BEDNAR JOINS FALCONS COACHING STAFF

Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield Falcons, primary affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, announced the addition on Monday of Jared Bednar as an assistant coach. Bednar, who is signed under a multi-year contract, will serve under Falcons head coach Brad Larsen and alongside assistant coach Nolan Pratt beginning in the 2012-2013 season.

"Jared is a guy who met all the criteria I was looking for in a coach," Larsen said. "Having head coaching experience, a strong work ethic, a strong passion for the game, and being a man of character were all things that were very important to the organization and me. Jared possesses all of these qualities and I look forward to working with him closely in the upcoming season."

"I am very thankful to Scott Howson and Chris MacFarland in Columbus for giving me this opportunity to join the Springfield Falcons organization and I'm excited about working with Brad Larsen and Nolan Pratt to create something special this coming year," Bednar said.

The 40-year-old Bednar spent the last two seasons as the head coach of the Peoria Rivermen, putting together records of 39-33-2-2 in 2011-2012 and 42-30-3-5 in 2010-2011. In his first year with the club, Bednar led Peoria to the playoffs and was selected to be a co-coach for the Western Conference at the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic.

In 2009-2010, his first season as a coach in the AHL, Bednar served as an assistant for Abbotsford, helping guide the Heat to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Bednar spent two seasons as a head coach and five as an assistant with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays from 2002-2009. In the 2008-2009 campaign, the Bednar-led Stingrays earned the franchise's third Kelly Cup championship. He took South Carolina to the American Conference Finals in his first year as the Stingrays' head coach in 2007-2008.

A native of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Bednar put together a nine-year professional playing career as a physical defenseman from 1993-2002. He skated the majority of his playing days in the ECHL, totaling 173 points (43g-130a) and 1,210 penalty minutes in 434 contests with the Stingrays and the Huntington Blizzard. He played on South Carolina's first two Kelly Cup championship clubs in 1996-1997 and 2000-2001. Bednar also participated in 74 AHL contests during his career with the Rochester Americans and St. John's Maple Leafs, recording five points (1g-4a) and 200 penalty minutes. He played the 1998-1999 season with the IHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, his only action in that league during his career, scoring three goals and adding 18 assists for 21 points while posting 220 penalty minutes.

In his major junior playing career, Bednar skated in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders, Medicine Hat Tigers, Spokane Chiefs, and Saskatoon Blades from 1990-1993, accumulating 73 points (17g-56a) and 368 penalty minutes in 152 games.

PRATT RECEIVES CONTRACT EXTENSION

The Blue Jackets and Falcons also announced on Monday that Springfield assistant coach Nolan Pratt has received a contract extension beyond the 2012-2013 season.

Pratt completed his first year as a coach in 2011-2012 with Springfield, serving as an assistant alongside Brad Larsen. A product of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Pratt helped the Falcons secure their best record since 1997-1998 of 36-34-3-3.

Prior to coaching, Pratt compiled a 16-year playing career as a defenseman, skating in 592 NHL contests. He helped both the 2003-2004 Tampa Bay Lightning and the 2000-2001 Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup.

Ticket packages to see the Falcons in the 2012-2013 season start as low as $112 and can be purchased by calling (413) 739-GOAL (4625). Springfield will kick off its home schedule on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the MassMutual Center. All Friday, Saturday, and weekday home contests will begin at 7:00 p.m. this season, while Sunday games will start at 3:00 p.m.

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