Greg Bignell
Encyclopedia
Greg Bignell is the current general manager and head coach
of the Cambridge Winterhawks
of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
, and a former professional ice hockey
player.
of the OHL
from 1986–1990 as a defenceman. He would improve on his point totals each year with the Bulls, as he would register 12 points in 64 games in his rookie season of 1986–87, improve to 15 points in only 48 games in 1987–88, score 6 goals and 33 points in 1988–89, and again score 6 goals, and earn a junior career high 41 points in 1989–90. Bignell was selected by the Detroit Red Wings
in the 10th round, 200th overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
.
After his junior career was finished, Bignell went on to play with the Hampton Roads Admirals
of the ECHL in 1990–91, scoring 7 goals and 28 points, and recording a team high 265 penalty minutes as the Admirals finished in 1st place in the East Division. An injury late in the season had Bignell sidelined for the playoffs, as the Admirals won the Riley Cup.
Bignell started the 1991–92 season with the Toledo Storm
in the ECHL, and play only 22 games with the club, earning 5 assists and 167 penalty minutes, before he was traded to the Richmond Renegades
. With Richmond, Bignell suited up for 12 regular season games, scoring a goal and 2 assists, along with 42 penalty minutes. Richmond advanced to the playoffs, and Bignell earned an assist in 6 playoff games, as the Renegades would lose to Bignell's former team, the Hampton Roads Admirals
, in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Bignell played the 1992–93 season with the Brantford Smoke
of the COHL, scoring 2 goals and 24 points in 57 games, along with 201 penalty minutes, as the Smoke finished on top of the league standings. Bignell scored a goal and added 3 assists in 15 playoff games, as Brantford captured the Colonial Cup
, defeating the St. Thomas Wildcats
in the finals.
He returned to Brantford for the 1993–94 season, but only appeared in 29 games, scoring 2 goals and adding 7 assists, along with 94 penalty minutes, before retiring from hockey at the age of 24.
of the OHL
, as an assistant coach for the 1994–95 season. The Rangers had a poor season, going 18–42–6, and missed the playoffs.
He eventually found himself with the North Bay Centennials
, becoming the head coach of the team midway through the 1996–97 season. However, North Bay finished the season with a lousy 14–44–8 record, earning 36 points, and missing the playoffs. Bignell returned as head coach for the 1997–98 season, however, North Bay would once again finish with only 36 points, and miss the playoffs, and the club relieved Bignell from his duties.
Bignell joined the Kingston Frontenacs
as an assistant to Larry Mavety
in 1999–2000, and remained with the club in that capacity until mid-December, 2002, when Mavety stepped down as head coach, and Bignell took over on an interim basis. The Frontenacs though could not rebound from a poor start, and narrowly miss the playoffs with 56 points, 4 behind the 8th place Mississauga IceDogs
. The Frontenacs released Bignell and hired Jim Hulton
as their new head coach for the 2003–04 season.
He now coaches the Cambridge Winterhawks
of the GOJHL
, and has led the club to 2 Sutherland Cup
championships, in 2006 and 2007. He was OHA coach of the year 2007 as well as being Mid western coach of the year in 1999, 2004 and 2005. His team fell short for a three peat in the league finals losing to Elmira in 6 games.
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Cambridge Winterhawks
Cambridge Winterhawks
The Cambridge Winterhawks are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Canadian junior ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation, and Hockey Canada...
, and a former professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player.
Playing career
Bignell played his junior hockey with the Belleville BullsBelleville Bulls
The Belleville Bulls are a junior ice hockey team, founded in 1981 based in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the Eastern Conference of the Ontario Hockey League.-History:...
of the OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
from 1986–1990 as a defenceman. He would improve on his point totals each year with the Bulls, as he would register 12 points in 64 games in his rookie season of 1986–87, improve to 15 points in only 48 games in 1987–88, score 6 goals and 33 points in 1988–89, and again score 6 goals, and earn a junior career high 41 points in 1989–90. Bignell was selected by the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in the 10th round, 200th overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
1989 NHL Entry Draft
The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 17 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Some believe that the Detroit Red Wings' 1989 draft was the most successful ever, with 5,721 total NHL games played by the players selected.-Selections by round:...
.
After his junior career was finished, Bignell went on to play with the Hampton Roads Admirals
Hampton Roads Admirals
The Hampton Roads Admirals were an American professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Norfolk, Virginia at the Norfolk Scope Arena....
of the ECHL in 1990–91, scoring 7 goals and 28 points, and recording a team high 265 penalty minutes as the Admirals finished in 1st place in the East Division. An injury late in the season had Bignell sidelined for the playoffs, as the Admirals won the Riley Cup.
