Georgetown’s Cull to coach Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate

Georgetown native Trent Cull has been hired by the Calgary Flames to coach in the organization.

The 49-year-old has been named head coach of the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Cull along with wife Marcia and sons Gabe, 19, Wyatt, 16, and Sam 13, will be moving to Calgary this summer.

“I’m very excited to join the Flames organization and just as excited about making the move to such an amazing city,” said Cull. “The immediate success of the Wranglers shows Calgary’s passion for hockey and the Flames.

“We have great young prospects who know there is opportunity here and I look forward to helping them along their path to the NHL.”

Cull was named head coach of the Utica Comets, an AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, in 2017. The club relocated in 2021 and became the Abbotsford Canucks. Cull guided the team to a 39-23-5-1 record and led them to the playoffs in their inaugural season.

In 2022, he was named an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks under then head coach Bruce Boudreau. Cull was relieved of his duties with the NHL club when Boudreau was fired by the Canucks.

“We are pleased to welcome Trent to the Flames family as the head coach of the Calgary Wranglers,” said Flames Vice President and Assistant General Manager Brad Pascall. “He provides significant head coaching experience and 19 years behind the bench in total with the OHL, AHL and most recently the NHL.

“Trent understands the development role of coaching in the AHL and has had success progressing many young players’ journey to the NHL.”

Cull played 10 seasons as a defenseman in the AHL and IHL with five teams including St. John’s, Houston, Springfield, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Syracuse. He had 107 points and 1,629 penalty minutes over 618 games as a professional.

He began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Guelph Storm and after two seasons was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets as an assistant coach with the Syracuse Crunch, their AHL affiliate.

Cull spent four seasons with the Crunch before taking over as head coach of the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL. After three seasons in Sudbury, he returned to Syracuse now the AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lighting.

In 2017, Cull helped lead the Crunch to a berth in the Calder Cup final.

Cull will be joined on the Wranglers’ coach staff with assistant coaches Joe Cirella and Don Nachbauer.