Colin Campbell (hockey)
Encyclopedia
Colin John Campbell nicknamed "Sheriff", is a former professional ice hockey
defenceman
, coach and the former Senior Vice President
and current Director of Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League
. On June 1, 2011 he stepped down based on ethical reasons (his son Gregory Campbell's team the Boston Bruins
won the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals) from his role as the NHL's principal disciplinarian.
of the Ontario Hockey Association
(later the Ontario Hockey League
). He was taken in the second round of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft
, 27th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins
, and also in the first round of the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft
, 5th overall, by the Vancouver Blazers
. After one season with the Blazers, Campbell signed on with Pittsburgh.
Campbell went on to play for the Penguins, Edmonton Oilers
, Vancouver Canucks
, and Detroit Red Wings
. A scrappy, physical defender, Campbell scored just 25 goals in 11 NHL seasons while accumulating almost 1300 penalty minutes. However, he had a knack for scoring key goals in the playoffs, scoring the series-clinching goal in Pittsburgh's first-round win over the St. Louis Blues in 1975, and posting a two-goal game for the Canucks in a win against the Los Angeles Kings
en route to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1982
(he scored just 1 goal in two full regular seasons for the Canucks).
In his 11-year NHL career, Campbell appeared in 636 NHL games, posting 25 goals and 103 assists for 128 points, along with 1292 penalty minutes. He also played 78 games in the WHA
, recording 3 goals and 23 points along with 191 PIM.
, Campbell and assistant general manager Neil Smith discovered several Red Wings players, including Bob Probert
and Petr Klima
, out past curfew. The incident occurred at a suburban Edmonton
bar called "Goose Loonies", and led to an apology being issued by Demers. Campbell left the Red Wings after the dismissal of Demers in 1990.
Campbell then joined the New York Rangers as an assistant NHL coach for 1991-92, parts of 1992-93, and 1993-94. He was the head coach for the Rangers' top affiliate; the Binghamton Rangers
of the American Hockey League
for half of the 1992-93 season.
During the 1994–95 NHL season, Campbell took over the head coaching job of the Rangers from Mike Keenan
, who had a tumultuous relationship with General Manager Neil Smith. Campbell and Smith had previously worked together in the Detroit Red Wings organization in the 1980s. Campbell held the position for the next three and a half years, before being fired late in 1998. The 1997–98 NHL season was the first time Campbell's team failed to reach the playoffs.
. During Campbell's tenure, the NHL has faced a number of high-profile incidents that required Campbell's attention, most notably the Marty McSorley
/Donald Brashear
stick-swinging incident, which resulted in a year-long suspension for McSorley, and the Todd Bertuzzi
hit on Steve Moore
.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Campbell chaired a committee that looked into adjusting NHL rules, resulting in major changes for the 2005–06 NHL season.
On November 1, 2006, Campbell rejected a 5 year, $7.5 million offer from the Philadelphia Flyers
to be their general manager. There was speculation that he was holding out for the general manager job with the Toronto Maple Leafs
(a position eventually filled by Brian Burke) after general manager John Ferguson Jr.
's contract was terminated in January 2008.
On November 15, 2010, TSN.ca and various other media outlets reported on a string of emails from Colin Campbell. The email correspondence became a matter of public record in the wrongful dismissal case of referee Dean Warren against the NHL and the emails were entered into evidence in the case, although specific references to names and dates were blacked out. In these emails, Campbell calls Boston Bruins
centre Marc Savard
a "little fake artist" after Warren assessed Colin Campbell's son, Gregory Campbell, a high-sticking minor on Savard and sending further emails to director of officiating Stephen Walkom complaining about the work of referees who gave Gregory a late-game penalty that resulted in a tying goal. In a follow-up interview with TSN, Colin Campbell admitted "it (the email content) was inappropriate. But no one told me or maybe told you five years ago that you can take your emails and read them all.". Despite the controversy and the admission of inappropriate content and accusations of bias, the NHL posted a strong backing of Campbell on their website and he continued in his role as the Senior Vice President until stepping down on June 1, 2011,
On June 1, 2011, Colin Campbell's son, Gregory Campbell, and his team (Boston Bruins
) made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
As his role as senior vice-president for player safety and hockey operations included head disciplinarian, there were questions regarding the ethics of having someone in that position being able to use their power to help a family member's team, and Colin Campbell stepped down by his own request, he was replaced by Brendan Shanahan
.
