Craig Patrick
Craig Patrick (Born May 20, 1946) An American hockey player, coach and general manager. Since 1989, he has served as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Patrick was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Hall of Famer Lynn Patrick. At the age of 14, he was sent to Quebec to play junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the Lachine Maroons and later the Montreal Junior Canadiens.
He attended the University of Denver where he helped guide the Pioneers hockey team to the NCAA championship in 1968 and 1969. He played on the US National Team for 1969–70 & 1970–71 seasons and on the US team in the 1976 Canada Cup.
Patrick played eight seasons in NHL with the California Golden Seals, the St. Louis Blues, the Kansas City Scouts, and the Washington Capitals. He amassed 72 goals, 91 assists, and 163 points in 401 games during his playing career.
He served as Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach under Herb Brooks for the 1980 US Olympic Gold Medal winning hockey team, the Miracle on Ice .
In 1980, he became director of operations for the New York Rangers and in 1981 became the youngest general manager in Rangers history. He also served as head coach of the Rangers for parts of two seasons (1980–81 & 1984–85).
He was named general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 5, 1989. During his tenure, the Penguins won two Stanley Cup championships and one Presidents Trophy. Patrick also served as head coach of the Penguins twice during the 1989–90 and 1996–97 seasons.
Patrick was named "The Sporting News" Executive-of-the-Year in 1998 and 1999. He is the grandson of Lester Patrick, one of the founding fathers of modern hockey and is the third generation of his family to have his name inscribed on the Stanley Cup and the third generation to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was named a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001 in the "Builder Category" and became the first man ever to join his father and grandfather in the Hall. He was awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy, named for his grandfather, in 1999–00 season for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
Patrick was portrayed by actor Noah Emmerich in the 2004 film Miracle.
| Preceded by: Gene Ubriaco | Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins 1989–1990 | Succeeded by: Bob Johnson |
See Also
List of Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coaches
External links
Categories: 1946 births | NHL Head Coaches | American ice hockey players