative issues of the player personnel, dealing with such things as contracts, player housing, travel, etc. This will allow the Coach to focus more on the coaching aspect of the club and less on the administrative duties. Nichols will also have his hand in recruiting and player signing, working side-by-side the Head Coach to build a 2006-07 Colonial Cup Championship team.
I have known the Afrs for 10 years, they are committed to bringing a winning team back to Elmira, said new General Manager Robbie Nichols. I am very excited about the opportunity to bring the Jackals back to their winning ways. This franchise was once a model franchise of the UHL. It needs to return and make their fans proud.
I look forward to meeting and seeing everyone at First Arena.
As a player Nichols enjoyed an 11-year professional hockey career as a right wing, spending most of his time in the AHL and the IHL and a brief stint in the UHL. He was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 9th round (181st overall) in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. In 543 pro games, Nichols scored 368 points (176 goals, 192 assists) and recorded 2,145 penalty minutes.