He currently continues his role as Director of Hockey Operation.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
, coach and the former Senior Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
and current Director of Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League
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...
. On June 1, 2011 he stepped down based on ethical reasons (his son Gregory Campbell's team the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
won the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals) from his role as the NHL's principal disciplinarian.
Playing career
Campbell spent his junior career with the Peterborough PetesPeterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team has played in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, since 1956, and is the oldest continuously operating team in the league.-History:...
of the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
(later the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
). He was taken in the second round of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft
1973 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, the 11th National Hockey League draft was the first to be held on a separate day from other league activities on May 15, 1973, at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec so it would not overshadow the rest of the league meetings. Previously, the league had held the...
, 27th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
, and also in the first round of the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft
1973 WHA Amateur Draft
-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.-Round 1:1. Bob Neely - Chicago Cougars2. Glenn Goldup - New England Whalers3. Andre Savard - Quebec Nordiques4. Paulin Bordeleau - Toronto Toros...
, 5th overall, by the Vancouver Blazers
Vancouver Blazers
The Vancouver Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973-75. The Blazers played at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, sharing the facility with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. The Blazers were owned by...
. After one season with the Blazers, Campbell signed on with Pittsburgh.
Campbell went on to play for the Penguins, Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, and 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...
. A scrappy, physical defender, Campbell scored just 25 goals in 11 NHL seasons while accumulating almost 1300 penalty minutes. However, he had a knack for scoring key goals in the playoffs, scoring the series-clinching goal in Pittsburgh's first-round win over the St. Louis Blues in 1975, and posting a two-goal game for the Canucks in a win against the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
en route to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1982
1982 Stanley Cup Finals
-References:...
(he scored just 1 goal in two full regular seasons for the Canucks).
In his 11-year NHL career, Campbell appeared in 636 NHL games, posting 25 goals and 103 assists for 128 points, along with 1292 penalty minutes. He also played 78 games in the WHA
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...
, recording 3 goals and 23 points along with 191 PIM.
Coaching career
Immediately following his retirement in 1985, Campbell joined the Red Wings coaching staff under head coach Jacques Demers. During the 1988 Stanley Cup Playoffs1988 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , began with sixteen teams on April 6, 1988. It concluded on May 26, with the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.-Series:...
, Campbell and assistant general manager Neil Smith discovered several Red Wings players, including Bob Probert
Bob Probert
Robert Alan Probert was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. Probert played for the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks...
and Petr Klima
Petr Klima
Petr Klíma is a Czech former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, and the Pittsburgh Penguins...
, out past curfew. The incident occurred at a suburban Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
bar called "Goose Loonies", and led to an apology being issued by Demers. Campbell left the Red Wings after the dismissal of Demers in 1990.
Campbell then joined the New York Rangers as an assistant NHL coach for 1991-92, parts of 1992-93, and 1993-94. He was the head coach for the Rangers' top affiliate; the Binghamton Rangers
Binghamton Rangers
The Binghamton Rangers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Binghamton, New York, USA at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:The market was previously served by:-Playoffs:-Single Season:...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
for half of the 1992-93 season.
Coaching record
Team Season Wins/Losses/Ties
New York Rangers 1994-95 22-23-3****
New York Rangers 1995-96 41-27-14****
New York Rangers 1996-97 38-24-10****
New York Rangers 1997-98 17-24-16
**** - Qualified for NHL Playoffs
NHL Coaching Record - 118-108-43
PLAYOFFS
94-95 - Beat Que 4-2 Lost Phi 0-4
95-96 - Beat Mtl 4-2 Lost Pit 1-4
96-97 - Beat Fla 4-1 Beat NJ 4-1 Lost Phi 1-4
NHL Playoff Record - 18-18
During the 1994–95 NHL season, Campbell took over the head coaching job of the Rangers from Mike Keenan
Mike Keenan
Michael Edward Keenan is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Calgary Flames, and former General Manager of the Florida Panthers. He is currently working as an analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG Network.Keenan was a player for the St...
