The First Goaltender To Captain An NHL Team

While Roberto Luongo, as Captain of the Vancouver Canucks, is the only goaltender to have that honor bestowed upon him currently, it certainly isn’t a novel idea.

The first goaltender to be named Captain of an NHL team was John Ross Roach.  Roach was named Captain of the Toronto St. Pats back in the 1924-25 season.

Roach was nicknamed “Little Napolean”, mostly because of his small size (5’5″) as well as his temper.  Having a goaltender as a captain suited the St. Pats coach, Eddie Powers, just fine. He would often have Roach start a debate with an official to give his team a rest.

In total, seven goaltenders have served as captains of their respective NHL teams over the course of history. Along with Roach and Luongo there were George Hainsworth, Roy Worters, Alex Connell, Bill Durnan and Charlie Gardiner.

Charlie Gardiner also holds the record of being the only goaltender to captain a Stanley Cup winning team. Gardiner was the captain of the 1933-34 Chicago Blackhawks 3 Games to 1 in the Stanley Cup final.

Game Four of the Stanley Cup final went to double overtime, but Gardiner had left the game after regulation due to health problems. He passed away that summer as a result of a brain hemorrhage.

source: Wikipedia

Barry Melrose Fired by Tampa Bay

One of the most interesting and controversial hockey stories from this past off season has come to an end even sooner than most had expected.

Tocchet To Replace Melrose

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced the firing of head coach Barry Melrose and have replaced him for the interim with assistant Rick Tocchet. It is hard to say if the Lightning will take a “gamble” on Tocchet for the long term (couldn’t resist the pun).

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an email to The Associated Press that the league is not concerned about Tocchet’s promotion.

“Rick is still bound by the terms of his reinstatement,” Daly said. “If he’s qualified to be an assistant coach on those terms, in our view, he’s just as qualified to be a head coach.”

Lightning general manager Brian Lawton referred to Tocchet as a very “straight forward individual” who has earned respect as a former player in the National Hockey league.  It is important to note that there has been no time table set by the Lightning to find a permanent replacement for Melrose.  In fact, with the following quote from Lawton, one might be led to believe that Tocchet is the “man” in Tampa Bay:

“We think this is a great opportunity for him and we believe he’s the type of coach who can take the team to the next level”…”Our players have a great deal of respect for him.”

Koules and Barrie Continue To Make Waves

Tampa Bay’s new ownership, Oren Koules and Len Barrie, were considered foolhardy by some to take over the reigns and make such wholesale changed to the team structure, management, and personnel.  What can be said is that the two upstart owners are quick and decisive which may or may not be fortuitous for the long term success of the franchise.

Just as five months ago when they quickly sought out the then Television Analyst, who had not coached in some 10 seasons, Melrose was swiftly removed from his duties after just 16 games behind the bench of the team who finished last season dead last in the league.

While there is little doubt that changes needed to be made in Tampa, the new ownership appears to be going “great guns” make sure their investment doesn’t tank.  It’s hard to say what they might do and maybe that is a good thing?

It appears that nobody’s job is safe in Tampa Bay…so Mr. Stamkos you had better start producing because you never know when that “Rookie benefit of the doubt” will wear thin with Oren and Len!

Is Patrick Roy A Coaching Candidate For Colorado?

Shane Giroux presents his thoughts:

The speculation began even before Quenneville was let go. With Patrick Roy having begun a coaching career, everyone wondered if Roy would ever coach the Colorado Avalanche.

Now that Quenneville is gone, the speculationstartsin earnest as the two most common names being bandied about are renowned 3-time Jack Adams award winning and Stanley Cup winning coach Pat Burns along with one of the most famous – or infamous – goaltenders of all time, Patrick Roy.

Intensity or Illness?

But not only did St. Patrick grow infamous as a goaltender with a penchant for the dramatic and the ability to get in players heads, he has grown infamous behind the bench of the Quebec Remparts.

In his first year coaching the Remparts, Roy led the team to a Memorial Cup championship. It was only the 7th time that a rookie coach has won the Memorial Cup. I was in Quebec the day the team paraded down the streets and you could feel a sense of aura around the team and Patrick. It’s an aura that seems to follow him around like a shadow.

However that aura quickly turned dark the following year as Roy was involved in two incidents which reminded everyone of his quick and fiery temper. Following a game against rival Chicoutimi, a group of Chicoutimi fans swarmed the Remparts bus. Roy got out and in the scuffle was alleged to have struck Chicoutimi co-owner Pierre Cardinal.

Engage The Rage!

Roy stayed on as coach, the media firestorm subsided and the Remparts marched on to the playoffs. Then during a 10-1 beat down at the hands of Chicoutimi, a brawl broke out which saw goaltender Jonathon Roy, Patrick’s son, fly down the ice and attack Chicoutimi’s goaltender, who was not even close to a willing participant. Shortly after the scuffle was broken up, Jonathon flipped off the Chicoutimi crowd.

Why does this reflect poorly on Patrick? Well, it would appear he urged his son on. Watch closely after the ref initially restrains Roy and you’ll see Patrick make a gesture to the effect of “Get the F@*& down there!” The result was a 5-game suspension for the elder Roy and 7 games for junior.

Roy May Be Too Hot To Handle!

Francois Giguere has gone on the record stating the next coach for the Avalanche must be willing to play a high-tempo, puck possession game. It will also need to be someone who will hold players accountable for mistakes and not be so easy-going.*

He has said nothing to the effect of wanting a hot-tempered coach that will need to be handled with kid gloves lest he destroy another office.

*That last part was stated on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada last night and I couldn’t find a clip to share.

What do you think?  Should Patrick Roy be considered for coaching positions  in the National Hockey? League