Penguins sign Wilkes-Barre's coaching staff to contract extensions taken at PPG Paints Arena (Penguins)

WBS PENGUINS

J.D. Forrest

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach J.D. Forrest and assistant coach Kevin Porter received a pretty clear vote of confidence from Pittsburgh management after their first season in their roles behind Wilkes-Barre's bench.

Wilkes-Barre announced on Sunday that Forrest and Porter were both signed to two-year contract extensions that run through the 2023-24 season.

Forrest, 40, is entering his second year as Wilkes-Barre's head coach. He was promoted to the position in Sept. 2020 following Mike Vellucci's promotion to an assistant coach in Pittsburgh. Prior to being named head coach in Wilkes-Barre, Forrest served as an assistant coach for the team for four seasons.

Porter, 35, began his coaching career last season after retiring as a player following the 2019-20 season. He coached the Penguins' forwards and penalty kill last season.

Wilkes-Barre finished fifth in the AHL's North Division last season with a 13-13-4-2 record. They'll look to return to the postseason this spring for the first time since 2018, having failed to qualify for the playoffs in the 2018-19 season and the AHL not having playoffs in the most recent two seasons.

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