PORTLAND, ME – August 11, 2026 – The Maine Mariners, proud affiliates of the NHL's Boston Bruins and AHL's Providence Bruins, have announced that Head Coach & General Manager Rick Kowalsky has agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2028-29 season.
In Kowalsky’s first season at the helm in 2025-26, he led the Mariners to a record of 42-21-6-3, and a second-place finish in the North Division. The team set a record points mark (93) and won their first ever Kelly Cup playoff series, defeating the Adirondack Thunder in the North Division Semifinals. They finished one win shy of the Eastern Conference Finals.
"After a historic season for our franchise, we are excited to retain Rick for three more years," said Dexter Paine, Mariners Owner & Governor. "Under Rick's leadership last season, we took a major step toward building a Kelly Cup Champion. Securing Rick and his staff for the long term provides stability that will help us achieve that ultimate goal of bringing the Cup to Portland."
Kowalsky, 54, has come full circle in his journey to Portland, having been a member of the Portland Pirates for parts of three seasons from 1996-99 as part of a 12-year professional playing career. He’s coached at all levels of affiliated professional hockey over the last 20 years, including three seasons in the NHL as an assistant for the New Jersey Devils from 2018-21 and 10 years as an AHL Head Coach in Albany and Bridgeport.
"It was great re-connecting with the city of Portland and the state of Maine last season, and I look forward to continuing growing the organization to compete for and ultimately win a Kelly Cup," said Kowalsky. "I want to thank the Paine family for entrusting me with the long-term future of the franchise and providing us with all the necessary resources to achieve our goals."
A native of Simcoe, ON, Kowalsky was the 2009 ECHL Coach of the Year with the Trenton Devils and the 2016 AHL Coach of the Year for the Albany Devils. In 2017, he was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame.
In addition to Kowalsky, the full Mariners coaching staff will return for the 2026-27 season.
The Mariners 2026-27 season begins on Saturday, October 17th at Worcester with the Home Opener one week later on Saturday, October 24th, a 1 PM puck drop against the Railers. For more information on ticket packages and group discounts for the 2026-27 season, fans can call 833-GO-MAINE, go to MaineMariners.com, or visit the Mariners front office at 94 Free Street in Portland.
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