Bignell started the 1991–92 season with the Toledo Storm
Toledo Storm
The Toledo Storm was a minor league professional ice hockey team in the ECHL from 1991 to 2007. The Storm played their home games at the venerable Toledo Sports Arena along the southern banks of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The team colors were red and white, similar to the Detroit Red Wings,...
in the ECHL, and play only 22 games with the club, earning 5 assists and 167 penalty minutes, before he was traded to the Richmond Renegades
Richmond Renegades
The Richmond Renegades was a SPHL ice hockey team in Richmond, Virginia. The team, owned by Allan B. Harvie Jr., the founder of the former ECHL Renegades franchise, began play in October 2006 at the Richmond Coliseum. The team's first head coach was John Brophy...
. With Richmond, Bignell suited up for 12 regular season games, scoring a goal and 2 assists, along with 42 penalty minutes. Richmond advanced to the playoffs, and Bignell earned an assist in 6 playoff games, as the Renegades would lose to Bignell's former team, the Hampton Roads Admirals
Hampton Roads Admirals
The Hampton Roads Admirals were an American professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Norfolk, Virginia at the Norfolk Scope Arena....
, in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Bignell played the 1992–93 season with the Brantford Smoke
Brantford Smoke
The Brantford Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League, now known as the International Hockey League. They played in Brantford, Ontario from 1991-92 until 1997-98, playing home games at the Brantford Civic Centre.They won the Colonial...
of the COHL, scoring 2 goals and 24 points in 57 games, along with 201 penalty minutes, as the Smoke finished on top of the league standings. Bignell scored a goal and added 3 assists in 15 playoff games, as Brantford captured the Colonial Cup
Colonial Cup
The Colonial Cup was the second highest level of competition within Fijian rugby union and was intended to be a stepping stone for local players into international rugby union...
, defeating the St. Thomas Wildcats
St. Thomas Wildcats
The St. Thomas Wildcats were a professional ice hockey team in the Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League, now known as the International Hockey League. They played at the St. Thomas-Elgin Memorial Centre in St. Thomas, Ontario. The team was a founding member of the league and was...
in the finals.
He returned to Brantford for the 1993–94 season, but only appeared in 29 games, scoring 2 goals and adding 7 assists, along with 94 penalty minutes, before retiring from hockey at the age of 24.
Coaching career
As Bignell's playing career was over, he decided to join his hometown team, the Kitchener RangersKitchener Rangers
The Kitchener Rangers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League that have called Kitchener, Ontario, Canada their home since 1963. The Rangers are a publicly owned hockey team, governed by a 40-person Board of Directors made up of season ticket subscribers. The Rangers hosted...
of the OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
, as an assistant coach for the 1994–95 season. The Rangers had a poor season, going 18–42–6, and missed the playoffs.
He eventually found himself with the North Bay Centennials
North Bay Centennials
The North Bay Centennials were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, who played from 1982–2002. The team was based in North Bay, Ontario.-History:...
, becoming the head coach of the team midway through the 1996–97 season. However, North Bay finished the season with a lousy 14–44–8 record, earning 36 points, and missing the playoffs. Bignell returned as head coach for the 1997–98 season, however, North Bay would once again finish with only 36 points, and miss the playoffs, and the club relieved Bignell from his duties.
Bignell joined the Kingston Frontenacs
Kingston Frontenacs
The Kingston Frontenacs are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The team is coached by Todd Gill and Doug Gilmour is the General Manager. The Frontenacs play home games at the K-Rock Centre, which opened in 2008.Team history predates the OHA,...
as an assistant to Larry Mavety
Larry Mavety
Larry Mavety is a former professional ice hockey player, and is the current general manager of the Kingston Frontenacs ice hockey team of the Ontario Hockey League .-Playing career:...
in 1999–2000, and remained with the club in that capacity until mid-December, 2002, when Mavety stepped down as head coach, and Bignell took over on an interim basis. The Frontenacs though could not rebound from a poor start, and narrowly miss the playoffs with 56 points, 4 behind the 8th place Mississauga IceDogs
Mississauga IceDogs
The Mississauga IceDogs are a former junior ice hockey team in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. They played in the Ontario Hockey League from 1998 to 2007. A sale relocated the team to St...
. The Frontenacs released Bignell and hired Jim Hulton
Jim Hulton
Jim Hulton is an ice hockey coach who is currently the assistant coach for the Florida Panthers of the NHL.-Playing career:...
as their new head coach for the 2003–04 season.
He now coaches the Cambridge Winterhawks
Cambridge Winterhawks
The Cambridge Winterhawks are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
of the GOJHL
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Canadian junior ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation, and Hockey Canada...
, and has led the club to 2 Sutherland Cup
Sutherland Cup
The Sutherland Cup is the ice hockey Ontario Junior "B" Provincial Championship trophy. The Sutherland Cup is now the championship trophy of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. Until 2007, the Cup served as an interleague provincial championship...
championships, in 2006 and 2007. He was OHA coach of the year 2007 as well as being Mid western coach of the year in 1999, 2004 and 2005. His team fell short for a three peat in the league finals losing to Elmira in 6 games.