Brad McCrimmon
Brad McCrimmon | |||||||||||||||||
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Born |
Dodsland, Saskatchewan, Canada | March 29, 1959||||||||||||||||
Died |
September 7, 2011 Yaroslavl, Russia | (aged 52)||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||||
Weight | 193 lb (88 kg; 13 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||
Position | Defence | ||||||||||||||||
Shot | Left | ||||||||||||||||
Played for |
Phoenix Coyotes | ||||||||||||||||
National team |
NHL Draft |
15th overall, 1979 Boston Bruins | |||||||||||||||
Playing career | 1979–1997 | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
|
Byron Brad McCrimmon (March 29, 1959[
McCrimmon turned to coaching following his playing career, serving as an assistant with the
Playing career
Junior
McCrimmon began his junior career at the age of 15 with the
With McCrimmon as team captain,[7] the Wheat Kings again reached the league championship in 1978–79. He scored 28 points in 22 games to help Brandon win the President's Cup.[1][8] The team advanced to the 1979 Memorial Cup tournament where it reached the final against the Ontario Hockey League champion Peterborough Petes. McCrimmon routinely played a high number of minutes each game; his teammates marvelled at his stamina.[9] In the Memorial Cup final, he played virtually every minute of the contest. His total ice time was 60 minutes, 38 seconds, and he was off the ice only to serve a two-minute penalty.[10] Peterborough won the game, 2–1 in overtime, after McCrimmon lost the puck on a play he thought was icing was not called. Peterborough's Terry Bovair stole the puck from him and scored the championship winning goal.[11] Despite the loss, McCrimmon was named a tournament all-star on defence.[8]
Professional
At the
Flyers' coach
McCrimmon and the Flyers became embroiled in a contract dispute prior to the
Following the season, general manager
McCrimmon recorded only 22 points in 1988–89 – his lowest in seven seasons – but led all NHL defencemen with a +43 rating.[7] He appeared in all 22 playoff games for the Flames as the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens to win the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.[25] McCrimmon was named the 10th captain in Flames history on November 3, 1989, succeeding Jim Peplinski, who retired early in the 1989–90 season.[26] He scored 4 goals and 19 points during the 1989–90 season, but fell out of favour with head coach Terry Crisp as the two disagreed over how the team's defencemen were used.[27] The Flames chose to trade him following the season, sending him to the Detroit Red Wings on June 15, 1990, in exchange for a second-round draft pick.[8]
In
McCrimmon was paired with some of the best defencemen of his generation. In addition to Lidstrom and Pronger, he played with Hockey Hall of Famers Ray Bourque, Mark Howe and Paul Coffey. He was known as a stay at home defenceman who focused on limiting the opposition's chances.[31] He played a physical game, often in the "dirty" areas of the ice – battling opponents in the corners and in front of the net. McCrimmon's career plus-minus was +444, a total surpassed by only nine players as of 2012. Brian Propp, a teammate of his in Philadelphia, said that he was one of the most under-rated defencemen of his time.[32]
Joe Mullen, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and McCrimmon's teammate on the 1989 Stanley Cup Champion Calgary Flames, named McCrimmon as the most difficult player to play against. [33]
Coaching career
McCrimmon moved behind the bench shortly after his retirement, joining the New York Islanders as an assistant coach to Mike Milbury on August 19, 1997.[30] He left the team after two years to become head coach of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League in 1999.[34] In two seasons with the team, he coached 144 games, winning 50 and tying 15.[35] McCrimmon coached the Blades to a second-place finish in the East Division in 1999–2000 and a seven-game opening round playoff victory over the Regina Pats before the team was eliminated by the Calgary Hitmen.[36]
Returning to the NHL in 2000, McCrimmon joined the Calgary Flames as an assistant to Don Hay.[37] He remained with the team for two and a half seasons, serving under both Hay and successor Greg Gilbert until the team replaced its coaching staff on December 3, 2002.[38] He returned to the NHL in 2004 as an assistant for the Atlanta Thrashers. He was promoted to associate coach in his fourth season when team general manager Don Waddell fired head coach Bob Hartley during the 2007–08 season.[39] McCrimmon had been offered the Thrashers head coaching position after Waddell's dismissal, but turned it down after the team failed to guarantee he would retain the position beyond the end of the season.[40] Leaving the Thrashers, McCrimmon signed a three-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 to serve as an assistant coach.[41]
Looking to further his career, he left Detroit on May 19, 2011, and was introduced as head coach of
Personal life
McCrimmon was born in Dodsland, Saskatchewan, but grew up on the family farm near the village of Plenty. He often returned to his hometown during his playing days, spending his summers training on the family farm.[45] He brought the Stanley Cup back to Plenty in 1989 after winning it with the Flames, fulfilling a promise McCrimmon made to his grandfather as a youth.[46]
Hockey was a significant part of McCrimmon's life from his youth. His father Byron was a long time
Nicknamed both "Beast" and "Sarge," McCrimmon was often considered "gruff" and had a direct way of speaking that cultivated respect amongst his peers.[49] According to former teammate Lanny McDonald: "He was tough, he was abrasive, but on the inside he was a big teddy bear, a big softie."[50] McCrimmon's brother remembered him as a person who dedicated himself to his family.[48] McCrimmon had two children with his wife Maureen: daughter Carlin and son Liam.[1]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1974–75 | Prince Albert Raiders | SJHL | 38 | 4 | 22 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1975–76 | Prince Albert Raiders | SJHL | 46 | 19 | 39 | 58 | 126 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1976–77 | Brandon Wheat Kings | WCHL | 72 | 18 | 66 | 84 | 96 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 16 | ||
