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Biography
Born November 1, 1932, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada (Age 82). Played 14 seasons in NHL as a defenseman with Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues. Was a member of four Stanley Cup championship teams as player (Red Wings in 1953-54, Blackhawks in 1960-61, and Maple Leafs in 1961-62 and 1963-64, though he did not play in the postseason for Detroit). Began NHL coaching career with Blues during the 1970-71 season after his retirement as a player that same season. Became New York Islanders head coach before the 1973-74 season. Guided the Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1979-80 through 1982-83 (the only time a U.S.-based franchise has won four straight Stanley Cup titles). From 1979-80 through the team’s loss in the 1984 Stanley Cup finals to the Edmonton Oilers, Arbour coached the Islanders to an NHL-record 19 straight playoff series victories. Stepped down as Islanders head coach following the 1985-86 season, but returned as the team’s head coach in 1988-89 and stayed on through the 1993-94 season. Coach of the last Islanders team to win a playoff series when they knocked off the two-time Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1993 Patrick Division finals (the franchise has lost seven series since). Returned behind the Islanders’ bench for one more game (a victory over the Penguins) in November of 2007, his 1,500th game as Islanders head coach. Won Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year in 1979. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996.
Numbers Game
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