Marty Raymond new head coach in Fehérvár

27 Apr 2013 | Szabolcs Závodszky

Marty Raymond makes move from Zagreb to join Hungarian side

SAPA Fehérvár AV 19 of the EBEL has brought in Marty Raymond as their new head coach for the 2013-14 season, Raymond and Fehérvár have agreed to a two season deal with an option for a third.

Joining Raymond on the coaching staff will be Rob Pelin whose contract length will be the same as the head coach’s.

Marty Raymond is coming over from EBEL rival Medvescak Zagreb where he coached the club for two seasons, he took the team to the semi-finals in his first season and the quarter-finals last year.

Coach Raymond is from Quebec, played college hockey at Division 3 Wisconsin-River Falls followed by a season in the old ACHL before making a move across the pond to the Swedish lower leagues.

At the end of his playing career Raymond spent a season as a player-coach in a lower French league before he made the permanent move to behind the bench. He spent four seasons in the old WCHL and seven seasons in the ECHL as a head coach after the two leagues merged. After two seasons each with Tucson and Phoenix his ECHL days were all with the Bakersfield Condors, with winning a title in Phoenix.

During his time in Bakersfield Raymond coached two players that are familiar for Hungarian hockey fans, Japanies goalie Yutaka Fukafuji and current Ferencváros defenseman Tamás Lencsés.

“I am very excited to be the new head coach of SAPA Fehervar AV19. The passionate fans and professional management made my decision easy. I am looking forward to leading the team to the best results possible and working with such formidable people. It is a great opportunity. I am ready to start and tackle this new challenge.” said Raymond

Assistant coach Rob Pelin will be coming over from the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL.

Fehérvár’s organization and squad will be getting back to the North American feeling that it has seen in the past.