Bill Dineen obit

Bill Dineen, former hockey player and coach, dies at 84

 

He was not on the list.

TORONTO -- Bill Dineen, the hockey icon who played with and later coached Gordie Howe, has died. He was 84. Dineen died on December 10, 2016, in Queensbury, New York, at the age of 84.

The American Hockey League confirmed in a statement that Dineen died Saturday at his home in Lake George, New York.

Dineen, born in Arvida, Quebec, played 324 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, winning two Stanley Cup championships in Detroit alongside Howe. Dineen made more of an impact as a player in the AHL, where he was a four-time 20-goal scorer over six seasons with Buffalo, Cleveland, Rochester and Quebec.

"Bill Dineen devoted his career to our sport, winning two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings, shaping the lives of numerous players during decades of coaching and crafting a hockey legacy that carries on today through his sons," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "The National Hockey League sends heartfelt condolences to the Dineen family on the passing of this distinguished and greatly respected individual."

Dineen went into coaching after retiring as a player, taking the reins of the WHA's Houston Aeros for six years starting in the 1972-73 season. He helped the Aeros win Avco Cup titles in 1974 and 1975 with teams featuring Howe and sons Mark and Marty.

Dineen was named the WHA's coach of the year in 1977 and 1978. He spent a final WHA season as coach of the New England Whalers but was fired after 71 games with the Whalers in fourth place.

Dineen later coached the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers for the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons, giving him a chance to coach son Kevin.

He also spent six years as coach of the AHL's Adirondack Red Wings, leading them to league titles in 1986 and 1989. Dineen was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2014.

Dineen's sons Shawn, Peter, Gord, Kevin and Jerry all went on to professional hockey careers. Kevin Dineen, a veteran of 1,188 NHL games, is a former head coach of the Florida Panthers and is currently an associate coach with the Blackhawks. Gord Dineen played 529 games in the NHL and is an associate coach of the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

 

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season             Playoffs

Season Team            League            GP            G            A            Pts            PIM            GP            G            A            Pts            PIM

1948–49            Ottawa St. Pats            OCHL            —            —            —            —            —            —            —            —            —            —

1949–50            St. Michael's Majors OHA            43            15            18            33            43            5            2            3            5            4

1950–51            St. Michael's Majors OHA            45            25            26            51            50            —            —            —            —            —

1951–52            St. Michael's Majors OHA            47            21            30            51            37            8            3            3            6            0

1952–53            St. Michael's Majors OHA            55            27            20            47            63            17            13            7            20            18

1953–54            Detroit Red Wings            NHL            70            17            8            25            34            12            0            0            0            2

1954–55            Detroit Red Wings            NHL            69            10            9            19            36            11            0            1            1            8

1955–56            Detroit Red Wings            NHL            70            12            7            19            28            10            1            0            1            8

1956–57            Detroit Red Wings            NHL            51            6            7            13            12            4            0            0            0            0

1957–58            Detroit Red Wings            NHL            22            2            4            6            2            —            —            —            —            —

1957–58            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            41            4            9            13            8            —            —            —            —            —

1958–59            Buffalo Bisons  AHL            59            8            19            27            17            11            3            5            8            10

1959–60            Buffalo Bisons  AHL            5            0            1            1            2            —            —            —            —            —

1959–60            Cleveland Barons            AHL            62            26            27            53            17            7            2            3            5            4

1960–61            Cleveland Barons            AHL            72            28            31            59            24            4            0            3            3            0

1961–62            Rochester Americans            AHL            70            19            19            38            20            2            0            0            0            2

1962–63            Quebec Aces    AHL            72            24            17            41            22            —            —            —            —            —

1963–64            Quebec Aces    AHL            61            27            25            52            26            9            3            3            6            0

1964–65            Seattle Totems WHL            69            25            17            42            4            7            0            1            1            8

1965–66            Seattle Totems WHL            71            23            16            39            10            —            —            —            —            —

1966–67            Seattle Totems WHL            62            32            33            65            8            10            2            7            9            4

1967–68            Seattle Totems WHL            72            28            33            61            10            9            3            6            9            2

1968–69            Seattle Totems WHL            74            9            16            25            8            4            0            0            0            0

1969–70            Denver Spurs   WHL            51            10            8            18            4            —            —            —            —            —

1970–71            Denver Spurs   WHL            16            5            6            11            4            —            —            —            —            —

NHL totals            323            51            44            95            120            37            1            1            2            18

Coaching record

Season Team            League            Regular season  Post season

G         W            L            T            Pts            Division rank     Result

1972–73            Houston Aeros            WHA            78            39            35            4            82            2nd in West    Lost in Division Finals

1973–74            Houston Aeros            WHA            78            48            25            5            101            1st in West    Avco World Trophy Champions

1974–75            Houston Aeros            WHA            78            53            25            0            106            1st in West    Avco World Trophy Champions

1975–76            Houston Aeros            WHA            80            53            27            0            106            1st in West    Lost in Finals

1976–77            Houston Aeros            WHA            80            50            24            6            106            1st in West    Lost in Division Finals

1977–78            Houston Aeros            WHA            80            42            34            4            88            3rd in WHA   Lost in Semifinals

1978–79            New England Whalers            WHA            71            33            29            9            75            4th in WHA   Fired

1983–84            Adirondack Red Wings   AHL            80            37            29            14            88            2nd in Northern Division            Lost in Quarterfinals

1984–85            Adirondack Red Wings   AHL            80            35            37            8            78            5th in Northern Division            Missed Playoffs

1985–86            Adirondack Red Wings   AHL            80            41            31            8            90            1st in Northern Division            Calder Cup Champions

1986–87            Adirondack Red Wings   AHL            80            44            31            5            93            2nd in Northern Division            Lost in Semifinals

1987–88            Adirondack Red Wings   AHL            80            42            27            11            99            3rd in Southern Division            Lost in Semifinals

1988–89            Adirondack Red Wings   AHL            80            47            27            6            100            1st in Southern Division            Calder Cup Champions

1991–92            Philadelphia Flyers            NHL            56            24            23            9            57            6th in Patrick Missed Playoffs

1992–93            Philadelphia Flyers            NHL            84            36            37            11            83            5th in Patrick Missed Playoffs

WHA Totals            545            318            199            28            664                 

NHL Totals            140            60            60            20            140