Rich Chernomaz

Richard Chernomaz
Richard Chernomaz
Born	September 1, 1963 (age 63); Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada
Occupation(s)	Ice hockey player (former), coach, executive
Known for	NHL player for Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames; head coach in DEL and Hungary national team

Richard Chernomaz (born September 1, 1963) is a Canadian former right winger who has built a career as an ice hockey coach and executive. Most recently, he served as head coach for the VIU Mariners competing in the BCIHL.

Throughout his playing days, Chernomaz appeared in 51 NHL contests with the Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils, and Calgary Flames. However, the bulk of his career unfolded in minor leagues where he earned two International Hockey League (IHL) all-star selections and was honored with the 1993–94 Les Cunningham Award as the American Hockey League’s (AHL) most valuable player. Representing Team Canada, he secured a bronze medal at the 1995 World Championship held in Austria. Afterwards, he spent four seasons competing with Schwenninger Wild Wings in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Transitioning into coaching in 1999, Chernomaz guided several DEL clubs to two German championship titles and took charge of Hungary’s national team during the 2013 World Championship.

Personal life

Raised in Port Alberni, British Columbia, after being born in Selkirk, Manitoba, Chernomaz is related to NHL talent Nolan Patrick as his uncle; Patrick was selected second overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Between 1979 and 1983, Chernomaz competed in four seasons of Western Hockey League (WHL) play with the Saskatoon Blades and Victoria Cougars. His standout 1980–81 campaign saw him amass 113 points and contribute to Victoria’s capture of the President's Cup. In the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, he was picked 26th overall by the Colorado Rockies and made his NHL debut that same year.

Following the Rockies’ relocation to New Jersey in 1982, he featured in seven NHL games during the 1983–84 season, netting his first two goals at that level. Primarily assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners, he helped secure a Calder Cup championship. Over subsequent years, while mostly playing in the AHL, he appeared in 25 NHL games for New Jersey during the 1986–87 season and scored six goals.

After signing with the Calgary Flames in 1987, Chernomaz’s NHL appearances were limited to just 11 games across seven seasons; nevertheless, he excelled with their IHL affiliate Salt Lake Golden Eagles by winning the Turner Cup in 1987–88 and earning two second-team all-star distinctions.

In 1992, he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and spent two seasons with their AHL team St. John's Maple Leafs. His impressive 1993–94 season included tallying 45 goals and totaling 110 points, which garnered him a place on the AHL First All-Star Team as well as the Les Cunningham Award. The following year, he also took on responsibilities as a playing assistant coach while briefly participating in Roller Hockey International.

At the 1995 World Championship, Chernomaz contributed three assists over eight games to help Canada claim bronze. Subsequently, he signed with Schwenninger Wild Wings of Germany’s DEL where he played four final professional seasons before retiring in 1999.

Coaching and managing career

Immediately after ending his playing career, Schwenninger appointed Chernomaz as head coach. He spent two seasons leading the Wild Wings before taking coaching roles with multiple DEL teams: Kölner Haie, where he captured a German championship title during the 2001–02 campaign; Augsburger Panther; and Frankfurt Lions, guiding them to another German championship in 2003–04. He then served as head coach for ERC Ingolstadt until December 2012. In 2013, Chernomaz assumed leadership of the Hungary men's national ice hockey team, steering them to bronze at the 2013 IIHF World Championship Division I and silver at the 2015 IIHF World Championship Division I, which secured promotion to compete in the 2016 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.

During his tenure with Hungary’s federation, he also undertook duties as sporting director at Löwen Frankfurt beginning in 2013. Following Tim Kehler’s dismissal in December 2015, Chernomaz resumed head coaching responsibilities. For the 2016-17 season, he stepped back from coaching duties handing them over to Paul Gardner, while continuing as sporting director. Under his management, Frankfurt clinched the DEL2 championship title in 2017. On December 21, 2017, Löwen Frankfurt announced they would not extend Chernomaz’s contract; he was relieved immediately and replaced by Franz-David Fritzmeier while the club sat second in DEL2 standings.

