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Jackets give Calder Cup-winning coach a two-year extension

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A Calder Cup championship has earned Lake Erie Monsters head coach Jared Bednar a two-year contract extension.

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced the extension this morning. From the release:

Bednar, 44, led the Monsters to a 15-2 record during the playoffs and the first Calder Cup championship in club history, and the first by a Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate, in 2016 following a 43-22-6-5 record during the regular season. Named the head coach of the Springfield Falcons in June 2014, Bednar has led Columbus’ AHL affiliates to an 81-50-14-7 (.602) mark in two seasons. He guided the Falcons to a 38-28-8-2 record in 2014-15 after spending the previous two seasons as the club’s assistant coach.

Also announced was the hiring of former NHLer Blake Geoffrion to the role of Monsters assistant general manager. Geoffrion, 28, was forced to retire in 2013 after suffering a serious head injury in an AHL game. Upon retirement, he joined the Jackets’ scouting staff.

The Jackets also appointed Steve McCarthy, recently retired from his playing career, to the role of assistant coach in Lake Erie. The 35-year-old played 17 games for the Monsters in 2015-16.