2nd season (2023-24)
Previous Coaching Experience
Church has been the Director of Hockey Operations for the Maine Wild junior programs since 2016. From 2014-16, he was Chief Operating Officer for the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League (AHL), and, when the Pirates' franchise was sold and relocated, Church was first to push for Portland to gain an ECHL team [eventually, the return of the Maine Mariners]. Before serving as vice president of Legacy Global Sports and its junior hockey programs from 2014-16, he was the General Manager of the Maine Hockey Group from 2010-12, which included coaching the Portland Junior Pirates. In 2006-07, Church was a midseason replacement as head coach of the Phoenix Roadrunners in the ECHL, and stayed in the role for the next two seasons (2007-09).
Competitive Experience
Church was drafted 17th overall in the 1995 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals and played two games during the 1997-98 season. He started playing professionally in 1996-97 with the Portland Pirates, and, over the course of 10 years, appeared in 548 games between the AHL (also: Manchester Monarchs, Cleveland Barons, Lowell Lock Monsters, Hamilton Bulldogs) and ECHLÂ (Florida Everblades, Reading Royals, Richmond Renegades, Hampton Roads Admirals, New Orleans Brass) levels. With the Pirates from 1996 through 2002, he played 281 regular season games and totaled 40 goals with 64 assists (17 postseason: 4 goals, 6 assists) and was a two-year alternate captain. Church was inducted into the Pirates' Hall of Fame in 2012.
