Kevin Constantine
Encyclopedia
Kevin Lars Constantine has coached hockey
teams in the NHL
, IHL, and numerous major junior hockey league
s. He is coach of HC Ambri-Piotta
in the Swiss National League A.
, Constantine was drafted as goaltender by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1978 NHL Draft, and played six games of collegiate hockey for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
in Troy
, New York. He left RPI as a junior and finished his degree at the University of Nevada, Reno
.
of the USHL and the Kansas City Blades
of the IHL to winning records, as well as coaching the 1991 U.S. National Junior team to its (then) best-ever record at the World Junior Championships. Having found success at lower levels, he was hired as head coach of the San Jose Sharks
for the 1993–1994 season: under his guidance, the team set an NHL record for largest improvement by finishing 58 points higher in the standings than it had the previous season. Between 1993 and 2002, Constantine would coach the Sharks, the Pittsburgh Penguins
and the New Jersey Devils
, earning a record of 159–153–66. He is the only coach in NHL history to take two eighth-seeded teams to first-round Stanley Cup
playoff
upsets (San Jose over the Detroit Red Wings
in 1994 and Pittsburgh over New Jersey in 1999).
In 2001, he founded the Pittsburgh Forge
, a new entry in the NAHL. In two seasons as the team's general manager and co-coach, Constantine amassed a record of 80–24–8 – the Forge won the NAHL regular season championship in 2002. After the 2002–2003 season, Constantine left Pittsburgh to be hired by the WHL expansion team, the Everett Silvertips. In their first year, the Silvertips broke the record for best season ever by a first-year team in the major junior hockey leagues (the WHL, OHL
and QMJHL
), winning the U.S. Division Championship—they continued to set records, winning three straight playoff rounds to claim the Western Conference Championship and advance to the WHL Final against the Medicine Hat Tigers
, where they lost 4–0.
On May 29, 2007, Constantine was named the head coach of the AHL's Houston Aeros
. He quickly turned the performance of the Aeros around, leading them into the playoffs the next two seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2009. On April 15, 2010, it was announced that Constantine's contract would not be renewed for the 2010–2011 season, after the Aeros again failed to make the playoffs for various reasons.
's Distinguished Achievement Award: USA Hockey is the governing body for amateur
ice hockey in the United States, and the award recognizes a U.S. citizen who has made a major contribution to hockey in the United States.
He was a finalist for the 1994 Jack Adams Award
for top NHL coach.
He won the 1991–1992 Commissioner's Trophy
.
Constantine also was awarded the Coach of the Year award by the WHL in 2004.
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...
teams in the NHL
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...
, IHL, and numerous major junior hockey league
Sports league
League is a term commonly used to describe a group of sports teams or individual athletes that compete against each other in a specific sport. At its simplest, it may be a local group of amateur athletes who form teams among themselves and compete on weekends; at its most complex, it can be an...
s. He is coach of HC Ambri-Piotta
HC Ambri-Piotta
Hockey Club Ambrì-Piotta is a Swiss professional ice hockey club and a member of the National League A. The club was founded September 19, 1937 and is also known as "Bianco-Blu"...
in the Swiss National League A.
Playing career
Born in International Falls, MinnesotaInternational Falls, Minnesota
International Falls is a city in and the county seat of Koochiching County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 6,424 at the 2010 census....
, Constantine was drafted as goaltender by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1978 NHL Draft, and played six games of collegiate hockey for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
in Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, New York. He left RPI as a junior and finished his degree at the University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
.
