Longtime NHLer Gordie Roberts has been appointed head coach of the Elk River High School boys hockey team, taking over after the contentious reign of Tony Sarsland came to a sudden end, the school announced Tuesday.

Roberts, 54, played 21 years in the NHL, which includes all or parts of eight seasons with the North Stars through much of the 1980s.

The defenseman won Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992. His last NHL season was 1993-94 with the Boston Bruins.

He's also been director of player development and an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes and a scout for the Montreal Canadiens.

Roberts is leaving the Hamline University men's hockey staff, where he had coached the defense since 2010.

"At this state of 35 years on the pro treadmill," Roberts said "it was a just a question of timing and opportunity" that led him to Elk River.

He added that Elk River "is a hardworking community, and Tony coached that way, definitely."

Elk River Activities Director Mike Cunningham said that the school is "ecstatic to have a coach with his level of experience and character."

In early February, Sarsland was put on paid leave as head coach late in the regular season for what he described as confronting one of his top players "a little more aggressively." The School District has declined to say what led to its action against the coach.

Sarsland, who remains a teacher in the School District, resigned as coach in April, ahead of a School Board meeting about his case.

In Sarsland's nearly three decades at Elk River, the program has been scrutinized for everything from the coach's ability to control his anger to the players' rough style of play to accusations of recruiting.

Since 1993, the Elks earned six trips to the state tournament -- winning it all in 2001 -- and claimed 12 conference championships. If Sarsland had remained coach, he would have been on target to get his 600th career victory next season.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482