Roger Neilson

[jayc948]

Here is an excerpt from a book I'm currently reading; Hockey's Most Wanted by Floyd Conner...

Roger Neilson was a coach known for his broad interpretation of the rules. While a junior hockey coach in Peterborough, Ontario, Neilson replaced his goalie with rugged defenseman, Ron Stackhouse on penalty shots. When the shooter skated in, Stackhouse came out and checked him before he could get off the shot. Neilson pointed out correctly that there was no rule that stopped the goalie from checking the shooter. The rule was soon changed.

Neilson also created an ingenious way to stop open net goals. When he would pull his goaltender at the end of the game to add another attacker, Neilson told the goalie to break his stick in half and lay the pieces in front of the goal in an attempt to deflect any shots shot down the ice by the other team. Once again, a rule was modified by a Roger Neilson play.

[paint huffer]

I've heard a ton of stories about how he screwed with the rules. One of the others I heard was that at the end of a game, if his team had a few men in the penalty box and was down 5-3, he'd just send more guys off the bench to defend. They'd create a box like formation and fend off the attackers like one normally would on a penalty kill, but with more guys. The ref's arm would obviously be in the air but they wouldn't touch the puck unless 100% necessary. And when they did touch the puck they'd send another player to the box and start all over again, throw extra guys out as soon as the puck drops.

The take I heard on the goalie stick was a little different, just that he had the goalie lay the stick down the length of the goal line. Same idea nonetheless and if yours was published in a book then it's probably more accurate. Either way, it's the same general idea. The man was awesome. Great coach here in Ottawa and one of the biggest charities in the area, Roger's House, is always doing amazing things for kids all over Canada.

Here's a link to the site, if anyone is interested:
http://www.rogershouse.ca/

There's a ton of great info not only on the chairity but on Roger's life and coaching career. Some great reads.

[jgdeadrabbit]

lmao.Great coach.His stick throwing antic as Flyer coach was hilarious.

[OBA]

Superb Coach ! Great 'Thinker'.

Had the Opp. to meet him at a Luncheon once, great Person as well. Hockey lost allot with his, and Herb Brooks Passings.

[Lars24]

I still think one of Roger's finest moments was waving the white flag of surrender on the end of the hockey stick in the 82 Playoffs. He did this to show the ref's his protest over all the penalties being called againsts him. Van vs Chicago I believe.

[Tiger Williams]

In the late 70's the Flyers were doing their Broad Street Bullies number.
Roger Neilson countered that by starting a Leaf game against the Flyers with a line of Tiger Williams at center with Dan Maloney and Dave Hutchison on the wings.

My uncle was at the game and he said there was some serious Flyer ass kickin' taking place that night.
Roger was one of a kind that's for sure.
There was a reason he was never out of work for long after getting fired somewhere.

[bigjack]

I have some great memories of Captain Video!
I remember the night that he came back against the Flyers wearing a bag over his head. He had been fired by Ballard and then was brought back due to the outcry.
I remember as Rangers coach how we finally had a team that stuck up for itself and I always appreciated that after the Francis-Espo years where we were always lacking in the muscle department. Roger was a great fighters coach!
I remember his bad ties and his loving donuts. I remember for his 300th win the Rangers bought him 300 of the cheapest worst ties ever and he loved them.
I remember his late dog Mike and how he would ride his bike to the rink when the weather was nice and especially in Florida.
Rog was great!

[JButler17]

I loved Roger. His first year in New York, 1989-90, the Rangers were pushed around by no one! Man did they have some beef that year:

Troy Mallette
Kris King
Mark Janssens
Chris Nilan
Rick Bennett
Rusy Poeschek

Then the next year Joe Kocur, Tie Domi and Dennis Vial came along. Man, talk about a tough team.