, who had a tumultuous relationship with General Manager Neil Smith. Campbell and Smith had previously worked together in the Detroit Red Wings organization in the 1980s. Campbell held the position for the next three and a half years, before being fired late in 1998. The 1997–98 NHL season was the first time Campbell's team failed to reach the playoffs.
NHL executive
Shortly after being fired by the Rangers, Campbell was hired by the NHL as the league's Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations, taking over from the departed Brian BurkeBrian Burke (executive)
Brian P. Burke is an American ice hockey executive, who is currently the President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was the General Manager for the United States national men's ice hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.- Early life and playing career :Born in...
. During Campbell's tenure, the NHL has faced a number of high-profile incidents that required Campbell's attention, most notably the Marty McSorley
Marty McSorley
Martin James "Marty" McSorley is a retired Canadian professional hockey player, who played in the National Hockey League from 1983 to 2000. A versatile player, he was able to play both the forward and defense positions. He is also a former head coach of the Springfield Falcons of the American...
/Donald Brashear
Donald Brashear
Donald Brashear is an American-Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is currently a member of the Rivière-du-Loup CIMT in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey . He previously played for five organizations in the National Hockey League . His main role is that of an enforcer. He was...
stick-swinging incident, which resulted in a year-long suspension for McSorley, and the Todd Bertuzzi
Todd Bertuzzi
Todd Bertuzzi is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
hit on Steve Moore
Steve Moore
Steven Dean Moore is a former Canadian professional ice hockey center, best known for receiving what turned out to be a career-ending injury as a result of an illegal hit by then Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi....
.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Campbell chaired a committee that looked into adjusting NHL rules, resulting in major changes for the 2005–06 NHL season.
On November 1, 2006, Campbell rejected a 5 year, $7.5 million offer from the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
to be their general manager. There was speculation that he was holding out for the general manager job with the 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...
(a position eventually filled by Brian Burke) after general manager John Ferguson Jr.
John Ferguson Jr.
John Ferguson, Jr. is a former vice president and general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League . He served with the team from 2003 to 2008 before being replaced by Cliff Fletcher in January 2008. He is married to Providence College graduate, Stephanie Paiva...
's contract was terminated in January 2008.
On November 15, 2010, TSN.ca and various other media outlets reported on a string of emails from Colin Campbell. The email correspondence became a matter of public record in the wrongful dismissal case of referee Dean Warren against the NHL and the emails were entered into evidence in the case, although specific references to names and dates were blacked out. In these emails, Campbell calls Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
centre Marc Savard
Marc Savard
Marc Savard is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently under contract to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League , but who has not played since late in the season because of post-concussion syndrome...
a "little fake artist" after Warren assessed Colin Campbell's son, Gregory Campbell, a high-sticking minor on Savard and sending further emails to director of officiating Stephen Walkom complaining about the work of referees who gave Gregory a late-game penalty that resulted in a tying goal. In a follow-up interview with TSN, Colin Campbell admitted "it (the email content) was inappropriate. But no one told me or maybe told you five years ago that you can take your emails and read them all.". Despite the controversy and the admission of inappropriate content and accusations of bias, the NHL posted a strong backing of Campbell on their website and he continued in his role as the Senior Vice President until stepping down on June 1, 2011,
On June 1, 2011, Colin Campbell's son, Gregory Campbell, and his team (Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
) made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
As his role as senior vice-president for player safety and hockey operations included head disciplinarian, there were questions regarding the ethics of having someone in that position being able to use their power to help a family member's team, and Colin Campbell stepped down by his own request, he was replaced by Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Frederick "Shanny" Shanahan is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently serves as the National Hockey League's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian. Originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils second overall in the 1987 NHL Entry...
.
He currently continues his role as Director of Hockey Operation.