Allen Promoted to Capitals' Staff, AHL Hershey In Search of Head Coach

Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).

Quick. Easy. Support original journalism!

Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).

Sign up today for as little as $3! (http://www.patreon.com/InsideAHLHockey)

Quick. Easy. Support original journalism!

HERSHEY, Pa. - For the second time this summer, the Washington Capitals announced the promotion of a member of the Hershey Bears coaching staff.

Scott Allen, who served as Hershey's head coach this past season and assistant coach for two seasons prior, will join Emily Engel-Natzke (NHL Video Coordinator) in Washington as one of the NHL club's assistant coaches for the 2022-2023 season. According to Capitals PR, Allen will be primarily responsible for coaching the forwards and penalty kill.

Allen said the decision to leave Hershey was not easy.

"When an opportunity comes up to go to the National Hockey League, it should be a no-brainer. And it wasn't the case. Hershey is such a special place. And when it's all said and done, I was still working for the same organization working for the Caps," Allen told the media via zoom call.

This will be Allen's fourth stint in the NHL after spending three seasons with the Islanders (2009-2012) as an assistant, one season with the Panthers (2016-2017), and two seasons with the Coyotes (2017-2019).

"I've been so fortunate, and extremely lucky. I've coached the last 26 years straight through in pro hockey between the minors and the National Hockey League," said Allen noting that he and Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette coached against each other at the ECHL level early in Allen’s coaching career when he was coaching in Johnstown and Laviolette was in Wheeling.

Now on the same bench, Laviolette will be looking to Allen to improve upon the league's 12th best PK unit.

"I've been a big believer and a builder on trying to be fairly aggressive," Allen said, noting that the Capitals have the personnel to be aggressive on the PK. "You know, when you talk about killing penalties - National Hockey League, first of all, you're talking about the best players the world that are in the league - And then I like to call the 'top five percenters' who run a power play each and every night and the teams you're playing against, so it certainly is a huge challenge."

Washington's PK units will be challenged to be their best by Allen's philosophy.

"I always say, you know what, there are reasons and there are excuses. And sometimes people look at them as the same, but there's certainly differences between the two if you dig in and do your homework and do your background. So I don't make excuses. I refuse to make excuses."

That philosophy was on display this past season in Hershey as Allen navigated illnesses, recalls, and injuries that often left the staff making changes at the last minute before games. It was also on display as the Bears got stranded in Charlotte this spring.

"The players were incredible with what they had to deal with for a couple of days, and to find a way to get to Bridgeport to play a 10:30 game. For goalies not to have had any ability to see any pucks for two days, not having the ability for a pre-game skate, and to get the franchise's 3000th (victory). That was certainly a special moment and a special time because to me; it's history right there. Like you think of all the players and all the coaches, and even the different fans that have sat in the seats from the new building to the old building,” Allen recalled.

READ ALSO: Bears Players 'Soaked Up The Sun' While Stranded In Charlotte

And while Allen certainly has tremendous memories of challenges and successes in Hershey, noting, "I truly felt that I did bleed chocolate and white while I was there, and I will always bleed chocolate and white," he's also excited for new possibilities in Washington.

One off-season signing he's excited to work with is Connor Brown. Allen said, "I was excited when I read the article last week, and he mentioned the fact that he loves killing penalties in the way he described himself the type of player that he is, I think he's gonna thrive within our system."

When asked about Henrik 'Henry' Rybinski, who attended development camp but was injured, Allen said he thinks the future could be very promising for Rybinski. "He's going to a place called Exos out in Arizona, which is an incredible training facility, and to me, that's investing in yourself, investing in your future," Allen said noting that he visited Exos a couple of time to observe and was 'chomping at the bit to get in there on the workouts' as a 56-year-old.

Of course, perhaps the most nostalgic reunion just might be with Darcy Kuemper who was playing for Arizona during Allen’s tenure.

"He's a great person first and foremost," Allen said of Kuemper. "His teammates love him. He battles hard. To watch him raise the Cup this year was extremely exciting for me. I want to see him raise the Cup again in the red, white, and blue," Allen said.

Hershey Bears Head Coach Vacancy

Allen's promotion to NHL assistant coach with Washington leaves an opening behind the bench of an American Hockey League (AHL) franchise widely regarded as one of, if not the most historic franchise in the AHL. Certainly a job that will be sought after.

Unfortunately for Hershey, this means the Bears will be looking for a new head coach for the second consecutive summer. The new coach will become Hershey’s 28th head coach in franchise history, and the franchise's sixth in ten years (Mark French, Mike Haviland, Troy Mann, Spencer Carbery, and Allen).

"The Hershey Bears congratulate Scott Allen on his promotion to the Washington Capitals," said Hershey vice president of hockey operations Bryan Helmer said in a statement in the AHL team's release. "Scott did a tremendous job in his three seasons with the organization, and it was an honor to have him serve as the 27th head coach in our franchise's rich history. His passion and dedication to the position was second to none, and we thank him for his tireless commitment to the club. We wish Scott, and his wife Traci, all the best in Washington, and we look forward to working with the Capitals on the search for the next head coach of the Hershey Bears."

Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).

Sign up today. Quick. Easy. Support original journalism!

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/InsideAHLHockeyPayPal: $3/month -> http://paypal.me/TonyAndrockVenmo: $3/month -> InsideAHLHockey

FULL DETAILS -> http://www.insideahlhockey.com/subscribe