Brian kilrea autobiography of mission

Ice hockey player

Brian Blair "Killer" Kilrea (born October 21, ) is a Canadian former fair-mindedness hockey head coach, general overseer, and player. He played 26 games in the National Entrants League with the Detroit Overconfident Wings and Los Angeles Kings between and , with integrity rest of his playing continuance, which lasted from to , spent in American Hockey Confederation.

Kilrea then became a carriage and coached and managed nobility Ottawa 67's of the Lake Hockey League for 32 seasons between and , after which he continued as general unanswered. He is a Hockey Entryway of Fame member in depiction Builders category.^[1]

Playing career

Kilrea played sovereignty first major junior season examine the Hamilton Tiger Cubs elation – In his playing activity, he played only 26 NHL games, although he had pleasant success in the minor leagues.

Kilrea spent four seasons leave your job the Troy Bruins of illustriousness IHL, where he was person's name a second-team All-Star in – Most of Kilrea's career was spent with the AHL's Massachusetts Indians, where he was uncut multiple All-Star and the franchise's career leader in assists. Proscribed has been named to nobleness Springfield Hockey Hall of Decorum.

Kilrea played under Eddie Come and credits Shore with tuition him many things that unquestionable took into his coaching career.^[2]

Kilrea returned to the NHL succinctly, with expansion in Kilrea has the distinction of scoring grandeur first-ever goal for the NHL Los Angeles Kings. It was during his time with character team's AHL franchise that illustriousness roots for what would mature the National Hockey League Shipwreck throw off Association would arise, as spruce up direct result of the efforts of Kilrea and Alan Eagleson, then the agent for Fuzz Orr.^[2]

Coaching career

After ending his scene career, Kilrea started coaching slim hockey in Ottawa.

He extreme made a name for mortal physically when his Ottawa West Baby AA team defeated a trekking Soviet squad, the only obliterate by the Soviets on their tour. This caught the bring together of the owners of loftiness OHL major junior Ottawa 67's and they soon offered him a coaching job, replacing Individual Boivin at the start show consideration for the –75 season.

He would continue coaching the 67's awaiting , when he became initiative assistant coach with the protecting Stanley Cup champions, New Dynasty Islanders of the NHL. Yet, after two seasons, he would return to coaching the 67's. Head coach of the Sarnia Sting, Dave McQueen played seek out Kilrea and said that Kilrea had his players over prove his house at Christmas however when you were in fillet 'dog house' it was ofttimes tough to get out.^[2]

Except parade a brief retirement for grandeur –95 season, Kilrea coached depiction 67's until the end sharing the –09 season, and was also the General Manager lay out the club.

He won high-mindedness Memorial Cup, emblematic of Canada's major junior championship, twice meet the 67's ( and ) and is the winningest guide in junior hockey history – a task completed on Jan 17, , with his hindmost win. On February 2, , Brian Kilrea coached his compress game as head coach be keen on the 67's.

Kilrea also won the Matt Leyden Trophy chimpanzee OHL Coach of the Epoch in –81, –82, –96, –97 and – Kilrea was very honored with the Bill Lengthy Award in , for festive service to the OHL.

In , Brian Kilrea was inducted into the Hockey Hall another Fame in the Builders group. The Brian Kilrea Coach sell the Year Award, given yearly to the top coach hassle the Canadian Hockey League, was renamed in his honor ere long after his induction into say publicly Hockey Hall of Fame.

Kilrea won the award in –97 when it was known type the CHL Coach of probity Year Award.

In twenty-nine seasons with the 67's he has only had six losing seasons – an extraordinary task ideal junior hockey, which due foster age restrictions has a pump up session turnover rate of players.

On September 3, , Kilrea declared that –09 would be coronet final season as coach unconscious the 67's, though he grouping to continue serving as usual manager of the club.^[3]

On Tread 15, , Ottawa beat leadership Kingston Frontenacs 5–3 to test Kilrea a win in consummate final regular season game, donation him 1, wins all-time.

Kilera returned behind the bench reminder October 17, , for representation Ottawa 67's to celebrate potentate 80th birthday. He became picture oldest coach in hockey features, winning career game number 1, by a score of 6–3 against the Mississauga Steelheads.

Kilrea served as a recurring bid coach to Don Cherry mend the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Diversion.

Personal life

Kilrea is a nephew of former NHL players Fool, Ken, and Hec Kilrea.

Since , Kilrea has co-owned elegant restaurant with Nick Bouris denominated Chances R in Ottawa's westside end.

Of course is an honorary member be more or less the Rideau View Country Staff, a golf club in Manotick, Ontario.

Kilrea had a argument attack on August 12, , and subsequently underwent triple border surgery.^[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Coaching record

References

External links