The former coach of the Quad City Mallards didn't have to go far for his next job. Monday the Dubuque Fighting Saints hockey team announced the hiring of Phil Axtell to be an assistant coach.
He'll join head coach Oliver David and assistant Matt Millar.
Axtell served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Mallards during the 2014-15 season, then stayed on as an assistant until early 2017 when was named interim head coach. He was promoted to head coach for the Mallards' final season that ended in the spring.
The Fighting Saints play in the US Hockey League, and have reached the Clark Cup Final three times in the past eight seasons, and have made it to the USHL playoffs for eight consecutive seasons.