|
|||||||
Flyers Agree to Two-Year Contract With John Stevens
Monday, Nov. 20th, 2006
The Philadelphia Flyers announced that the team has reached an agreement with Head Coach John Stevens on a new two-year contract, effective immediately and running through the 2007-08 season, according to club General Manager Paul Holmgren.
"Over the course of the last month with John Stevens moving in as the head coach, we have had time to settle some issues and we have officially come to an agreement with John on a two-year contract,” said Holmgren in making the announcement.
“We are very excited about this, as is John. This stabilizes the situation in terms of his leadership of the hockey team. We are looking forward from this point on as we march ahead."
“I’m excited,” said Stevens. “I know that we have work to do here, but I do see a lot of potential for this hockey team. I want to be the guy who brings success here. I’ve been in Philadelphia for a long time and I know what it means to win here. I’ve won championships at the minor league level and I’d love to have the chance to do it at the NHL level. We have a great coaching staff in place and it’s a pleasure working with Paul Holmgren. This is an ideal situation for me and it’s an opportunity that I welcome.”
Under Stevens, the Flyers have compiled a 4-7-1 record in the 12 games since he was named head coach on October 22. Stevens, 40, was named a Flyers’ assistant coach on June 5, 2006, after serving as the Phantoms’ head coach for the previous six seasons (2000-01 through 2005-06). He led the team to the Calder Cup Championship in 2005.
Stevens’ career AHL coaching record is 230-181-33-25 in 480 regular season games, not including 11 shootout losses. He has a 29-19 record in 48 career AHL playoff games.
He was named the second-ever head coach of the Flyers’ AHL affiliate on June 8, 2000. His 480 games coached and 230 career wins are the most in Phantoms history. He was named an assistant coach for the Phantoms on February 10, 1999, after announcing his retirement from hockey due to an eye injury.
A native of Campbellton, New Brunswick, Stevens played 15 seasons of professional hockey as a defenseman (1984-85 to 1998-99), including 53 NHL games with the Flyers and Hartford Whalers. Over parts of five seasons (1986-87 and 1987-88 with the Flyers and 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1993-94 with Hartford), Stevens recorded 10 assists and 48 penalty minutes in 53 games. In 834 career AHL games over 14 seasons with the Hershey Bears (1984-85 and 1986-87 through 1989-90), Springfield Indians/Falcons (1990-91 through 1995-96) and the Phantoms (1996-97 to 1998-99), Stevens registered 21 goals and 167 assists for 188 points and 1,399 penalty minutes. He was a member of three Calder Cup Championship teams as a player (Hershey - 1988, Springfield - 1991 and Philadelphia - 1998) and won the Barry Ashbee Award as the Phantoms’ top defenseman for the 1996-97 season. He was named the Phantoms’ first-ever captain on October 1, 1996. Stevens was originally drafted from the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League by the Flyers in the third round (47th overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
"Over the course of the last month with John Stevens moving in as the head coach, we have had time to settle some issues and we have officially come to an agreement with John on a two-year contract,” said Holmgren in making the announcement.
“We are very excited about this, as is John. This stabilizes the situation in terms of his leadership of the hockey team. We are looking forward from this point on as we march ahead."
“I’m excited,” said Stevens. “I know that we have work to do here, but I do see a lot of potential for this hockey team. I want to be the guy who brings success here. I’ve been in Philadelphia for a long time and I know what it means to win here. I’ve won championships at the minor league level and I’d love to have the chance to do it at the NHL level. We have a great coaching staff in place and it’s a pleasure working with Paul Holmgren. This is an ideal situation for me and it’s an opportunity that I welcome.”
Under Stevens, the Flyers have compiled a 4-7-1 record in the 12 games since he was named head coach on October 22. Stevens, 40, was named a Flyers’ assistant coach on June 5, 2006, after serving as the Phantoms’ head coach for the previous six seasons (2000-01 through 2005-06). He led the team to the Calder Cup Championship in 2005.
Stevens’ career AHL coaching record is 230-181-33-25 in 480 regular season games, not including 11 shootout losses. He has a 29-19 record in 48 career AHL playoff games.
He was named the second-ever head coach of the Flyers’ AHL affiliate on June 8, 2000. His 480 games coached and 230 career wins are the most in Phantoms history. He was named an assistant coach for the Phantoms on February 10, 1999, after announcing his retirement from hockey due to an eye injury.
A native of Campbellton, New Brunswick, Stevens played 15 seasons of professional hockey as a defenseman (1984-85 to 1998-99), including 53 NHL games with the Flyers and Hartford Whalers. Over parts of five seasons (1986-87 and 1987-88 with the Flyers and 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1993-94 with Hartford), Stevens recorded 10 assists and 48 penalty minutes in 53 games. In 834 career AHL games over 14 seasons with the Hershey Bears (1984-85 and 1986-87 through 1989-90), Springfield Indians/Falcons (1990-91 through 1995-96) and the Phantoms (1996-97 to 1998-99), Stevens registered 21 goals and 167 assists for 188 points and 1,399 penalty minutes. He was a member of three Calder Cup Championship teams as a player (Hershey - 1988, Springfield - 1991 and Philadelphia - 1998) and won the Barry Ashbee Award as the Phantoms’ top defenseman for the 1996-97 season. He was named the Phantoms’ first-ever captain on October 1, 1996. Stevens was originally drafted from the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League by the Flyers in the third round (47th overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:20 AM.
More Community
FAQ | RSS feeds | Link to us | Privacy policy | Contact
Any information taken from this site and used on another website or other media must credit hockeyfights.com.
© 2009 hockeyfights.com. All rights reserved.
site by SingerNet
Any information taken from this site and used on another website or other media must credit hockeyfights.com.
© 2009 hockeyfights.com. All rights reserved.
site by SingerNet
