Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press via AP
Golden Knights new head coach Peter DeBoer is seen on the bench as they take on the Ottawa Senators during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario.
Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 | 4:15 p.m.
Peter DeBoer has made the first personnel decision as Golden Knights head coach.
The team announced today that Steve Spott has joined the organization as an assistant coach. DeBoer, who joined the Golden Knights on Jan. 15, and Spott have coached together for more than 20 years, most recently with the San Jose Sharks.
Spott was an assistant with the Sharks from the time DeBoer was hired as head coach in 2015 to when they were both fired in December.
They also coached together in Plymouth of the Ontario League starting in 1997. When DeBoer moved to OHL’s Kitchener four years later, Spott joined him and served as an assistant for seven years before taking over as head coach when DeBoer left for the NHL.
Before joining the Sharks staff, Spott was coach of AHL Toronto, where he helped the Marlies win the Northern Division title in 2013-14. He was also assistant coach for Team Canada at an under-18, helping the team win gold.
He played at Colgate University in Canada from 1986 to 1990.
Spott is expected to help man the power play in Vegas. He replaces Mike Kelly, who was fired with head coach Gerard Gallant earlier this month, and joins Ryan McGill and Ryan Craig behind the bench as Golden Knights assistant coaches.
