Doug Risebrough
Encyclopedia
Douglas John Risebrough (born January 29, 1954 in Guelph
, Ontario
) is a former player, coach, and general manager in the National Hockey League
. In his 31 years in the NHL, he has been involved with the Stanley Cup Playoffs 25 times. He is currently a pro scout for the New York Rangers
.
’ first pick (7th overall) in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft. In eight seasons with the Canadiens, Risebrough helped Montreal capture four consecutive Stanley Cup titles (1976 through 1979). He was traded to the Calgary Flames
on September 11, 1982, and spent the next five years with the Flames. During his tenure with Calgary, Risebrough skated as the Flames co-captain then tri-captain for four seasons, with both Lanny McDonald
and Jim Peplinski
. In 1986, as a Tri-Captain, Doug Risebrough led the Flames to his fifth Stanley Cup Finals
as a player. They eventually lost to the Montreal Canadiens.
Throughout his career, Risebrough was an agitator, often assigned to pester the opponents' top players. In one famous chapter of the Battle of Alberta
, Risebrough, while playing with the Flames fought with Marty McSorley
. Risebrough lost the fight, but ended up with McSorley's jersey, which he shredded with his skates.
In 740 career NHL games, Risebrough totaled 185 goals and 471 points. He added 21 goals and 37 assists in 124 Stanley Cup playoff contests. He also held a total of 1542 penalty minutes during the regular season, and an additional 238 in the playoffs. During his 13-year career, teams on which Risebrough played recorded a .660 regular season winning percentage (607–274–159).
and the 1989 Stanley Cup
championship, his fifth Stanley Cup championship as a player or coach. He was promoted to assistant general manager for the Flames before the 1989–90 season, and served as Calgary’s head coach for the 1990–91 campaign. On May 16, 1991, Risebrough became only the second general manager in Flames’ history, and served as both general manager and coach for the first 64 games of the 1991–92 season. On March 3, 1992, Risebrough's Flames were beaten by the Vancouver Canucks 11–0. Immediately after the game, Risebrough relinquished his coaching duties to assistant Guy Charron
. He did however continue his role as Calgary’s general manager until November 2, 1995.
Prior to joining the Minnesota Wild
, Risebrough served as the Edmonton Oilers
vice president of hockey operations from 1996 to 1999. With the Oilers, the Guelph, Ontario native was involved in all aspects of the club’s hockey operations department. Edmonton advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the three seasons Risebrough was with the organization. The turnaround followed four consecutive years in which the Oilers did not make the playoffs.
Note: Risebrough and McDonald were co-captains during the 1983–84 season. Risebrough, McDonald and Peplinski were tri-captains during 1984–87 seasons.
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) is a former player, coach, and general manager in 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...
. In his 31 years in the NHL, he has been involved with the Stanley Cup Playoffs 25 times. He is currently a pro scout for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
Playing history
Risebrough was the Montreal CanadiensMontreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
’ first pick (7th overall) in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft. In eight seasons with the Canadiens, Risebrough helped Montreal capture four consecutive Stanley Cup titles (1976 through 1979). He was traded to 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...
on September 11, 1982, and spent the next five years with the Flames. During his tenure with Calgary, Risebrough skated as the Flames co-captain then tri-captain for four seasons, with both Lanny McDonald
Lanny McDonald
Lanny King McDonald is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He played over 1,100 games during a 16-year NHL career in which he scored 500 goals and over 1,000 points...
and Jim Peplinski
Jim Peplinski
James Desmond Peplinski is a retired Canadian National Hockey League player.He played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboroughs of the OHL and was drafted in 1978 NHL Amateur Draft by the Atlanta Flames. Peplinski was one of five active NHL players who played on Canada's 1988 Olympic ice hockey...
. In 1986, as a Tri-Captain, Doug Risebrough led the Flames to his fifth Stanley Cup Finals
1986 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1986 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Calgary Flames in their first Final appearance and the Montreal Canadiens in their 32nd. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to one, to win their twenty-third Stanley Cup, and their seventeenth in their...
as a player. They eventually lost to the Montreal Canadiens.
Throughout his career, Risebrough was an agitator, often assigned to pester the opponents' top players. In one famous chapter of the Battle of Alberta
Battle of Alberta
The Battle of Alberta is a term applied to the intense rivalry between the Canadian cities of Edmonton, the capital of the province of Alberta, and Calgary, the province's largest city...
, Risebrough, while playing with the Flames fought with 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...
. Risebrough lost the fight, but ended up with McSorley's jersey, which he shredded with his skates.
In 740 career NHL games, Risebrough totaled 185 goals and 471 points. He added 21 goals and 37 assists in 124 Stanley Cup playoff contests. He also held a total of 1542 penalty minutes during the regular season, and an additional 238 in the playoffs. During his 13-year career, teams on which Risebrough played recorded a .660 regular season winning percentage (607–274–159).
Coaching and management history
After announcing his retirement as a player following the 1986–87 season, Risebrough served two seasons as an assistant coach with the Flames. He helped guide Calgary to two consecutive Presidents' TrophiesPresidents' Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the team that finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. If two teams tie for the most points, then the trophy goes to the team with the most wins. The winning team is also awarded C$350,000...
and the 1989 Stanley Cup
1989 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1989 Stanley Cup Final was between the Calgary Flames and the Montreal Canadiens, the top two teams during the 1988–89 NHL regular season. , this is the most recent time that the first two seeds met in the Stanley Cup Final, as the New Jersey Devils had one win less than the Detroit Red Wings...
championship, his fifth Stanley Cup championship as a player or coach. He was promoted to assistant general manager for the Flames before the 1989–90 season, and served as Calgary’s head coach for the 1990–91 campaign. On May 16, 1991, Risebrough became only the second general manager in Flames’ history, and served as both general manager and coach for the first 64 games of the 1991–92 season. On March 3, 1992, Risebrough's Flames were beaten by the Vancouver Canucks 11–0. Immediately after the game, Risebrough relinquished his coaching duties to assistant Guy Charron
Guy Charron
Guy Joseph Jean Charron is a former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the NHL from 1969 – 1981...
. He did however continue his role as Calgary’s general manager until November 2, 1995.
Prior to joining the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, Risebrough served as the 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 ....
vice president of hockey operations from 1996 to 1999. With the Oilers, the Guelph, Ontario native was involved in all aspects of the club’s hockey operations department. Edmonton advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the three seasons Risebrough was with the organization. The turnaround followed four consecutive years in which the Oilers did not make the playoffs.
The Minnesota Wild
Risebrough was named executive vice president and general manager of the Minnesota Wild on September 2, 1999. After the Wild's first playoff appearance in 2002–03, he was promoted to president of Minnesota Sports and Entertainment, the corporate parent of the Wild, on July 23, 2003. On April 16, 2009, Risebrough was relieved of his duties with the Minnesota Wild.External links
Note: Risebrough and McDonald were co-captains during the 1983–84 season. Risebrough, McDonald and Peplinski were tri-captains during 1984–87 seasons.