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Johnny Wilson (ice hockey)

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Johnny Wilson
Wilson with the Detroit Red Wings
Born (1929-06-14)June 14, 1929
Kincardine, ON, CAN
Died December 27, 2011(2011-12-27) (aged 82)
Livonia, MI, USA
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Black Hawks
Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Rangers
Playing career 1949–1962

John Edward Wilson (June 14, 1929 – December 27, 2011) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and head coach.

Playing career

After three seasons with the Windsor Spitfires, Wilson signed his first professional contract with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League in September 1949, but spent most of the 1949–50 season with their farm team, the Omaha Knights. He was called up by the Red Wings late in the season and helped them win the Stanley Cup. After spending most of the 1950–51 season in the minors, Wilson joined the Red Wings on a full-time basis midway through the 1951–52 season and went on to help them win three more Stanley Cups (1952, 1954, 1955).

Soon after winning the Stanley Cup in 1955, Red Wings general manager Jack Adams traded Wilson to the Chicago Black Hawks as part of an eight-player swap. After two solid seasons in Chicago, he was reacquired by the Red Wings in the infamous Ted Lindsay trade and played two more seasons with the Red Wings before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1959. A year later, the Leafs sent Wilson to the New York Rangers, along with another player, for Eddie Shack. After two seasons with the Rangers, Wilson retired following the 1961–62 season.

During his NHL career, Wilson scored 161 goals and 171 assists in 688 regular season games and 27 points in 66 playoff games. He won four Stanley Cups with the Red Wings and appeared in two all-star games (1954, 1956). One of his most notable accomplishments was playing in 580 consecutive games between 1951 and 1960, making him the NHL's first "iron man".[1][2]

Coaching career

In 1967, Wilson was hired as the head coach of the Springfield Kings of the American Hockey League, the minor league affiliate of the new Los Angeles Kings expansion team. Midway into his third season with Springfield, Wilson was promoted to interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings after Hal Laycoe was fired following a dismal start. However, Wilson was unable to turn the team around and returned to Springfield after the season was finished. He ended up leading Springfield to a Calder Cup title the very next season.

After winning the Calder Cup in 1971, Wilson was hired by the Detroit Red Wings during the 1971–72 season as a midseason replacement. Despite having a winning record behind the Wings' bench, the team missed the playoffs two straight seasons and Wilson was let go. From there, he spent two years in the World Hockey Association, one with the Colorado Rockies (1976–77), and three with the Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–80), where he led the Penguins to two playoff appearances. Wilson returned to coach Springfield one more season and then retired from coaching in 1981.[3]

Personal

Johnny was the brother of Larry Wilson and uncle of Ron Wilson, both of whom played and coached in the NHL.

Wilson made his home in the Detroit area, together with his wife Pat, and was frequently seen at Red Wings home games. On December 27, 2011, he died of pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 82. He had battled lung disease and colon cancer for several years.[1][2]

Coaching record

NHL

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T Pts Finish Result
Los Angeles Kings 1969–70 52 9 34 9 (27) 6th in West Missed playoffs
Detroit Red Wings 1971–72 76 30 27 10 (70) 5th in East Missed playoffs
Detroit Red Wings 1972–73 78 37 29 12 86 5th in East Missed playoffs
Colorado Rockies 1976–77 80 20 46 14 54 5th in Smythe Missed playoffs
Pittsburgh Penguins 1977–78 80 25 37 18 68 4th in Norris Missed playoffs
Pittsburgh Penguins 1978–79 80 36 31 13 85 2nd in Norris Lost in Quarter-Finals
Pittsburgh Penguins 1979–80 80 30 37 13 73 3rd in Norris Lost in Preliminary Round
Total 517 187 241 89

WHA

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T Pts Finish Result
Michigan Stags 1974–75 78 21 53 4 46 5th in West Missed playoffs
Cleveland Crusaders 1975–76 80 35 40 5 75 2nd in East Lost in Preliminary Round

References

  1. ^ a b "Former NHLer Johnny Wilson dies". Slam! Sports (Canoe.ca). Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  2. ^ a b "Johnny Wilson, N.H.L. Star, Dies at 82; Held Consecutive-Game Record". The New York Times. 2012-01-02. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  3. ^ "The story of Johnny Wilson". Toronto Sun. 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
Preceded by Head coach of the Detroit Red Wings
1971–73 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Los Angeles Kings
1969–70 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Colorado Rockies
1976–77 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins
1977–80 		Succeeded by
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