Mike Kelly Named Assistant Coach to Gérard Gallant at Shanghai Dragons

Canadian coach Mike Kelly has been appointed as Assistant Coach to Gérard Gallant at the Shanghai Dragons, signing a two-year contract

Sergey Belykh, CEO of the Shanghai Dragons:

– Our experience working with Bob Hartley has shown that the role of an assistant coach is crucial in building a successful team. Assistants handle much of the behind-the-scenes work that is not immediately noticeable, but is crucial for ensuring a smooth and steady training and game processes. Many North American head coaches rely on such trusted assistants, who become an integral part of their coaching duos. For Hartley, it was Jacques Cloutier. Now, as Bob moves forward without his longtime assistant at Lokomotiv, the impact on results remains to be seen. In any case, we wish Hartley the best of luck.

For our club, it was essential to bring Gallant together with his trusted assistant, knowing that the system works best when all its key elements are in place. After securing an agreement with Gérard, we focused on negotiations with his assistant, Mike Kelly. This coaching duo has proven itself at the highest level, reaching the Stanley Cup Final with Vegas and winning the IIHF World Championship with Team Canada. We are thrilled that this pair will reunite on the bench of the Shanghai Dragons and we are excited to see the coaches thrive and bring success to our organization.

Profile

Mike Kelly

Canada

Mike Kelly began his coaching career in the OHL with the London Knights in 1988. He served as Head Coach for the Windsor Spitfires and the University of New Brunswick, winning the University Cup in 1998 and being named the country’s Coach of the Year. His coaching experience covers the OHL, WHL, AHL, and NHL, including time with the Vancouver Canucks.

On the international stage, Kelly won gold with Team Canada at the 2003 U18 World Championship and has also secured multiple medals at the World Junior Championships. With the Saint John Sea Dogs, he claimed three QMJHL regular-season titles, two President’s Cups, and the Memorial Cup in 2011. He has also served as an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights. Since 2017, he has been Director of Hockey Operations for the Oshawa Generals (OHL) and was part of Team Canada’s coaching staff for their 2021 IIHF World Championship victory.

Shanghai Dragons Media Department