Jim Schoenfeld
Encyclopedia
James Grant Schoenfeld (born September 4, 1952 in Galt, Ontario) is a retired professional ice hockey
player. He is currently the assistant general manager with the New York Rangers
, as well as an interim assistant coach. He is also the general manager of the Connecticut Whale.
, Hamilton Red Wings
, and Niagara Falls Flyers
, he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres
and would play eleven seasons with that team, including spending time as the team's captain. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings
and Boston Bruins
. He retired from hockey in 1985.
teams, including the Sabres, New Jersey Devils
, Washington Capitals
, and Phoenix Coyotes
. As an NHL head coach, Schoenfeld has compiled a record of 256–246–78 (.509). He is currently the general manager of the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League
, and assistant general manager of the New York Rangers
.
Schoenfeld is remembered for an altercation with NHL referee Don Koharski
after Game 3 of the 1988
Wales Conference Finals after his New Jersey Devils lost 6–1 to the Boston Bruins. During the argument Koharski fell down and accused Schoenfeld of pushing him. As people yelled at Schoenfeld believing that he'd pushed Koharski, Schoenfeld continued arguing with Koharski. He yelled, "Good, 'cause you fell, you fat pig! Have another doughnut
! Have another doughnut!" as Koharski and the other officials headed to their dressing room. Schoenfeld was suspended by League disciplinarian Brian O'Neill for the following game, but the Devils sought a court order to overturn the suspension. About 40 minutes before the start of the game, New Jersey Superior Court Judge James F. Madden issued a restraining order allowing Schoenfeld to coach, subsequently triggering a walkout by the scheduled Game 4 officials,: referee Dave Newell and linesmen Gord Broseker
and Ray Scapinello
. After more than an hour's delay, three local off-ice officials – Paul McInnis, Jim Sullivan and Vin Godleski – were tracked down to work the game. Schoenfeld was later suspended for Game 5 and the officials returned to work.
This incident was parodied later in the movie Wayne's World
, when a rather large and apathetic police officer named Officer Koharski hung out at the counter of Stan Mikita's Doughnut Shop. The movie used Stan Mikita's as the name of a doughnut shop, as a parody reference to the chain Tim Hortons
. Coincidentally, during the final part of his career, Tim Horton
teamed on defense with a young Jim Schoenfeld with the Buffalo Sabres. Later, Schoenfeld often paired with Jerry Korab
.
On July 23, 2007, Schoenfeld was named New York Rangers assistant general manager to Glen Sather
, replacing Don Maloney
(who had become general manager of the Phoenix Coyotes
franchise). Ken Gernander
took over the head coach position in Hartford, while Schoenfeld retained his position of general manager for the farm team.http://newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=2973 On April 26, 2009, while serving as Interim Assistant Coach for the Rangers under Coach John Tortorella
, Schoenfeld stepped in to act as Head Coach for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series against the Washington Capitals
following Tortorella's one-game suspension for inappropriate fan contact in Game 5 of the series. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420130
.http://www.sabresalumni.com/media/jukebox.php
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. He is currently the assistant general manager with the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, as well as an interim assistant coach. He is also the general manager of the Connecticut Whale.
Playing career
After a junior career with the London KnightsLondon Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
, Hamilton Red Wings
Hamilton Red Wings
The Hamilton Red Wings were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1960 to 1974. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario.-History:...
, and Niagara Falls Flyers
Niagara Falls Flyers
----The Niagara Falls Flyers were two junior ice hockey franchises that played in the top tier in the Ontario Hockey Association. The first, a Junior "A" team existed from 1960 until 1972, and the second in Tier I Junior "A" from 1976 until 1982....
, he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
and would play eleven seasons with that team, including spending time as the team's captain. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
and Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. He retired from hockey in 1985.
Coaching/general management career
Since retirement, he has served as the head coach of several NHLNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
teams, including the Sabres, New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
, and Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
. As an NHL head coach, Schoenfeld has compiled a record of 256–246–78 (.509). He is currently the general manager of the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, and assistant general manager of the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
Schoenfeld is remembered for an altercation with NHL referee Don Koharski
Don Koharski
Don Koharski is a retired professional ice hockey referee in the National Hockey League. He currently resides in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, together with whom he has two sons...
after Game 3 of the 1988
1988 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , began with sixteen teams on April 6, 1988. It concluded on May 26, with the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.-Series:...
