Cassidy, Pandolfo To Join Bruins Coaching Staff; Whissel Named Bruins Director Of Sports Performance And Rehab by Staff Writer / Boston Bruins

BOSTON - Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, May 24, that the Bruins have hired Bruce Cassidy and Jay Pandolfo as assistant coaches. Cassidy and Pandolfo will join Joe Sacco and Bob Essensa on Head Coach Claude Julien’s coaching staff. In addition to the previously announced departure of former assistant coach Doug Houda, Sweeney announced that Doug Jarvis will not return to the Bruins for the 2016-17 season.





Sweeney also announced that the club has hired Paul Whissel as the Bruins Director of Sports Performance and Rehab.



Cassidy recently completed his fifth season as head coach of the Providence Bruins in 2015-16, having spent the three previous seasons (2008-11) with the club as an assistant. The 50-year-old native of Ottawa, Ontario compiled a 207-128-45 overall record in 380 games at the helm, including winning seasons in all five years and postseason berths in each of his final four seasons in Providence. In 2015-16, Cassidy helped lead the P-Bruins to a 41-22-13 record. Current Bruins players in the organization with NHL experience who have played under Cassidy during his tenure as P-Bruins head coach include: Noel Acciari, Tommy Cross, Brian Ferlin, Seth Griffith, Alexander Khokhlachev, Torey Krug, Colin Miller, Kevan Miller, Joe Morrow, David Pastrnak, Tyler Randell, Ryan Spooner, Malcolm Subban, Zach Trotman and Frank Vatrano.



Cassidy’s previous NHL experience includes a stint as head coach of the Washington Capitals from 2002-04, as he helped lead the Caps to a 39-29-8-6 record and a postseason berth in his first season with the team. Following his exit from Washington, he served as an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks for the 2005-06 season.



Cassidy also enjoyed a successful playing career, seeing action in the OHL, AHL, IHL and NHL, as well as overseas in Italy and Germany. The left-handed defenseman was originally drafted in the first round (18th overall) of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Over the course of five seasons (1985-90) at the NHL level, Cassidy recorded four goals and 13 assists for 17 points with 10 penalty minutes in 36 games played.



Pandolfo recently completed his second season in the Bruins’ front office and his first as Director of Player Development in 2015-16. In that role, Pandolfo aided in the development of the team’s drafted prospects throughout the system at the AHL, junior hockey and college levels. He originally joined the front office in 2014-15 as a player development coach, following a 15-year NHL playing career with the Bruins, the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils.



Pandolfo was originally drafted in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Devils, and over the course of his career, the left wing compiled 100 goals and 126 assists for 226 points in 899 games. Pandolfo also won two Stanley Cups with the Devils in 1999-00 and 2002-03.



Prior to his professional career, Pandolfo played collegiately at Boston University from 1992-96, tallying 79 goals and 90 assists for 169 points in 136 games. The Burlington, Massachusetts native won an NCAA Championship with the Terriers as a junior in 1994-95 and was named a team captain and Hobey Baker Award finalist as a senior in 1995-96 after leading the team with 38 goals and 67 points in 40 games.



Paul Whissel earned a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy at Daemen College and has previously worked with the Buffalo Bills, Boston University Hockey and University of Texas Basketball. He specializes in integrating a continuum of care starting with physical therapy through strength and conditioning. He is a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist, PMA Certified Pilates Teacher and ARC Emergency Medical Responder. Whissel will oversee the Bruins current strength training, medical and rehab staff and will work alongside Head Team Physician/orthopedist Dr. Peter Asnis and his team of doctors.



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