Jim Schoenfeld

Jim Schoenfeld
Born	September 4, 1952 (1952-09-04) Galt, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	206 lb (93 kg; 14 st 10 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Buffalo Sabres Detroit Red Wings Boston Bruins
NHL Draft	5th overall, 1972 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	1972–1985

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.

Biography

Playing career

After a junior career with the London Knights, 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.

Coaching/general management career

Since retirement, he has served as the head coach of several NHL 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.[1] 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. [2]

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 Valby.[3]

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	Year	Regular season						Post season
		G	W	L	T	Pts	Division rank	Result
BUF	1985–86	43	19	19	5	(80)	5th in Adams	(Fired)
NJ	1987–88	30	17	12	1	(82)	4th in 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	1993–94	37	19	12	6	(82)	3rd in Atlantic	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	1997–98	82	35	35	12	82	4th in Central	Lost in First round
PHX	1998–99	82	39	31	12	90	2nd in Pacific	Lost in First round
Total		580	256	246	78	590

External links

• Jim Schoenfeld's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Rick Martin	Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick 1972	Succeeded by Morris Titanic
Preceded by Gerry Meehan	Buffalo Sabres captain 1974–77	Succeeded by Danny Gare
Preceded by Scotty Bowman	Head coach of the Buffalo Sabres 1985–86	Succeeded by Scotty Bowman
Preceded by Doug Carpenter	Head coach of the New Jersey Devils 1987–90	Succeeded by John Cunniff
Preceded by Terry Murray	Head coach of the Washington Capitals 1994–97	Succeeded by Ron Wilson
Preceded by Don Hay	Head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes 1997–99	Succeeded by Bob Francis