Bobby Kromm
Encyclopedia
Robert Kromm was an National Hockey League
(NHL) head coach
who in 1978 became the first coach of the Detroit Red Wings
to win the Jack Adams Award
as NHL Coach of the Year. He led the 1977–78 Red Wings to a 37-point improvement on their 16 win season the year previous, and a second place finish in the Norris Division
. The Red Wings made the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Prior to coaching the Wings, Kromm had been a successful coach in the World Hockey Association
, where he had guided the high-flying Winnipeg Jets to the 1976 Avco Cup championship. That fall, he was as an assistant coach for Canada
at the inaugural Canada Cup
.
In 1961 Kromm took an underdog team from Trail, British Columbia
to a World Championship win over the Russians. The Trail Smoke Eaters
represented Canada that year.
Kromm's son, Richard
, played ten years in the NHL for the Calgary Flames
and New York Islanders
.
Born in Calgary, Alberta. Kromm died from complications
of colorectal cancer
one day after his 82nd birthday.
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...
(NHL) 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...
who in 1978 became the first coach of the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
to win the Jack Adams Award
Jack Adams Award
The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success." It has been awarded 37 times to 32 different coaches. The winner is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association at the end of the...
as NHL Coach of the Year. He led the 1977–78 Red Wings to a 37-point improvement on their 16 win season the year previous, and a second place finish in the Norris Division
Norris Division
The NHL's Norris Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division moved to the Clarence Campbell Conference in 1981, with the Detroit Red Wings being the only member to remain from the previous season. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. The...
. The Red Wings made the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Prior to coaching the Wings, Kromm had been a successful coach in the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
, where he had guided the high-flying Winnipeg Jets to the 1976 Avco Cup championship. That fall, he was as an assistant coach for Canada
Canadian national hockey team
The Canadian national Hockey team may refer to:*Canadian national women's hockey team*Canadian national men's hockey team*Canada women's national field hockey team*Canada men's national field hockey team...
at the inaugural Canada Cup
1976 Canada Cup
The 1976 Canada Cup was an international ice hockey tournament held September 2–15, 1976, in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Quebec, Canada as well as in Philadelphia, United States. It was the first of five Canada Cup tournaments held between 1976 and 1991...
.
In 1961 Kromm took an underdog team from Trail, British Columbia
Trail, British Columbia
Trail is a city in the West Kootenay region of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:Trail has an area of . The city is located on both banks of the Columbia River, approximately 10 km north of the United States border. This section of the Columbia River valley is located between the...
to a World Championship win over the Russians. The Trail Smoke Eaters
Trail Smoke Eaters (senior)
The Trail Smoke Eaters were a senior level men's ice hockey team from Trail, British Columbia that played from 1926 to 1987. They are recognized as being one of the best senior hockey teams in Canadian history...
represented Canada that year.
Kromm's son, Richard
Richard Kromm
Richard Gordon "Rich" Kromm was a Canadian American ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames and the New York Islanders....
, played ten years in the NHL for the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
and New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Born in Calgary, Alberta. Kromm died from complications
Complication (medicine)
Complication, in medicine, is an unfavorable evolution of a disease, a health condition or a medical treatment. The disease can become worse in its severity or show a higher number of signs, symptoms or new pathological changes, become widespread throughout the body or affect other organ systems. A...
of colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
one day after his 82nd birthday.