The Ducks have named Brad Lauer and Marty Wilford assistant coaches of the Syracuse Crunch, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). Lauer and Wilford will serve under Crunch head coach Mark Holick, who is entering his second season with the club.

Lauer, 44 (10/27/66), most recently served as an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators from 2009-11. His stint as assistant coach marked the second time in club history in which a former Senator went on to serve on the team’s coaching staff (also Luke Richardson). Prior to joining the Senators, Lauer was an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Admirals from 2007-09, Nashville’s affiliate in the AHL. In 2008-09, he helped guide the Admirals to a 49-22-3-6 record, a Western Division title and a share of the league lead in points (107). Lauer began his coaching career in 2002 with the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and served as an assistant for five seasons. During his time with the Ice, the club had two 100-point and three 40-win seasons.

Selected by the New York Islanders in the second round (34th overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, Lauer appeared in 323 career NHL contests with the NY Islanders, Chicago, Ottawa and Pittsburgh, scoring 44-67=111 points with 218 penalty minutes (PIM). The Humbolt, Saskatchewan native also appeared in 635 career IHL and AHL contests before his retirement from professional hockey in 2002.

Wilford, 34 (4/17/77), begins his coaching career with the Crunch this season. He retired from professional hockey in 2010-11 following four years playing European hockey in both Germany and Italy. In 539 career AHL contests from 2000-07, the Cobourg, Ontario native notched 47-228=275 points with 573 PIM as a defenseman. Wilford was selected by Chicago in the sixth round (149th overall) of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

On Mar. 25, 2010, Anaheim signed a multi-year affiliation with Syracuse. Anaheim is the third primary NHL affiliate in Syracuse team history.