Wales Conference Finals after his New Jersey Devils lost 6–1 to the Boston Bruins. During the argument Koharski fell down and accused Schoenfeld of pushing him. As people yelled at Schoenfeld believing that he'd pushed Koharski, Schoenfeld continued arguing with Koharski. He yelled, "Good, 'cause you fell, you fat pig! Have another doughnut
Doughnut
A doughnut or donut is a fried dough food and is popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty outlets...
! Have another doughnut!" as Koharski and the other officials headed to their dressing room. Schoenfeld was suspended by League disciplinarian Brian O'Neill for the following game, but the Devils sought a court order to overturn the suspension. About 40 minutes before the start of the game, New Jersey Superior Court Judge James F. Madden issued a restraining order allowing Schoenfeld to coach, subsequently triggering a walkout by the scheduled Game 4 officials,: referee Dave Newell and linesmen Gord Broseker
Gord Broseker
Gord Broseker is a retired National Hockey League linesman. His career started in 1973 and ended in 2002. During his career, he officiated five Stanley Cup finals, 1,863 regular season games, and two All-Star games....
and Ray Scapinello
Ray Scapinello
Raymond Angelo Joseph "Scampy" Scapinello is a former National Hockey League linesman, known for having the longest on-ice career of anyone in the history of the NHL.-Early life:...
. After more than an hour's delay, three local off-ice officials – Paul McInnis, Jim Sullivan and Vin Godleski – were tracked down to work the game. Schoenfeld was later suspended for Game 5 and the officials returned to work.
This incident was parodied later in the movie Wayne's World
Wayne's World
Wayne's World was originally a recurring sketch from the NBC television series Saturday Night Live. It evolved from a segment titled "Wayne's Power Minute" on the CBC Television series It's Only Rock & Roll, as the main character first appeared in that show...
, when a rather large and apathetic police officer named Officer Koharski hung out at the counter of Stan Mikita's Doughnut Shop. The movie used Stan Mikita's as the name of a doughnut shop, as a parody reference to the chain Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian fast casual restaurant known for its coffee and doughnuts. It is also Canada's largest fast food service with over 3000 stores nationwide. It was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade, after an initial venture in...
. Coincidentally, during the final part of his career, Tim Horton
Tim Horton
Myles Gilbert "Tim" Horton was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in 24 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres. He was also a businessman and a co-founder of Tim Hortons. He died in an...
teamed on defense with a young Jim Schoenfeld with the Buffalo Sabres. Later, Schoenfeld often paired with Jerry Korab
Jerry Korab
Jerry Joseph Korab is a retired Canadian professional hockey player. A defenseman, he played in the National Hockey League from 1971 to 1985....
.
On July 23, 2007, Schoenfeld was named New York Rangers assistant general manager to Glen Sather
Glen Sather
Glen Cameron "Slats" Sather is the President and general manager of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He has also served as the head coach of the Rangers, as well as General Manager and coach of the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association and later NHL...
, replacing Don Maloney
Don Maloney
Donald Michael "Slip" Maloney is a former NHL player, and is currently the general manager of the Phoenix Coyotes. He played for the New York Rangers for parts of eleven seasons. His best season came in the 1982–83 season, in which he tallied 29 goals and 69 points in 78 games...
(who had become general manager of the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
franchise). Ken Gernander
Ken Gernander
Kenneth Robert Gernander is a retired American ice hockey player and currently head coach for the Connecticut Whale in the AHL...
took over the head coach position in Hartford, while Schoenfeld retained his position of general manager for the farm team.http://newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=2973 On April 26, 2009, while serving as Interim Assistant Coach for the Rangers under Coach John Tortorella
John Tortorella
Jonathan "John" Tortorella is an American professional ice hockey coach and is now the head coach of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He is perhaps best known for his tenure as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning when he led the team to the 2004 Stanley Cup championship...
, Schoenfeld stepped in to act as Head Coach for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series against the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
following Tortorella's one-game suspension for inappropriate fan contact in Game 5 of the series. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420130
Musical career
Schoenfeld also recorded an album, Schony, during the early days of his career in 1971. He recorded a second album in 1974 entitled The Key Is Love. Both albums were made in collaboration with Buffalo Music Hall of Famer, John ValbyJohn Valby
John Valby is a musician and comedian who plays in barrooms and college campuses up and down the East Coast. Using an old-fashioned piano, he creates comedic, obscene parodies of classic songs. He can always be found performing in his classic white tailcoat and black derby hat.Valby lives up to...
