Former Buffalo Sabres first-round draft pick and Stanley Cup Champion Daniel Paille has been named a volunteer assistant coach with the Canisius hockey program for the 2019-20 season, head coach Trevor Large announced Wednesday.
“We are all excited to have Daniel Paille join our program and our coaching staff,” Large said. “His hockey knowledge and background are at the highest level. Having a Stanley Cup Champion on our staff will be an enormous benefit to help assist our players to become the best they can be every day, both on and off the ice. The addition of Dan will help elevate every aspect of our program.”
A native of Welland, Ontario, Paille was selected 20th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft. He spent 11 seasons in the NHL, amassing 85 goals and 87 assists in 582 regular-season contests split between the Sabres, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He chipped in 19 points (9g, 10a) in 75 postseason games, helping the Bruins capture the Stanley Cup in 2011 and make a finals appearance in 2013.
After his time in the NHL, Paille joined Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League for two seasons before retiring at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.
“I am truly excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the Canisius hockey program,” Paille said. “Trevor Large and his coaching staff has made this an easy transition for me. I not only want to help this team succeed on the ice as a group, but also educate these players through personal experience with the amount of work, effort and attention to detail it takes to accomplish their goals as individuals.”
Paille played junior hockey for the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm, helping the squad capture the league championship in 2004. He was a member of Team Canada for the 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and served as Canada’s captain in 2004, winning silver medals at both events.
Canisius opens the 2019-20 season Oct. 11-12 with a two-game series at No. 18 North Dakota.