In April 2018, Chernomaz was appointed head coach of the Nottingham Panthers succeeding Corey Neilson. He was dismissed on January 16, 2019 following a four-game losing streak that left Nottingham third in Elite League rankings. On February 5, 2019, he took over as head coach for the Ravensburg Towerstars competing in DEL2 and led them to their second league championship by defeating Frankfurt in April of that year. He departed Ravensburg in February 2021.

Additionally, Chernomaz holds part ownership of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, a junior team within the British Columbia Hockey League, having acquired a stake since 2003.

Regular season and playoffs

1986–87 AHL season Maine Mariners AHL 58 35 27 62 65 — — — — — 1987–88 NHL season Calgary Flames NHL 2 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 1987–88 IHL season Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 73 48 47 95 122 18 4 14 18 30 1988–89 NHL season Calgary Flames NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1988–89 IHL season Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 81 33 68 101 122 14 7 5 12 47 1989–90 IHL season Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 65 39 35 74 170 11 6 6 12 32 1990–91 IHL season Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 81 39 58 97 213 4 3 1 4 8 1991–92 NHL season Calgary Flames NHL 11 0 0 0 6 — — — — — 1991–92 IHL season Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 66 20 50 60 201 5 1 2 3 10 1992–93 IHL season Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 76 26 48 74 172 — — — — — 1993–94 AHL season St. John's Maple Leafs AHL 78 45 65 110 199 11 5 11 16 18 1994–95 AHL season St. John's Maple Leafs AHL 77 24 45 69 235 5 1 1 2 8 1995–96 DEL season Schwenninger Wild Wings Deutsche Eishockey Liga 49 24 43 67 105 2 1 1 2 24 1996–97 DEL season SERC Wild Wings DEL 47 25 39 64 126 5 3 5 8 8 1997–98 DEL season SERC Wild Wings DEL 45 13 32 45 103 7 0 6 6 53 1998–99 DEL season SERC Wild Wings DEL 43 9 38 47 177 — — — — — 1998–99 NLA season SC Bern National League A — — — — — 1 0 0 0 2

Regular season

Playoffs

Season

Team

League

GP

G

A

Pts

PIM

GP

G

A

Pts

PIM

1979–80

Saskatoon Olympics

SJHL

51

33

37

70

75

—

1979–80

Saskatoon Blades

WHL

25

9

10

19

33

—

1980–81

Victoria Cougars

WHL

72

49

64

113

92

15

11

15

26

38

1980–81

Victoria Cougars

M-Cup

—

4

0

1

6

1981–82

Victoria Cougars

WHL

49

36

62

98

69

4

1

2

3

13

1981–82

Colorado Rockies

NHL

2

0

—

1982–83

Victoria Cougars

WHL

64

71

53

124

113

12

10

5

15

18

1983–84

New Jersey Devils

NHL

7

2

1

3

2

—

1983–84 AHL season

Maine Mariners

American Hockey League

69

17

29

46

39

2

0

1

0

1984–85 NHL season

New Jersey Devils

NHL

3

0

2

—

1984–85 AHL season

Maine Mariners

AHL

64

17

34

51

64

10

2

4

1985–86 AHL season

Maine Mariners

AHL

78

21

28

49

82

5

0

2

1986–87 NHL season

New Jersey Devils

NHL

25

6

4

10

8

NHL totals

51 !9 !7 !16 !18 !—

—

AHL totals

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IHL totals

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International

Year	Team	Tournament		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995	Canada	WC		8	0	3	3	10

Awards and honours

Career Accolades
Award	Season
WHL First All-Star Team	1982–83
IHL Second All-Star Team	1987–88, 1990–91
AHL First All-Star Team	1993–94
Les Cunningham Award AHL Most Valuable Player	1993–94

External links