In an exciting announcement made today by Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas, Kirk MacDonald has been appointed as the new head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Hailing from Victoria, British Columbia, MacDonald will become the 12th AHL head coach in Penguins history.

With over a decade of coaching experience under his belt, the 40-year-old MacDonald brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Penguins organization. He recently served as the head coach of the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League (USHL) from 2022-24. During this time, MacDonald led Dubuque to an impressive record of 41-13-8 in the regular season, securing the best record in the USHL's Eastern Conference. His leadership also guided the team to capture the USHL Eastern Conference championship in the Clark Cup playoffs.

Prior to his tenure in Dubuque, MacDonald spent eight successful seasons with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. Throughout his time there, he took on various roles such as assistant coach, head coach, and director of hockey operations. This valuable experience at the ECHL level has undoubtedly honed his coaching skills and prepared him for the challenges that lie ahead.

MacDonald's coaching journey began at the collegiate level, where he served as an assistant coach at RPI during the 2013-14 season. This opportunity allowed him to develop his coaching abilities and lay the groundwork for his future success.

However, before embarking on his coaching career, MacDonald enjoyed an impressive seven-year professional playing career from 2007-13. As a forward, he primarily played at the AHL level, participating in 272 regular season games with Albany, Providence, Iowa, and Houston, where he registered 106 points (45G-61A). MacDonald's collegiate hockey career was also notable, representing RPI from 2002-07.

With a strong management team in place and Kirk MacDonald at the helm, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are poised to make a significant impact in the AHL. Fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming season and have high hopes for the team under their new head coach.