Senators Articles: Senators' search for AHL coach narrows; Candidate may decide today
August 25, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Scott Lauber of Press Connects.com

Senators' search for AHL coach narrows

Candidate may decide today

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

A frontrunner has emerged in the search for the next coach of the Binghamton Senators.

Dave Cameron, who played in 102 games for the New Jersey Devils from 1982-84, has received an offer from the Ottawa Senators and could accept the job as early as today, according to a source.

The Senators are seeking a replacement for John Paddock, now an Ottawa assistant coach.

Cameron, 46, has spent the past four seasons as coach and director of hockey operations with the St. Michael's Majors, the junior team owned by Senators owner Eugene Melnyk. The Majors have posted four straight winning records, going 145-87-30 under Cameron's watch.

Prior to joining Toronto-based St. Michael's in August 2000, Cameron was an American Hockey League assistant coach for the St. John's Maple Leafs. He served under coach Al MacAdam, as the Leafs went 23-45-8-4 and missed the playoffs.

Cameron was an eighth-round pick of the New York Islanders in the 1978 NHL draft. He played two seasons with Indianapolis, the Isles' affiliate in the Central Hockey League, and scored 40 goals in 1980-81.

He had 25 goals and 28 assists in 168 NHL games with the Colorado Rockies and Devils.

When Paddock accepted a job with Ottawa in July, the likely frontrunners for the Binghamton job were Cincinnati Mighty Ducks coach Brad Shaw, B-Sens assistant Mike Busniuk and former B-Sens player/coach Jody Hull.

Shaw, who is a member of the Binghamton Hockey Hall of Fame, has signed a new contract with Anaheim and will return to Cincinnati.

There was also a possibility that Paddock, the third-winningest coach in AHL history, would return to the Binghamton bench if there is an NHL lockout. Paddock needs five victories for 500 in his AHL coaching career.

It is expected that Ottawa will name a coach this week. The Senators open their annual rookie camp in early September and want to have an AHL coach in place by then.