By Jake Howorth, North York Rangers Communications and Digital Director
The North York Rangers have brought Matthew Chiarantano and Louie Caporusso on board as assistant coaches for the upcoming 2020-2021 season.
Chiarantano is a familiar name within the organization. He’s coached the Rangers’ U18 AAA team in the GTHL for the past two seasons and filled in on the bench for the big club in a few games as well. He brings a ton of firsthand experience from his playing days. The defenceman played four years of Junior A hockey with Orangeville, Aurora and Georgetown before earning a scholarship to Niagara University. The Caledon, Ont., native dressed in 75 games while racking up 19 points for the Purple Eagles. He also played in a handful of games professionally with the Brampton Beast of the ECHL. He will oversee the Rangers young defence after the departure of Sean Teakle, who took an assistant coach position with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL. The new assistant coach is honoured to receive this opportunity and will use what he learned in the past to help him.
“Being given this role is a huge honour and I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with Geoff and the rest of the staff more closely on a day to day basis,” he said. “Being with the U18 team and working with players that aspire to move on to the junior level it was much easier to teach and develop players knowing what was needed for them to improve and become successful at the next level.”
Working with Chiarantano and seeing how he has grown as a coach the last two year made this hire an easy one for fifth-year Rangers head coach Geoff Schomogyi.
“Bring Matt on board will be an easy transition. Matt has been involved with our midget program and has been helping out with the Jr team as well,” Schomogyi explained.
This is Caporusso first coaching position since officially retiring from the game earlier this year. His playing resume is lengthy and impressive. After dominating the OJHL with the St. Michael’s Buzzers posting 52 goals and 123 points in 85 games in two years, the Ottawa Senators selected him 90th overall in the third round of the 2007 NHL Draft. From there, the Toronto, Ont., native received a scholarship to play at the University of Michigan. He racked up 68 goals and 76 assists for 144 points in 160 games during his four years. In this span, he experienced individual and team success with Michigan which includes two-time NCAA Champion, NCAA First All-Star Team, NCAA (West) First All-American Team and finalist of the NCAA Hobey Baker Award, which is the Top Collegiate Player. He went on play 10 years of professional hockey dressing in 380 games in the AHL, ECHL, DEL in Germany, AlpsHL in Italy and SHL in Sweden.
Caporusso is excited and eager to bring his experiences to North York.
“I’m honoured to be entrusted with the development and success of the NYR program,” the former forward stated. “Using my experience as a 10-year pro player, I plan to support the players through the ups and downs of a season. In addition I will teach these players the details of the game and skills they ca apply to become players and leaders.”
He is going to be a book of knowledge for the Rangers forwards this upcoming season. This is one of the reasons why Schomogyi picked him as one of the assistant coaches.
“Louie is fresh out of the game. He will bring a lot of experiences having played the game at a high level and will be able to help our players prepare for the next step,” Schomogyi explained.
The Rangers are still waiting for the OJHL to announce the start of the 2020-2021 season.
