Riley Armstrong (ice hockey)
Canadian forward who played two NHL games with San Jose.
Riley Armstrong, a Canadian, is a former NHL forward who now works as a coach. He played two games for the San Jose Sharks in the 2008–09 season. Since 2023, he has been the Philadelphia Flyers' director of player development.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Right wing
- Shoots
- Right
- Played for
- San Jose Sharks
- Barys Astana
- Augsburger Panther
- SaiPa
- HC Vita Hästen
- Born
- 8 November 1984
- Birthplace
- Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Draft
- Undrafted
Facts from the source article.
Playing career
Armstrong grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and attended Sacred Heart High School in Yorkton, Saskatchewan for grades 11 and 12 while playing AAA Midget, as well as St. Joseph High School in Saskatoon with his brother Colby Armstrong, who also played in the NHL. After minor hockey with the Saskatoon Redwings and figure skating coached by his mother Rosemary, he played Midget AAA with the Yorkton Mallers, scoring 44 goals and 77 points in 40 games to finish third in league scoring. He began his Western Hockey League career with the Kootenay Ice in 2002–03, scoring 6 goals, and was traded to the Everett Silvertips during 2003–04, where he scored 18 goals. On September 15, 2004, he signed as a free agent with the San Jose Sharks and was assigned to the Cleveland Barons for two seasons, scoring a combined 12 goals. He then spent three years with the Worcester Sharks before making his NHL debut on November 29, 2008, in a 3–2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes, playing on a line with Jeremy Roenick and Jody Shelley. On July 2, 2009, he signed with the Calgary Flames and was assigned to the Abbotsford Heat. On March 3, 2010, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings and joined the Grand Rapids Griffins. He played two games for the Utah Grizzlies in November 2010, recording two assists and four penalty minutes, then signed with Barys Astana on November 21, 2010. On December 29, 2010, he signed with Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the remainder of the season. He signed with the Elmira Jackals on October 8, 2011, and after seven games signed a PTO contract with the Binghamton Senators on November 17, 2011, before being released back to Elmira on December 17. On December 25, 2011, he signed with Finnish team SaiPa and finished the season there. After an unsuccessful try-out with HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss NLA, he returned to the Utah Grizzlies for the 2012–13 season as captain. On July 19, 2013, he signed a one-year contract with German club EV Landshut of the DEL2.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player in 2016, Armstrong moved into coaching, first as an assistant with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers under Jeff Christian. He became the Maine Mariners' first head coach in February 2018, posting a 69–58–7 mark across his initial two seasons. The team sat out the 2020–21 campaign due to the pandemic. In August 2021, he took an assistant coaching role with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Philadelphia Flyers' AHL affiliate.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Riley Armstrong (ice hockey) born?
Riley Armstrong was born on 8 November 1984 in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada.
What position did Riley Armstrong (ice hockey) play?
Riley Armstrong's position is listed as Right wing.
Which teams did Riley Armstrong (ice hockey) play for?
Riley Armstrong played for San Jose Sharks, Barys Astana, Augsburger Panther, SaiPa and HC Vita Hästen.
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