Paul Maurice (born January 30, 1967 in
Sault Ste. Marie, OntarioSault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. Residents of the city are called Saultites...
) is Canadian professional ice hockey head coach of the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
's
Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
. Originally a defenseman in the
Ontario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL), Maurice's playing career ended after an eye injury. Maurice formerly coached the
Hartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a North American professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.. Known as the New England Whalers when they were members of the World Hockey Association from 1972–79, the club played in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
/Hurricanes franchise from 1995–2003 and the
Toronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
from 2006–2008. On December 3, 2008, Maurice was re-hired by the Hurricanes after the firing of
Peter LaviolettePeter Laviolette Jr. is an American former National Hockey League defenseman and former head coach. From 2003-2008, he was the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, which he led to a Stanley Cup championship in the 2005-06 season.As a player, Laviolette spent the majority of his 10-year career...
, who had replaced him in 2003.
Maurice was the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
' 12th choice, 252nd overall, in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, five spots after former Maple Leafs Vice-President and
General ManagerGeneral manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
John Ferguson, Jr. was taken by the Montreal Canadiens.
In 1985, Paul played defense for the
Windsor SpitfiresThe Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953...
of the OHL.
Paul Maurice (born January 30, 1967 in
Sault Ste. Marie, OntarioSault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. Residents of the city are called Saultites...
) is Canadian professional ice hockey head coach of the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
's
Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
. Originally a defenseman in the
Ontario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL), Maurice's playing career ended after an eye injury. Maurice formerly coached the
Hartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a North American professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.. Known as the New England Whalers when they were members of the World Hockey Association from 1972–79, the club played in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
/Hurricanes franchise from 1995–2003 and the
Toronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
from 2006–2008. On December 3, 2008, Maurice was re-hired by the Hurricanes after the firing of
Peter LaviolettePeter Laviolette Jr. is an American former National Hockey League defenseman and former head coach. From 2003-2008, he was the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, which he led to a Stanley Cup championship in the 2005-06 season.As a player, Laviolette spent the majority of his 10-year career...
, who had replaced him in 2003.
Playing career
Maurice was the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
' 12th choice, 252nd overall, in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, five spots after former Maple Leafs Vice-President and
General ManagerGeneral manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
John Ferguson, Jr. was taken by the Montreal Canadiens.
In 1985, Paul played defense for the
Windsor SpitfiresThe Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953...
of the OHL. He was struck in the eye by a puck, which had ricocheted off his stick, during a charity hockey game in which he was participating. He still has a blind spot and suffers fuzziness on the right side of his field of vision. When goalie
Pat JablonskiPatrick D. Jablonski was a professional ice hockey goaltender. Between 1989 and 1998, he played for five teams in the National Hockey League: the St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Phoenix Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes.Jablonski, who played junior hockey the Windsor...
was sent down by the
St. Louis BluesThe St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues," and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
, the Windsor Spitfires were therefore in excess number of players. At this point he was given the option by team owner Peter Karmanos to be traded or step behind the bench. He thus began his coaching career with the Detroit Junior Red Wings (a team Karmanos operated) of the
Ontario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL) from 1993 to 1995, leading the team to the
J. Ross Robertson CupThe J. Ross Robertson Cup is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Ontario Hockey League playoff championship. It was presented by and named for John Ross Robertson, the president of the Ontario Hockey Association who served from 1899 to 1905.Originally it was awarded to the...
and a second place finish in
Memorial CupThe Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. Each year the champions from three CHL member leagues; the Western Hockey League , Ontario Hockey League , and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , along with a host team,...
in 1995.
Coaching career
Maurice was then hired to coach the
Hartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a North American professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.. Known as the New England Whalers when they were members of the World Hockey Association from 1972–79, the club played in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
(later the
Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
) of the
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
in 1995, at the remarkably young age of 28. Throughout much of his tenure, he was the youngest active coach in the NHL. The high point of his NHL career came in the 2001–02 NHL season, when the
HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
reached the
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
finals, losing to the
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is 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....
. After coaching 604 regular season games, he was let go by the
HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
in 2003 when the team started the first 20 games 8-12. Under Maurice the Hurricanes achieved three winning seasons from 1998–2002.