1977–78 | Brandon Wheat Kings | WCHL | 65 | 19 | 78 | 97 | 245 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 20 | ||
1978–79 | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | 66 | 24 | 74 | 98 | 139 | 22 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 34 | ||
1978–79 | Brandon Wheat Kings | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | ||
1979–80 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 72 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 94 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 28 | ||
1980–81 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 78 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 148 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
1981–82 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 78 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 83 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
1982–83 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 79 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
1983–84 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 71 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 76 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
1984–85 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 66 | 8 | 35 | 43 | 81 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 15 | ||
1985–86 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 80 | 13 | 43 | 56 | 85 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
1986–87 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 71 | 10 | 29 | 39 | 52 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 30 | ||
1987–88 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 80 | 7 | 35 | 42 | 98 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 22 | ||
1988–89 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 72 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 96 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 30 | ||
1989–90 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 79 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 78 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
1990–91 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 64 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 81 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | ||
1991–92 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 79 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 118 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
1992–93 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 60 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1993–94 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 65 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1994–95 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1995–96 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 58 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1996–97 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 37 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
NHL totals | 1,222 | 81 | 322 | 403 | 1,416 | 116 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 176 |
International
Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | Canada | WJC |
6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
1979 | Canada | WJC | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
Junior totals | 11 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Coaching
Season | Team | League | Regular season |
Post season | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | L | T | OTL | Pct | Division rank | Result | |||
1998–99 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 72 | 16 | 49 | 7 | — | .271 | 6th East | Did not qualify |
1999–00 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 72 | 34 | 30 | 8 | 3 | .549 | 2nd East | Lost in second round |
WHL totals | 144 | 50 | 76 | 15 | 3 | .410 |
Awards and honours
Award | Year | |
---|---|---|
Junior | ||
SJHL Defenceman of the Year | 1975–76 | [2] |
WCHL second All-Star team | 1976–77 | |
Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy | 1977–78 | [4] |
WCHL/WHL first All-Star team | 1977–78 1978–79 |
[5] |
Memorial Cup All-Star team | 1979 | [8] |
NHL | ||
Stanley Cup champion | 1989 | |
Second team All-Star | 1987–88 | [51] |
NHL Plus-Minus Award | 1987–88 | [52] |
Philadelphia Flyers | ||
Barry Ashbee Trophy
|
1984–85 | [20] |
See also
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played
References
- Career Statistics: "Brad McCrimmon player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
- ^ a b c "A look at the life and career of Brad McCrimmon". Global Television Saskatoon. 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2012-04-14.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Past award winners". Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
- ^ Flett, Cory; Watts, Jessie (2009). 2008–09 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 185.
- ^ a b Flett, Cory; Watts, Jessie (2009). 2008–09 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 208.
- ^ a b Flett, Cory; Watts, Jessie (2009). 2008–09 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 204.
- ISBN 978-0-7710-9598-6.
- ^ a b c Ornest, Leo, ed. (1989). 1989–90 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 36.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Brad McCrimmon player profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ^ Henderson, Rob (2011-09-09). "Remembering Brad McCrimmon". Brandon Sun. Brandon Wheat Kings Hockey Club. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ^ Maki, Allan (2011-09-07). "Saying goodbye to Brad McCrimmon". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
- ISBN 1-55017-170-4.
