The Edmonton Oilers of the NHL announced on Wednesday that Jay Woodcroft would be taking over the reins as head coach of the team. Woodcroft played for Corpus Christi during the 2003-04 season.
The former Rayz forward spent one season in Corpus Christi in the last season at the coliseum. In 47 games, Woodcroft put up thirty points in the CHL. His playing career came to an end the following season, but that’s when Woodcroft made his way behind the bench.
He started his coaching career during the 2005-06 campaign as the video coach for the Red Wings. Following three seasons with Detroit, Woodcroft became an assistant coach on the bench for San Jose. He spent seven seasons there before moving onto the Oilers organization.
When Woodcroft joined the Oilers organization, he served as an assistant coach for the team. He remained in that role for three seasons through the 17-18 season. Following that season, he became the head coach of the organization’s AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors.
He spent three full seasons with the Condors and was in his fourth season on the job when Edmonton’s head coaching job became vacant. The Oilers were quick to give Woodcroft the boost up to the head coaching role.
In his coaching career, Woodcroft has served as an assistant coach for the Canadian national team at the World Championships in 2015 and an assistant on Team North American at the 2016 World Cup.
Woodcroft is scheduled to make his NHL head coaching debut on Friday against the Islanders.