On June 24, 2005, he was hired to coach the
Toronto MarliesThe Toronto Marlies are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League that serves as the farm team for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. They play in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Ricoh Coliseum...
, after the team had relocated from St. John's, Newfoundland. In the 2005–06 season, the Marlies qualified for fourth playoff spot in their division. They were subsequently eliminated by the
Grand Rapids GriffinsThe Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. They are also the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. The franchise began in the now-defunct International Hockey...
in the first round.
Maurice reached several coaching milestones during his first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, registering a career-high in wins (40) and points percentage (.555). He also earned his 300th NHL victory March 6, 2007 versus Washington and coached his 750th NHL game March 27, 2007 versus Carolina.
On May 7, 2008, Maurice was fired by interim Maple Leafs GM
Cliff FletcherGeorge Clifford Fletcher is a National Hockey League executive and is a former general manager of the Atlanta Flames/Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Phoenix Coyotes . He is currently a Senior Advisor to the Toronto Maple Leafs...
, after missing the playoffs for two seasons in a row.
On December 3, 2008, Maurice was selected to take over for
Peter LaviolettePeter Laviolette Jr. is an American former National Hockey League defenseman and former head coach. From 2003-2008, he was the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, which he led to a Stanley Cup championship in the 2005-06 season.As a player, Laviolette spent the majority of his 10-year career...
as head coach of the
Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
.
Coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | Hartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a North American professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.. Known as the New England Whalers when they were members of the World Hockey Association from 1972–79, the club played in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
|
1995–96 |
70 |
29 |
33 |
8 |
- |
(77) |
5th in Northeast The NHL's Northeast Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Adams Division...
|
- |
- |
- |
Missed Playoffs |
|---|
| 1996–97 |
82 |
32 |
39 |
11 |
- |
75 |
5th in Northeast |
- |
- |
- |
Missed Playoffs |
Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
|
1997–98 |
82 |
33 |
41 |
8 |
- |
74 |
6th in Northeast |
- |
- |
- |
Missed Playoffs |
| 1998–99 |
82 |
34 |
30 |
18 |
- |
86 |
1st in Southeast The NHL's Southeast Division was formed in 1998 as part of the Eastern Conference due to expansion.-Current lineup:*Atlanta Thrashers*Carolina Hurricanes*Florida Panthers*Tampa Bay Lightning*Washington Capitals-1998–1999:...
|
2 |
4 |
.333 |
Lost in Conf. Quarter-Finals |
| 1999–00 |
82 |
37 |
35 |
10 |
0 |
84 |
3rd in Southeast |
- |
- |
- |
Missed Playoffs |
| 2000–01 |
82 |
38 |
32 |
9 |
3 |
88 |
2nd in Southeast |
2 |
4 |
.333 |
Lost in Conf. Quarter-Finals |
| 2001–02 |
82 |
35 |
26 |
16 |
5 |
91 |
1st in Southeast |
13 |
10 |
.565 |
Lost in Stanley Cup Finals |
| 2002–03 |
82 |
22 |
43 |
11 |
6 |
61 |
5th in Southeast |
- |
- |
- |
Missed Playoffs |
| 2003–04 |
30 |
8 |
12 |
8 |
2 |
(76) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(fired) |
| HAR/CAR total |
674 |
268 |
291 |
99 |
16 |
651 |
|
17 |
18 |
.486 |
3 Playoff Appearances |
Toronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
2006–07 |
82 |
40 |
31 |
- |
11 |
91 |
3rd in Northeast |
|
|
|
Missed Playoffs |
| 2007–08 |
82 |
36 |
35 |
- |
11 |
83 |
5th in Northeast |
|
|
|
Missed Playoffs |
| TOR total |
164 |
76 |
66 |
- |
22 |
174 |
|
|
|
|
|
Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
|
2008–09The 2008–09 NHL season was the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference ...
|
57 |
33 |
19 |
- |
5 |
(97) |
2nd in Southeast |
8 |
10 |
.444 |
Lost in Conf. Finals |
| Total |
895 |
377 |
376 |
99 |
43 |
825 |
|
25 |
28 |
.472 |
4 Playoff Appearances |
External links