- ^ Wharnsby, Tim (2010-12-08). "McCrimmon has designs on becoming a head coach". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ Rosa, Francis (1979-10-12). "Bruins ground Jets, 4–0". Boston Globe. p. 23. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ a b "Bruins obtain Pete Peeters". Bangor Daily News. 1982-06-10. p. 22. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ "Flyers trade Peeters to Boston for McCrimmon". Reading Eagle. 1982-06-10. p. 37. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ a b Ornest, Leo, ed. (1987). 1987–88 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 27.
- ^ a b c "Brad McCrimmon statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ Moriarty, Tim (1985-05-10). "Philadelphia depth prevails after opening-period injury". The Courier (Prescott, AZ). p. 11A. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ "Oilers defeat Flyers to win Stanley Cup". Bangor Daily News. 1985-06-01. p. 15. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ ISBN 1-58261-577-2.
- ^ "McCrimmon on skates without his teammates". Calgary Herald. 1986-10-18. p. C3. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ "McCrimmon inks Flyer pact". Vancouver Sun. 1986-10-30. p. F1. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ^ Orr, Frank (1987-09-02). "Flyers seeking replacement for McCrimmon". Toronto Star. p. H4. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- ISBN 0-919591-48-5.
- ^ Duhatschek, Eric (1989-05-26). "Stanley Cup: Ours at last". Calgary Herald. p. A1.
- ^ Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean; Ahrens, Janette; Buer, Greg (2011). 2011–12 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 140.
- ^ Duhatschek, Eric (1990-06-16). "Sarge declines to wing parting shots". Calgary Herald. p. F1.
- ^ "Brad McCrimmon obituary". San Francisco Chronicle. Legacy.com. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ Bernstein, Viv (1993-09-16). "A team within Whalers Pronger can learn from McCrimmon McCrimmon helps Pronger adjust". Hartford Courant. p. C1. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ a b "McCrimmon joins Isles as aide". New York Times. 1997-08-20. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ "Hundreds gather to pay tribute to McCrimmon". Toronto Sun. 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
- ^ Seravalli, Frank (2011-09-09). "Is Brad McCrimmon Hall of Fame worthy?". Philly.com. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
- ^ "ASK ME ANYTHING Coach JOE MULLEN - 3ICE Hockey". YouTube.
- ^ Pyette, Ryan (2011-09-17). "Hundreds gather to pay tribute to McCrimmon". London Free Press. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ Flett, Cory; Watts, Jessie (2009). 2008–09 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 193.
- ^ Flett, Cory; Watts, Jessie (2009). 2008–09 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 165.
- ^ "Hay named Flames coach". The Record-Journal (Meriden, CT). 2000-08-02. p. 19. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ "Struggling Flames fire Gilbert". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2002-12-03. p. D6. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ "Thrashers promote McCrimmon to associate coach; move could pave way for him to succeed Waddell". USA Today. 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ Malik, George James (2008-07-21). "Red Wings hire McCrimmon as assistant coach". Michigan Live. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
- ^ "Brad McCrimmon rejoins Red Wings as assistant". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ Kimelman, Adam (2011-09-07). "New coach McCrimmon carved lengthy NHL career". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ Francis, Eric (2011-09-07). "Dream dies with McCrimmon in Russian plane crash". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ "Plane carrying KHL team crashes". ESPN. 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ "Brad McCrimmon mourned in hometown". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- ^ Gave, Keith (1992-04-17). "To Canadians, Stanley Cup Is Holy Grail – Childhood Promise To Grandpa Inspires Red Wings' Mccrimmon". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
- ISBN 1-894974-02-6.
- ^ a b Lawless, Gary (2011-09-08). "Brother remembers Brad as 'my hero'". Winnipeg Free Press. p. C1. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
- ^ Cruickshank, Scott (2011-09-08). "Flames recall 'Beast' as smart, honest". Calgary Herald. p. F1.
- ^ Johnson, George (2011-09-08). "'The Beast' was a warrior and the last of a breed". Calgary Herald. p. A3.
- ^ Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean; Ahrens, Janette; Buer, Greg (2011). 2011–12 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 26.
- ^ Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean; Ahrens, Janette; Buer, Greg (2011). 2011–12 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 27.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database