Tornado extend contract of Head Coach/GM Tony Curtale

The Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) have announced that the team and Tony Curtale have agreed to terms to extend his contract as head coach and general manager. As per organizational policy, the terms of the contract will not be released.

“We are pleased to have Tony back as we strive to build another championship team and to move players on the NCAA programs,” CSH, International and Tornado president Gary Gelinas said. “Tony brings a passion and commitment to the local community that is important for our organization. We look forward to him working with our youth teams, supporters and players as we try to repeat as National Champions. We are the most successful sports team in North Texas and Tony is a large part of that success."

Curtale was named the Texas Tornado’s first head coach in 1999. In 11 seasons with the team, he has proven to be one of the best coaches in all of junior hockey. The team's victory over the New Mexico Mustangs back on October 28th gave him 530 wins, which gave Curtale the most wins in NAHL history and most wins by a coach in a single junior league in the United States.  

In addition to the 2012 Robertson Cup, the Tornado won their first in 2001 (the organization's second season) and three straight from 2004-2006, all with Curtale at the helm.

"I've been here since the start of the Tornado organization, so it goes without saying that I'm glad to be back,” Curtale said. "This season, we have one of the best recruiting classes the team has ever had, so I'm excited to get moving as we get set to defend our Robertson Cup championship."

In each of his first seven seasons with Texas, Curtale guided the Tornado to seven straight 40+ win seasons, including an expansion team-record 42 wins in 1999-2000 and an NAHL-record 48 wins in 2003-2004.

Before coming to the Tornado, Curtale served as the head coach of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League from 1997-1999. Before coaching in Windsor, he began his head coaching career in the NAHL with the Springfield Jr. Blues, where he won the first two of his seven Robertson Cups.