.http://www.sabresalumni.com/media/jukebox.php
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969-70 London Knights OHA 16 1 4 5 81 -- -- -- -- --
1969-70 Hamilton Red Wings OHA 32 2 12 14 54 -- -- -- -- --
1970-71 Hamilton Red Wings OHA 25 3 19 22 120 -- -- -- -- --
1970-71 Niagara Falls Flyers OHA 30 3 9 12 85 -- -- -- -- --
1971-72 Niagara Falls Flyers OHA 40 6 46 52 215 -- -- -- -- --
1972-73 Buffalo Sabres NHL 66 4 15 19 178 6 2 1 3 4
1973-74 Cincinnati Swords AHL 2 0 2 2 4 -- -- -- -- --
1973-74 Buffalo Sabres NHL 28 1 8 9 56 -- -- -- -- --
1974-75 Buffalo Sabres NHL 68 1 19 20 184 17 1 4 5 38
1975-76 Buffalo Sabres NHL 56 2 22 24 114 8 0 3 3 33
1976-77 Buffalo Sabres NHL 65 7 25 32 97 6 0 0 0 12
1977-78 Buffalo Sabres NHL 60 2 20 22 89 8 0 1 1 28
1978-79 Buffalo Sabres NHL 46 8 17 25 67 3 0 1 1 0
1979-80 Buffalo Sabres NHL 77 9 27 36 72 14 0 3 3 18
1980-81 Buffalo Sabres NHL 71 8 25 33 110 8 0 0 0 14
1981-82 Buffalo Sabres NHL 13 3 2 5 30 -- -- -- -- --
1981-82 Detroit Red Wings NHL 39 5 9 14 69 -- -- -- -- --
1982-83 Detroit Red Wings NHL 57 1 10 11 18 -- -- -- -- --
1983-84 Boston Bruins NHL 39 0 2 2 20 -- -- -- -- --
1984-85 Buffalo Sabres NHL 34 0 3 3 28 5 0 0 0 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHL Totals 719 51 204 255 1132 75 3 13 16 151
Coaching record
| Team | |Regular season | BUF Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
1985–86 | 43 | 19 | 19 | 5 | (80) | 5th in Adams Adams Division The NHL's Adams Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Charles Francis Adams, the founder of the Boston Bruins... |
(Fired) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJ New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
1987–88 | 30 | 17 | 12 | 1 | (82) | 4th in Patrick Patrick Division The Patrick Division of the National Hockey League was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division moved to the Prince of Wales Conference in 1981. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Lester Patrick... |
Lost in Third round | ||
| NJ | 1988–89 | 80 | 27 | 41 | 12 | 66 | 5th in Patrick | Missed Playoffs | ||
| NJ | 1989–90 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | (83) | 2nd in Patrick | (Fired) | ||
| WSH Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
1993–94 | 37 | 19 | 12 | 6 | (82) | 3rd in Atlantic Atlantic Division (NHL) The NHL's Atlantic Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Patrick Division. It is the only division in the NHL where all of its current members have won the Stanley Cup at least twice, though only three teams have won... |
Lost in Second round | ||
| WSH | 1994–95 | 48 | 22 | 18 | 8 | 52 | 3rd in Atlantic | Lost in First round | ||
| WSH | 1995–96 | 82 | 39 | 32 | 11 | 89 | 4th in Atlantic | Lost in First round | ||
| WSH | 1996–97 | 82 | 33 | 40 | 9 | 75 | 5th in Atlantic | Missed Playoffs | ||
| PHX Phoenix Coyotes The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena.... |
1997–98 | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | 4th in Central Central Division (NHL) The NHL's Central Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Norris Division.The Central Division consists of the Western Conference's easternmost teams.-Current lineup:... |
Lost in First round | ||
| PHX | 1998–99 | 82 | 39 | 31 | 12 | 90 | 2nd in Pacific Pacific Division (NHL) The National Hockey League's Pacific Division is one of three divisions that make up the Western Conference. It was formed in 1993 as part of a league realignment... |
Lost in First round | ||
| Total | 580 | 256 | 246 | 78 | 590 | |||||