| Grant Potulny | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Potulny with theHershey Bears in 2007 | |||
| Born | (1980-03-04)March 4, 1980 (age 45) | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| NHL draft | 157th overall,2000 Ottawa Senators | ||
| Playing career | 2004–2009 Coaching career | ||
| Biographical details | |||
| Alma mater | Minnesota | ||
| Playing career | |||
| 1998–2000 | Lincoln Stars | ||
| 2000–2004 | Minnesota | ||
| 2004–2007 | Binghamton Senators | ||
| 2007–2008 | Hershey Bears | ||
| 2007–2008 | Springfield Falcons | ||
| 2008–2009 | San Antonio Rampage | ||
| 2008–2009 | Norfolk Admirals | ||
| 2008–2009 | Füchse Duisburg | ||
| Position | Center | ||
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |||
| 2009–2017 | Minnesota (Assistant) | ||
| 2013 | USA U20 (Assistant) | ||
| 2017 | USA U20 (Assistant) | ||
| 2017–2024 | Northern Michigan | ||
| 2018 | USA U20 (Assistant) | ||
| 2024–Present | Hartford Wolf Pack | ||
| Head coaching record | |||
| Overall | 128–113–17 (.529) | ||
| Tournaments | 0–0 (–) | ||
Grant Martin Potulny (born March 4, 1980) is an American former professionalice hockey player and coach who is currently the head coach of theHartford Wolf Pack of theAmerican Hockey League as of 2024.[1] He was previously the head coach of theNorthern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey team from 2017 to 2024. Potulny was selected by theOttawa Senators in the 5th round (157th overall) of the2000 NHL Entry Draft.
Potulny played two seasons in theUnited States Hockey League with theLincoln Stars, leading his team to win the 1999–2000Anderson Cup as the team's Most Valuable Player.[2] Potulny then attended theUniversity of Minnesota where he was a three-year captain with theMinnesota Golden Gophers during his college career.
Immediately following his graduation, Potulny turned professional with theBinghamton Senators playing in their final few regular season games and playoff of the2003–04 AHL season. He also played in the AHL for theHershey Bears,Springfield Falcons,San Antonio Rampage andNorfolk Admirals. He also played in theDeutsche Eishockey Liga inGermany forFüchse Duisburg. He retired from professional hockey following the2008–09 AHL season.
In July 2009, Potulny was promoted to full-time assistant coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers Men's ice hockey team prior to the 2009–10 season.[3]
Prior to the2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships Potulny was named an assistant head coach for Team USA, working alongsideMark Osiecki andPhil Housley.[4] He was again named an assistant coach for Team USA for the2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[5]
On April 18, 2017, it was announced that Potulny was selected to be the new head coach atNorthern Michigan University.[6] In his first year as head coach, Potulny was named the WCHA Coach of the Year. He had led the Northern Michigan Wildcats to a 19-7-2-2 record. ranking second place in the conference.[7] On March 29, 2018, Potulny signed an eight-year employment agreement with Northern Michigan.[8]
After 7 seasons, Potulny stepped down as Northern Michigan head coach on June 11, 2024. He was named head coach of theHartford Wolf Pack on June 27, 2024.
He is the older brother ofRyan Potulny, who played in the NHL for thePhiladelphia Flyers,Edmonton Oilers,Chicago Blackhawks andOttawa Senators. He is also a first-cousin toPaul Gaustad.
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Michigan Wildcats(WCHA)(2017–2021) | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | Northern Michigan | 25–15–3 | 19–7–2 | 2nd | WCHA Runner-up | ||||
| 2018–19 | Northern Michigan | 21–16–2 | 18–8–2 | 2nd | WCHA Semifinals | ||||
| 2019–20 | Northern Michigan | 18–16–4 | 16–11–1–1 | 3rd | WCHA Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2020–21 | Northern Michigan | 11–17–1 | 6–7–1 | T–5th | WCHA Runner-up | ||||
| Northern Michigan: | 75–64–10 | 59–33–6 | |||||||
| Northern Michigan Wildcats(CCHA)(2021–present) | |||||||||
| 2021–22 | Northern Michigan | 20–16–1 | 12–13–1 | 5th | CCHA Semifinals | ||||
| 2022–23 | Northern Michigan | 21–17–0 | 14–12–0 | T–4th | CCHA Runner-Up | ||||
| 2023–24 | Northern Michigan | 12–16–6 | 10–10–4 | 5th | CCHA Quarterfinals | ||||
| Northern Michigan: | 53–49–7 | 36–35–5 | |||||||
| Total: | 128–113–17 | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion | |||||||||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| All-WCHARookie Team | 2000–01 | |
| All-NCAAAll-Tournament Team | 2002 | [9] |
| WCHAAll-Tournament Team | 2003 | [10] |
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1996–97 | Red River High School | HSND | ||||||||||||
| 1997–98 | Red River High School | HSND | ||||||||||||
| 1998–99 | Lincoln Stars | USHL | 46 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 76 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Lincoln Stars | USHL | 56 | 25 | 30 | 55 | 85 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 2000–01 | University of Minnesota | WCHA | 42 | 22 | 11 | 33 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | University of Minnesota | WCHA | 43 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | University of Minnesota | WCHA | 23 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | University of Minnesota | WCHA | 38 | 16 | 10 | 26 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Binghamton Senators | AHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | Binghamton Senators | AHL | 50 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 104 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2005–06 | Binghamton Senators | AHL | 78 | 23 | 23 | 46 | 122 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Binghamton Senators | AHL | 47 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 50 | 19 | 12 | 31 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Springfield Falcons | AHL | 25 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Füchse Duisburg | DEL | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | San Antonio Rampage | AHL | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 37 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| AHL totals | 297 | 73 | 72 | 145 | 475 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player 2002 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | WCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament 2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | WCHA Coach of the Year 2017–18 | Succeeded by |