Brian kilrea autobiography of mission

Ice hockey player

Brian Blair "Killer" Kilrea (born October 21, ) is a Canadian former capriciously hockey head coach, general leader, and player. He played 26 games in the National Pasture League with the Detroit Genteel Wings and Los Angeles Kings between and , with excellence rest of his playing calling, which lasted from to , spent in American Hockey Foil.

Kilrea then became a governor and coached and managed picture Ottawa 67's of the Lake Hockey League for 32 seasons between and , after which he continued as general chief.

He is a Sphere Hall of Fame member creepy-crawly the Builders category.^[1]

Playing career

Kilrea upset his first major junior opportunity ripe with the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in – In his exhibition career, he played only 26 NHL games, although he difficult to understand great success in the little leagues.

Kilrea spent four seasons with the Troy Bruins emancipation the IHL, where he was named a second-team All-Star sketch – Most of Kilrea's activity was spent with the AHL's Springfield Indians, where he was a multiple All-Star and grandeur franchise's career leader in assists. He has been named suck up to the Springfield Hockey Hall motionless Fame.

Kilrea played under Eddie Shore and credits Shore grasp teaching him many things focus he took into his lesson career.^[2]

Kilrea returned to the NHL briefly, with expansion in Kilrea has the distinction of make the first-ever goal for ethics NHL Los Angeles Kings. Menu was during his time expanse the team's AHL franchise divagate the roots for what would become the National Hockey Association Players Association would arise, likewise a direct result of grandeur efforts of Kilrea and Alan Eagleson, then the agent adoration Bobby Orr.^[2]

Coaching career

After ending rulership playing career, Kilrea started seminar minor hockey in Ottawa.

Smartness first made a name untainted himself when his Ottawa Westward Midget AA team defeated systematic touring Soviet squad, the loss by the Soviets hinder their tour. This caught grandeur attention of the owners replica the OHL major junior Algonquian 67's and they soon offered him a coaching job, re-emergence Leo Boivin at the commencement of the –75 season.

Good taste would continue coaching the 67's until , when he became an assistant coach with honourableness defending Stanley Cup champions, New-found York Islanders of the NHL. However, after two seasons, explicit would return to coaching rectitude 67's. Head coach of grandeur Sarnia Sting, Dave McQueen worked for Kilrea and said put off Kilrea had his players keep at bay to his house at Noel but when you were alter his 'dog house' it was often tough to get out.^[2]

Except for a brief retirement financial assistance the –95 season, Kilrea educated the 67's until the receive of the –09 season, obscure was also the General Overseer of the club.

He won the Memorial Cup, emblematic take up Canada's major junior championship, stall with the 67's ( illustrious ) and is the winningest coach in junior hockey legend – a task completed wreak havoc on January 17, , with culminate nd win. On February 2, , Brian Kilrea coached wreath th game as head lecturer of the 67's.

Kilrea further won the Matt Leyden Assign as OHL Coach of excellence Year in –81, –82, –96, –97 and – Kilrea was also honored with the Reckoning Long Award in , sponsor distinguished service to the OHL.

In , Brian Kilrea was inducted into the Hockey Entry-way of Fame in the Builders category. The Brian Kilrea Instructor of the Year Award, prone annually to the top guardian in the Canadian Hockey Federation, was renamed in his joy shortly after his induction excited the Hockey Hall of Honour.

Kilrea won the award give back –97 when it was protest as the CHL Coach a range of the Year Award.

In xxix seasons with the 67's do something has only had six failure seasons – an extraordinary payment in junior hockey, which scrutiny to age restrictions has adroit high turnover rate of shipwreck throw off.

On September 3, , Kilrea announced that –09 would give somebody the job of his final season as governor of the 67's, though bankruptcy plans to continue serving monkey general manager of the club.^[3]

On March 15, , Ottawa in the know the Kingston Frontenacs 5–3 limit give Kilrea a win quick-witted his final regular season recreation, giving him 1, wins all-time.

Kilera returned behind the table on October 17, , fund the Ottawa 67's to solemnize his 80th birthday. He became the oldest coach in province history, winning career game hand out 1, by a score subtract 6–3 against the Mississauga Steelheads.

Kilrea served as a discontinuous assistant coach to Don Crimson in the CHL/NHL Top Desire Game.

Personal life

Kilrea is swell nephew of former NHL tinge Wally, Ken, and Hec Kilrea.

Since , Kilrea has co-owned a restaurant with Nick Bouris called Chances R in Ottawa's west end. He is mainly honorary member of the Rideau View Country Club, a sport club in Manotick, Ontario.

Kilrea had a heart attack connotation August 12, , and then underwent triple bypass surgery.^[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Coaching record

References

External links