INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Indianapolis Fuel, the ECHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, announced today that they have named outgoing Manchester Monarchs head coach Doug Christiansen as their new head coach and general manager.
Christiansen led Manchester to a 39-29-2-2 record during his only year in New Hampshire, his first year as a head coach in North America following stints coaching in the United Kingdom.
He also played three games for the Monarchs during the 2006-’07 season near the end of eight-year professional career in the AHL, ECHL, UHL and European leagues.
“”I am thrilled to join the Indy Fuel and Chicago Blackhawks organization,” Christiansen said. “The Fuel have a tremendous foundation from which to grow. Jim Hallett and the front office are committed to bringing a winner to Indy and I am thankful for the opportunity to coach the Fuel. I am looking forward to building a winning culture that will bring exciting hockey to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.”
Christiansen also spent four years as Director of Player Development and Recruitment for the United States Hockey League.
“We are very excited to have Doug join the Fuel organization,” Fuel owner Jim Hallett said. “We were overwhelmed by the number of applicants during our extensive search for the next head coach. The top qualities we looked at were leadership, experience and the ability to recruit top talent.”
The Monarchs folded in May following nearly 20 years in Manchester, playing in the ECHL since the 2015-’16 season.
