An assistant coach in the AHL since 2001, Geordie Kinnear has worked for the Carolina Hurricanes organization since 2007. He began his coaching career with Albany River Rats following an eight-year professional playing career and also served as a special assignment scout for the New Jersey Devils during the 2004-05 season.

After he played three seasons of junior hockey for the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, the New Jersey Devils drafted Kinnear in the seventh round (162nd overall) of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Beginning with the 1993-94 season, he skated with Albany for the first six years of his career, helping them reach the playoffs each season. Over that time, he was a member of Albany’s 1995 Calder Cup championship team, appeared in four consecutive AHL All-Star Classics (1995-1999) and served as team captain for three seasons (1996-1999).

Kinnear signed with the Atlanta Thrashers as a free agent in August of 1999, making his National Hockey League debut by appearing in four games with Atlanta, posting a total of 13 penalty minutes. He split the 1999-2000 season between Atlanta and the Thrashers’ IHL affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears. After starting the 2000-01 season with Orlando, he was traded back to New Jersey on Nov. 6, 2000, and played 14 games with Albany before being forced to retire due to injury in December of 2000.

A defenseman originally from Simcoe, Ontario, Kinnear totaled 30 goals, 68 assists and 1,094 penalty minutes over the course of 406 career AHL games with Albany.