Alpo Suhonen
Encyclopedia
Alpo Suhonen was the first European-born NHL
head coach
in 50 years when he took over the Chicago Blackhawks
on 22 May 2000.
, they were the first European born head coaches since Johnny Gottselig
. He would last less than a year as head coach of the Hawks, as he resigned next spring because of heart problems. There was frequent criticism to Suhonen's coaching citing lack of discipline and a country club atmosphere among the players. Prior to being head coach of the Blackhawks, Suhonen was an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs
.
Suhonen has also coached Finland's national ice hockey team
during the years 1982–1986, and coached several teams in Finland and in Europe.
He was last coaching Ässät
in SM-liiga
. He took the job on 14 November 2007 and announced his retirement from Ice Hockey Sport on 3 July 2009.
Suhonen also produced a Finnish version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
and ran for a spot in the European Parliament
. At the time he was also the CEO of music festival Pori Jazz
, and he has also written several books in Finnish.
Nowadays he works as a Sports Manager of Kloten Flyers
.And in 2011 -2012 season he signed a contract with the Slovak Tipsport Extraleague club HC 05 Banska Bystrica, first day of November he resigned as position of head coach, but he remains in the structures of the club.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
in 50 years when he took over the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
on 22 May 2000.
Coaching career
Along with Ivan HlinkaIvan Hlinka
Ivan Hlinka was a Czech professional ice hockey player and coach. He was one of the most important figures in Czech ice hockey.-Playing career:...
, they were the first European born head coaches since Johnny Gottselig
Johnny Gottselig
John Gottselig was a professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League between 1928 and 1946. He was the second player born in the Russian Empire to play in the NHL, as well as the first European-born head coach in the league's...
. He would last less than a year as head coach of the Hawks, as he resigned next spring because of heart problems. There was frequent criticism to Suhonen's coaching citing lack of discipline and a country club atmosphere among the players. Prior to being head coach of the Blackhawks, Suhonen was an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Suhonen has also coached Finland's national ice hockey team
Finnish national men's ice hockey team
The Finnish men's national ice hockey team, or Leijonat / Lejonen , as it is called in Finland, is governed by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association...
during the years 1982–1986, and coached several teams in Finland and in Europe.
He was last coaching Ässät
Ässät
Ässät is an ice hockey team in the Finnish elite league, SM-liiga. They play in Pori, Finland at the Porin jäähalli.-Team history:...
in SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
. He took the job on 14 November 2007 and announced his retirement from Ice Hockey Sport on 3 July 2009.
Suhonen also produced a Finnish version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a play by Tennessee Williams. One of Williams's best-known works and his personal favorite, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955...
and ran for a spot in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. At the time he was also the CEO of music festival Pori Jazz
Pori Jazz
Pori Jazz is a large international jazz festival, held annually in the coastal city of Pori , Finland. It is one of the oldest and best known jazz festivals in Europe, having been arranged every year since 1966...
, and he has also written several books in Finnish.
Nowadays he works as a Sports Manager of Kloten Flyers
Kloten Flyers
The Kloten Flyers are an ice hockey team based in the city of Kloten in Switzerland. They originated from the EHC Kloten. The team participates in the National League A and is known for its promotion of young players....
.And in 2011 -2012 season he signed a contract with the Slovak Tipsport Extraleague club HC 05 Banska Bystrica, first day of November he resigned as position of head coach, but he remains in the structures of the club.
Coaching record
| Team | |Regular season | CHI Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
2000–01 | 82 | 29 | 41 | 8 | 4 | 70 | 4th in Central Central Division (NHL) The NHL's Central Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Norris Division.The Central Division consists of the Western Conference's easternmost teams.-Current lineup:... |
Missed playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
External links
- http://www.hockeyfans.ch/cgi-bin/spielerinfo.pl?spielerID=alpo_suhonen