Cleveland hockey legend Jock Callander will take on a dual role with the Lake Erie Monsters for the upcoming 2012-13 season, now adding assistant coach to his job responsibilities. Having worked in the front office the first five years of the franchise’s existence, Callander will also continue in his current role of Director of Hockey Affairs and Team Services.

Callander joins first-year head coach Dean Chynoweth on the Monsters bench, along with fellow assistant David Oliver, who will enter his second season in the coaching ranks in 2012-13. Oliver also serves as the Director of AHL Operations for the Monsters, a role he has held since the team’s inception in 2007.

“We are very happy that Jock has earned this great opportunity to expand his role with the team,” said Monsters Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, Mike Ostrowski. “We know the coaching staff and players will benefit from his passion, insight and experience, both on and off the ice, as much as we have on the business and operations side the last several years.”

Playing 15 of his 18 professional hockey seasons with the Muskegon/Cleveland Lumberjacks, Callander was a member of the 1986 and 1989 Turner Cup Championship teams and played in four IHL All-Star Games. He is the IHL’s all-time leading scorer, as he registered 1,402 career points (including playoffs). His 848 assists are second all-time in the IHL and his 554 goals are good for third all-time. Callander also played 109 games in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins – where he was on the 1991-92 Stanley Cup-winning team – and Tampa Bay Lightning.

After his playing career, Callander coached for a season in the IHL (Lumberjacks) and another one in the AHL (Houston Aeros), both as an assistant.