Wednesday, July 1, 1998
KANATA, Ontario -- Rick Dudley, 49, former NHL and popular Cincinnati player, took over as general manager of the Ottawa Senators Tuesday, a day after Pierre Gauthier resigned for family reasons.
"I'm not here to change things; I'm here to keep things going in the same direction," said Dudley, who signed a three-year contract. "He manages the same way he coached, the same way he played: intense," Senators President Roy Mlakar said. "You will find no one who will question this man's work ethic."
Dudley served as GM of IHL Detoit Vipers the last two seasons. The Vipers won the 1997 Turner Cup and were finalists this year. "My goal is to take the team that Pierre took out of the quagmire and take it to the next level," Dudley said.
Dudley has been to the finals eight times in 10 years as a GM in the IHL, the AHL and the East Coast League. He has won four championships as a GM, including ECHL titles with Carolina in 1984, '85 and '86. He played with the AHL Cincinnati Swords, WHA Cincinnati Stingers and NHL Buffalo Sabres.
