Home > Scotty Bowman

Bowman became the league's most successful coach over his 30 years of coaching with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the playoffs. He won a record 9 Stanley Cups with Montreal Canadiens (1973,1976-1979), Pittsburgh Penguins (1992) and Detroit Red Wings ( 1997, 1998 and 2002). He won the Jack Adams AwardThe Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach judged to have contributed most to the team's success. The winner is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters' Association at the end of the regular season. in 1977For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). Events January 1 First woman Episcopal priest ordained January 6 EMI sacks the Sex Pistols January 18 Scientists identify a previously unknown bacterium as the cause of the mysterious " legionnaire's disease" Januar and 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan. In the 19761976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). Events January January 12 UN Security Council votes 11-1 to admit the Palestinian Liberation Organization January 15 Would-be Gerald Ford presidential assassin Sara Jane Moore is s- 1977For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). Events January 1 First woman Episcopal priest ordained January 6 EMI sacks the Sex Pistols January 18 Scientists identify a previously unknown bacterium as the cause of the mysterious " legionnaire's disease" Januar season he won a record 60 games then, in 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan, won 62 , breaking his own record for regular season wins.

Bowman played minor league hockey until a head injuryHead injury is a trauma to the head, that may or may not include injury to the brain (see also brain injury). Common causes of head injury are traffic accidents, occupational accidents, home accidents and falls. A head injury may cause a skull fracture, b ended his playing career. He moved into a coaching job with the Canadiens junior team then Bowman broke into the NHL in 1966Events January January 1 In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bedel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. January 2 Strike of public transportation workers in New York City ends January 13 January 3 First Acid Test at the Fil when he became the head coach of the first-year expansionExpansion can have several meanings, including: In physics: Expansion of space In computer hardware: an Expansion card In computer programming: In-line expansion In computer gaming: an expansion pack See also: Requests for expansion. team St. Louis Blues. He led the Blues to the Stanley Cup Finals in the first three consecutive years of the franchise. He coached in St. Louis until the end of the 1970- 1971 season (his first NHL season with a losing record), and became the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens after the firing of Canadiens head coach Al MacNeil . It was with the Montreal Canadiens that he had his most success, as his new team lost in the first round of the playoffs in 1972 but won the Stanley Cup in 1973. The Canadiens would make the playoffs over the next two seasons but bow out in the first and third rounds, respectively as the rival Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup. From 1976 to 1979, he led a talented Canadiens squad, with players like Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt and Ken Dryden, to four consecutive Stanley Cups. Bowman's team won at least 45 games in each of his eight seasons as the Canadiens head coach.

The dynasty in Montreal ended as Bowman stepped down as head coach to become the new General Manager and head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. After failing to turn the Sabres into the winner he had in Montreal, he quit hockey temporarily in 1987 to become an analyst for the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. He became the Director of Player Personnel of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame that year as a builder.

Bowman was thrust back into the head coaching duties in the Fall of 1991, after the untimely death of Bob Johnson, who had just won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins the previous season. The following playoffs in 1993, the Penguins were upset by the New York Islanders, after acquiring the regular season's best record. Bowman then became head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.

The following season saw his Red Wings defeated by the young San Jose Sharks. In 1995, the Red Wings made it to the Stanley Cup Finals but were swept by the New Jersey Devils in four straight. This was the Red Wings' first appearance in the Finals in 29 years. In the 1995- 1996 regular season, he won a record 62 games. However, they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the playoffs third round. In the 1997 playoffs, Bowman led the team to its first Stanley Cup in 42 years by sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0. In 1999. They were upset by the Colorado Avalanche in the semi-finals.

Bowman decided in February 2002 that he would retire at the end of the season and he went out as a winner as his Red Wings won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1. It was after the presentation of the Cup on the ice by Commissioner Bettman that Bowman publicly announced his retirement.