Coaching career
Constantine made a name for himself as a head coach in the late 1980s and early 1990s by guiding the Rochester MustangsRochester Mustangs
The Rochester Mustangs were a senior ice hockey team from Rochester that played in the United States Hockey League from 1961 until the senior Mustangs ceased operations after the 1969-70 season.-Notable players:...
of the USHL and the Kansas City Blades
Kansas City Blades
The Kansas City Blades was a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–2001 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades was based in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena....
of the IHL to winning records, as well as coaching the 1991 U.S. National Junior team to its (then) best-ever record at the World Junior Championships. Having found success at lower levels, he was hired as head coach of the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for the 1993–1994 season: under his guidance, the team set an NHL record for largest improvement by finishing 58 points higher in the standings than it had the previous season. Between 1993 and 2002, Constantine would coach the Sharks, 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 the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, earning a record of 159–153–66. He is the only coach in NHL history to take two eighth-seeded teams to first-round Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
playoff
Playoff
The playoffs, postseason, or finals of a sports league are a game or series of games played after the regular season by the top competitors, usually but not always with a single-elimination system, to determine the league champion or a similar accolade.In the U.S...
upsets (San Jose over 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...
in 1994 and Pittsburgh over New Jersey in 1999).
In 2001, he founded the Pittsburgh Forge
Pittsburgh Forge
The Pittsburgh Forge are a defunct Junior A Tier II ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which played in the North American Hockey League. The team was founded in 2001 by Kevin Constantine, a former coach of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They played at the Island Sports Center. The...
, a new entry in the NAHL. In two seasons as the team's general manager and co-coach, Constantine amassed a record of 80–24–8 – the Forge won the NAHL regular season championship in 2002. After the 2002–2003 season, Constantine left Pittsburgh to be hired by the WHL expansion team, the Everett Silvertips. In their first year, the Silvertips broke the record for best season ever by a first-year team in the major junior hockey leagues (the WHL, OHL
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....
and QMJHL
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
), winning the U.S. Division Championship—they continued to set records, winning three straight playoff rounds to claim the Western Conference Championship and advance to the WHL Final against the Medicine Hat Tigers
Medicine Hat Tigers
The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who play out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1970, the team has won two national Memorial Cups, five WHL League Championships and seven Division Titles. The Tigers play at the Medicine Hat Arena....
, where they lost 4–0.
On May 29, 2007, Constantine was named the head coach of the AHL's Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
. He quickly turned the performance of the Aeros around, leading them into the playoffs the next two seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2009. On April 15, 2010, it was announced that Constantine's contract would not be renewed for the 2010–2011 season, after the Aeros again failed to make the playoffs for various reasons.
NHL coaching record
| Team | | Year | | Regular season | | Post season | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Finish | W | L | Win % | Result | ||
| SJ San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
1993–94 | 84 | 33 | 35 | 16 | – | 82 | 3rd in Pacific | 7 | 7 | .500 | Lost in Second round |
| SJ | 1994–95 | 48 | 19 | 25 | 4 | – | 42 | 3rd in Pacific | 4 | 7 | .364 | Lost in Second round |
| SJ | 1995–96 1995-96 NHL season The 1995–96 NHL season was the 79th regular season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup winners were the Colorado Avalanche, who, in their first year as the Avalanche, swept the Florida Panthers in four games.-League business:... |
25 | 3 | 18 | 4 | – | 4 | 7th in Pacific | – | – | – | (fired) |
| PIT 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... |
1997–98 | 82 | 40 | 24 | 18 | – | 98 | 1st in Northeast | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in First round |
| PIT | 1998–99 | 82 | 38 | 30 | 4 | – | 90 | 3rd in Northeast | 6 | 7 | .462 | Lost in Second round |
| PIT | 1999–2000 | 25 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 4 | (88) | 3rd in Northeast | – | – | – | (fired) |
| NJ New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
2001–02 | 31 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 1 | (95) | 3rd in Atlantic | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in First round |
| Career Total | 377 | 161 | 150 | 61 | 5 | |||||||
Awards
Constantine has been the recipient of USA HockeyUSA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
's Distinguished Achievement Award: USA Hockey is the governing body for amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
ice hockey in the United States, and the award recognizes a U.S. citizen who has made a major contribution to hockey in the United States.
He was a finalist for the 1994 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...
for top NHL coach.
He won the 1991–1992 Commissioner's Trophy
Commissioner's Trophy (IHL)
The Commissioner's Trophy was awarded annually by the International Hockey League to the head coach who was judged to have contributed the most to his team's success.-Winners:-External links:* www.hockeydb.com...
.
Constantine also was awarded the Coach of the Year award by the WHL in 2004.