Woods, 49 (1/24/68), joins the Wild after serving as an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres during the 2016-17. Before working with the Sabres, the LeRoy, Saskatchewan, native spent two seasons (2014-16) as general manager and head coach of the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

This is the fourth time Woods will serve as an assistant coaching on Boudreau's staff, previously with the Anaheim Ducks (2012-14) and Washington Capitals (2009-12) in the NHL, and with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League (AHL) from 2005-07. Woods was Boudreau's successor in Hersey, becoming head coach 15 games into the 2007-08 season after Boudreau was named head coach in Washington. Woods helped Hershey win the AHL's Calder Cup championship in 2006 and 2009.

A former defenseman, Woods played professional hockey for 13 seasons (1988-2001), including stops in the IHL, ECHL and AHL. He won a Calder Cup while playing with Hershey in 1997, and won the ECHL's Kelly Cup with the Mississippi Sea Wolves in 1999 - where Boudreau served as head coach. Woods was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2012 and was originally selected by New Jersey in the 10th round (201st overall) of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.

He and his wife, Mary Sue, have two sons: Brendan, who is a member of the Carolina Hurricanes organization, and Colin, who plays hockey at Stevenson University.

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