News release
8 August 2005
Elmira, NY - The Elmira Jackals announced today that Perry Florio has been named Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the 2005-06 season.
Florio comes to Elmira with 13 years of experience in professional hockey. In six seasons as a Head Coach he has coached three different teams in the ECHL and has posted a career record of 214-169-41 in 424 games behind the bench. Florio spent the last two seasons as the Head Coach for the Florence/Pee Dee Pride, but found himself looking for a new team when the Pride chose to voluntarily cease operations for the 2005-06 season in order to move the team to Myrtle Beach, SC for the 2006-07 season. Prior to his stint in South Carolina, he split the 2002-03 season between the Roanoke Express and the Alaska Aces. Florio began his coaching career as an assistant with the Express in 1998-99. He was promoted to Head Coach in Roanoke the next season and served in that capacity for four seasons where he led the team to the playoffs each year.
The move to the Jackals will be Florio's first taste of the United Hockey League, but it will not be entirely unfamiliar. While in Alaska, Florio coached well known Jackals Carl Drakensjo and Christian Soucy, along with former Richmond Head Coach Don Martin and Forward J.J. Wrobel.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity that Elmira presents," said the new Jackals head coach. "It's a city that loves their hockey, they are passionate about their team, and being a native New Yorker it's good to be home. "
Born in Long Island, NY, Florio was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 4th round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. On the ice as a defenseman, Florio also spent most of his six playing seasons in the ECHL. He played his first pro year (1989-1990) with the Knoxville Cherokees and moved on to play five seasons with the Johnstown Chiefs; during which he also was called up for several games with the Hershey Bears of the AHL. In 361 career games played, Florio scored 239 points (52 goals, 187 assists) and added 913 penalty minutes. He played four years of Division I college hockey on a full athletic scholarship, split equally between Providence College and Northern Michigan University. Florio was a member of Team USA for the 1985 World Junior Championships in Helsinki, Finland.
Elmira will hit the ice at the First Arena for the home opener on Friday October 29th at 7:00 pm against the Roanoke Valley Vipers.