Chiefs’ McGeehan resigns post

BY MIKE MASTOVICH
The Tribune-Democrat

June 25, 2008 11:43 pm

— Kevin McGeehan rolled into Johnstown during the summer of 1999 in a well-traveled, 14-year-old vehicle.
The Dover, N.H., native was two weeks removed from Quinnipiac University when he took his first job as a media relations director with the ECHL’s Johnstown Chiefs.
Since then, McGeehan climbed the ladder to serve two years as the Chiefs’ vice president of business operations. He was essentially the front office’s No. 2 man to owner Neil Smith.
On Wednesday, McGeehan, 31, confirmed that he will leave the Chiefs to accept a job as a pharmaceutical representative. His departure severs the final front-office link to the teams of the early 2000’s that helped the Chiefs emerge from a four-year, non-playoff funk.
“I was 22 when I came here in my 1985 Honda Accord with nothing in the back,” McGeehan said at Cambria County War Memorial Arena. “It’s been all ups for the most part. I was starting off fresh out of college. I was fortunate enough that (former GM-coach) Toby O’Brien and (President) Jim Edwards gave me an opportunity in public relations and sales. From there I grew into the managerial role and made a lot of good contacts and friends through the years. It’s tough to say good-bye.”
McGeehan and his wife, Lori, will remain in their Richland Township home.
“We’re not going to leave Johnstown. I made a commitment to her a couple years ago that we wouldn’t pursue hockey jobs after this one,” McGeehan said. “This was just an opportunity. I’m just stepping outside of hockey.”
Chiefs owner Neil Smith could not be reached for comment. Second-year coach Ian Herbers credited McGeehan with easing his transition into the organization in the weeks after Jim Weber abruptly pulled out of the ownership group weeks after he had hired Herbers, putting the team’s future in jeopardy.
“It’s disappointing to see him go. He kind of held things together last year when everything went down,” Herbers said during a telephone interview from Saginaw, Mich. “I was a new coach, new to the league. He was an experienced guy who had been around. He kept the ship running. He helped me adjust. He helped us have a successful year. He will be missed. He’s happy, so we’ll be pleased for him.”
McGeehan said last season – both on and off the ice – was a highlight. The Chiefs won 36 games and finished fourth in the North Division. Johnstown swept a best-of-3 playoff series against Dayton before dropping a best-of-5 series to eventual Kelly Cup champion Cincinn-ati.
“I was very proud of us in so many ways,” McGeehan said. “We were able to make an over $200,000 swing for the better. The team still lost money but compared to the Jim Weber regime. ... I was very proud from the team aspect and working with Ian day-in and day-out. He’s first class and Johnstown is lucky to have him. This season as a whole we did a lot of things under an extreme amount of circumstances with the things that went on last summer.”
McGeehan thanked former GM Jim Brazil, O’Brien, Edwards, Smith and minority owner Ned Nakles Jr. for their support. He credited former owners Richard and Connie Mayer for keeping the team afloat when others might have abandoned it. He also praised the Chiefs’ loyal fans.
“I have been treated well by a lot of people,” McGeehan said. “I knew nobody when I came here from New Hampshire. I was welcomed into a lot of homes by a lot of people. The Booster Club has been fantastic. I’m going to carry tons of relationships beyond Johnstown and beyond the Chiefs. This job has enabled me to meet people from all walks of life. This is my hometown now.”