Tom McVie

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Tom McVie
McVie in 2013
Born (1935-06-06) June 6, 1935 (age 88)
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)Ice hockey coach, player
Ice hockey career
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 162 lb (73 kg; 11 st 8 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Toledo Mercurys
Seattle Americans/Totems
Portland Buckaroos
Los Angeles Blades
Phoenix Roadrunners
Fort Wayne Komets
Johnstown Jets
Dayton Gems
Coached for Washington Capitals
Winnipeg Jets
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 1956–1974
Coaching career 1972–1998

Thomas McVie (born June 6, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey coach in the National Hockey League.

McVie grew up in a poor family, and, upon signing his first junior league contract, is said to have left home with a single used stick and pair of skates.[1] After his junior career ended, McVie signed with the Seattle Totems of the Western Hockey League and began a long career with this league that included stops with the Portland Buckaroos, Los Angeles Blades, and Phoenix Roadrunners. He scored a career-high 85 points during the 1961–62 season, earning a tryout with the New York Rangers but failing to secure a training camp invitation.[2]

After three years behind the bench in the International Hockey League, McVie coached the Washington Capitals from the 1975–76 season to the middle of the 1978–79 season. After being released by the Capitals, he moved to the Winnipeg Jets, then in the World Hockey Association, and coached the team to an Avco Cup championship. He then coached with Bill Sutherland in the Jets' first two NHL seasons, 1979–80 and 1980–81. He replaced Bill MacMillan as head coach of the New Jersey Devils midway through the 1983–84 season, in which the team posted the worst record in its history. McVie returned as an NHL head coach with the Devils in 1991–92 after coaching the AHL Utica Devils.[2]

McVie has served in the Boston Bruins organization for 21 years, 16 of them as a scout, and currently as "brand ambassador." He finally had his name etched on the Stanley Cup in 2011, as the Bruins won their first championship in 39 years.

NHL coaching record[edit]

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T Pts Finish Result
Washington Capitals 1975–76 44 8 31 5 (32) 5th in Norris Missed Playoffs
Washington Capitals 1976–77 80 24 42 14 62 4th in Norris Missed Playoffs
Washington Capitals 1977–78 80 17 49 14 48 5th in Norris Missed Playoffs
Winnipeg Jets 1979–80 77 18 48 11 (51) 5th in Smythe (fired)
Winnipeg Jets 1980–81 28 1 20 7 (32) 6th in Smythe (interim coach)
New Jersey Devils 1983–84 60 15 38 7 (41) 5th in Patrick Missed Playoffs
New Jersey Devils 1990–91 13 4 5 4 (79) 4th in Patrick Lost in First Round (PIT)
New Jersey Devils 1991–92 80 38 31 11 87 4th in Patrick Lost in First Round (NYR)
Total 462 125 264 73

2 playoff appearances, 0 Stanley Cups

WHA coaching record[edit]

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T Pts Finish Result
Winnipeg Jets 1978–79 19 11 8 0 (84) 3rd in WHA Won Avco Cup Championship (HOU)

1 Avco Cup Championship

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Former Devils coach Tom McVie will be honored at AHL All-Star Game". NJ.com. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Tom McVie". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 15 June 2015.

External links[edit]

Preceded by Head coach of the Washington Capitals
1975–78
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the original Winnipeg Jets
1979–80
1980
Succeeded by
Bill Sutherland
Preceded by Head coach of the New Jersey Devils
1983–84
1991–92
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Providence Bruins
1997–98
Succeeded by