Butte Cobras of the North American 3 Hockey League are pleased to announce the signing of Kirk Golden as new head coach and general manager. Golden will begin working towards the 2021-22 season next month.
The 36-year old comes to the Cobras with plenty of experience – both on the bench and on the ice. Golden has been with the Great Falls Americans as an assistant this season. The Americans are about to begin the NA3HL Frontier Division playoffs.
Prior to his role in Great Falls Golden led the Aspen Leafs U19 Girls program to Colorado state titles in both 2019 and 2020. He also spent one season (2016-17) as an assistant for the Aspen High School boys team.
“I look forward to the opportunity with the Butte Cobras,” said Golden. “I aim to bring in a culture built on hard work, respect, and a love for the game. I will instill good habits until they become second nature. These qualities go far beyond hockey and are applicable throughout everyday life. We are not only aiming to be good hockey players, but good people as well.”
As a player Golden played at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, one of the top prep schools in North America, before spending two seasons in the North American Hockey League. From there the versatile skater played collegiate hockey at Hobart College (NCAA Division III) from 2005-09.
Golden began his professional career in Germany the following season and made stops in France, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden.
His final season of pro hockey came in 2015-16 with the South China Sharks of the China Ice Hockey League. Golden was second among CIHL leading scorers with 27 goals and 37 assists in 18 games.
That season playing in China is also where Golden began coaching with the Hong Kong Selects youth program.
Taking over a Cobras team that finished 8-28-3-1 might intimidate some, but Golden has high expectations for the future.
“I expect us to be a tough team to beat. We have some good players coming back and with the new players that I will bring in, our goal is playoffs. We are going to put in the work, the results will follow.”
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