Monday May 8 2023
KOMOKA, ONT – The Komoka Kings are proud to announce the hiring of the team’s new Head Coach, Rumun Ndur.
Rumun was born in Zaria, Nigeria and comes in with a wealth of experience both behind the bench, and on the ice. After growing up in Hearst, Ontario, he moved to Union, ON.
Ndur joined the Belmont Bombers as a 15-year-old, before transitioning to the Sarnia Bees of the WOHL the next season. After a stint with the Clearwater Steeplejacks, Ndur was selected by the Guelph Storm in the 1992 OHL Draft. In 1994, he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round, 69th overall, in the NHL Draft.
Following a Calder Cup win with the Sabres’ AHL affiliate, Rochester, Ndur made his NHL debut in 1996-97, becoming the first Nigerian-born player to play in the league. Ndur played parts of four seasons in the NHL, with the Sabres, New York Rangers and Atlanta Thrashers.
Over the past seven seasons, Ndur has coached with several teams around the London-area. In 2016-2017, he joined the London Nationals as an assistant coach, where he stayed for two seasons. Then, in 2019-2020, he joined the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs (now Canucks) U18 team, as their head coach, leading them to a 22-13-1 record. He returned to the Nationals as an assistant in 2021, before joining the Port Stanley Sailors as their head coach last season.
Kings president and GM, Roop Chanderdat, looks forward to the addition of Ndur to the organization, saying: “The Komoka Kings are very excited to add Rumun Ndur as our Head Coach. He is an experienced coach that is knowledgeable about our league and knows what it takes to have success in the GOJHL. Rumun gets the most out of his players and is a good teacher and motivator, which are qualities that will help the Kings.”
Rumun echoed the statement, going on to say “I’m honoured and very excited to be named the new coach of the Komoka Kings Hockey Club. I would like to thank President and GM Roop Chanderdat, as well as assistant GM Ray Giffen for believing and trusting in me to lead the young men of this club for the coming season. I will do everything I can to make sure Komoka gets back up the standings and plays a competitive brand of hockey night in and night out!”
The remainder of Rumun’s coaching staff will be announced in the coming weeks.
