Odds ‘n ends: Two important employees take promotions and leave Pens’ organization

DeFazio, Army move up the ladder in their professions

Felt right to pair these two little updates together. Two members of the Penguin organization are leaving for new jobs with other teams. Long-time assistant equipment manager Paul DeFazio is going to Columbus to be their top equipment manager it was announced today, and yesterday it was announced that ECHL Wheeling coach Derek Army was moving onto become an AHL assistant coach with the Colorado Eagles.

From the Blue Jackets:

DeFazio served in various capacities in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization for 27 years, including as an assistant equipment manager with the Penguins from 2018-25 as well as from 2001-13. He was also the head equipment manager of the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for five seasons from 2013-18

Coworker Jon Taglianetti got the Penguin job when long-time manager Dana Heinze retired in 2022. Columbus will now be hoping for the “Teddy Richards bump” from when Florida hired an assistant Penguin equipment manager and that’s worked out with Richards getting his name on the Stanley Cup a couple of times.

All the people in that role work so hard to keep the wheels turning and in place, the Pens will be different without DeFazio moving forward, but it certainly sounds like a great step for him to get the opportunity at that role in Columbus.

There was another bittersweet departure from the organization as well:

Army, 34, has done great things at his role with Wheeling since 2021. He’s now promoted to work with — get this — head coach Mark Letestu who will be in charge of the AHL Colorado bench.