The Vienna Capitals hired Mike Stewart as the new head coach of the professional team. The Austro-Canadian is the 14th head coach in the club’s history. Stewart recently made a name for himself as head coach in Germany. There, the Austro-Canadian looked after the Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven, Augsburger Panther, Kölner Haie and most recently the Grizzlys Wolfsburg over the course of 13 seasons. As an active player, the now 53-year-old went on the ice for VSV between 2001 and 2010 and represented Austria at two A World Championships. Stewart signed a two-year contract with the Vienna Capitals.
Immediately after retiring as a professional in 2010, Mike Stewart became part of the coaching staff at VSV. The Austro-Canadian began the 2010/11 season as assistant coach of the professional team, only to take on the role of head coach himself in February 2011. Stewart also looked after the Villach team in the 2011/12 season. The now 53-year-old then enjoyed a long and successful time in Germany. From 2012 to 2015, Stewart coached the then second division club Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven. In the 2013/14 season he led the North Germans to win the title in the second highest division and was named DEL2 Coach of the Year.
Stewart took over as head coach of the Augsburg Panthers in the 2015/16 season. The Austro-Canadian looked after the Bavarian Swabians for four seasons. In the 2018/19 season, his last in Augsburg, Stewart led the Panthers to third place in the regular season and then into the playoff semi-finals, where the series only ended in the seventh game. For the club, which also qualified for the Champions Hockey League for the first time with this result, it was the greatest success since reaching the final in 2010. Stewart then moved on to the Kölner Haien. He joined the Grizzlys Wolfsburg for the 2021/22 season. The now 53-year-old led Lower Saxony to the semi-finals twice and the quarter-finals of the DEL once in five seasons.
Stewart can also look back on a long playing career. The former defenseman was selected 13th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1990 NHL draft. At the professional level, Stewart skated in North America in the AHL for the Binghamton Rangers, the Springfield Falcons and the Rochester Americans and in the IHL for the Detroit Vipers and Manitoba Moose. The defender spent the 2000/01 season in the DEL with the Frankfurt Lions. Stewart then moved to Austria to work for EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV. In nine seasons, the defender made 482 appearances for the Adler, with whom he also won the championship twice. In his last three seasons, Stewart, whose shirt number hangs under the hall roof in Villach, led the VSV as captain. The former defender received Austrian citizenship in 2005 and represented Austria at the 2005 and 2007 A World Championships and the 2006 Division I tournament.
Statement by Mike Stewart
I am thrilled to be part of the Capitals organization. It is a great honor to be able to work here. Vienna is a great ice hockey address, has a lot of ice hockey tradition and a great fan base. I had a lot of conversations with Christian Dolezal and was able to see for myself that the conditions are great for the team. We want to take the next step next season. I like the challenge. Vienna is Vienna and the Caps are a name, so the decision was very easy for me.
Statement Christian Dolezal, sporting director of the Vienna Capitals
Mike Stewart was our preferred candidate from the start. He represents a modern coaching style, is very communicative and always has a good rapport with his teams. Mike has a lot of experience and a great tactical understanding. His teams have an aggressive, fast and detail-oriented style of play, which is exactly what he will bring to our group. We have had many long conversations together over the past few weeks. We quickly agreed on fundamental topics such as philosophy, values and the standard at which the organization should operate.
Profile of Mike Stewart
Position: Head Coach
Date of birth: May 30, 1972
Age: 53 years
Nationality: Canada/Austria
Previous positions as head coach: EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV (2011-2012), Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven (2012-2015), Augsburger Panther (2015-2019), Kölner Haie (2019-2020), Grizzlys Wolfsburg (2021-2026)
vienna-capitals.at , Image: Augsburger Panther
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