Mike Babcock
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Babcock, Jr. (born April 29, 1963, in Manitouwadge, Ontario
) is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
head coach
of the Detroit Red Wings
of the National Hockey League
(NHL) and former player. He serves as head coach of the Red Wings. He also served as the head coach of Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver. He is the only coach to gain entry to the Triple Gold Club
as of June 2011.
(where he was captain), Babcock played for the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL in 1980–81 and spent a season with the Kelowna Wings in 1982–83. In between, he played a year under Dave King at the University of Saskatchewan
and transferred to McGill in 1983 under coach Ken Tyler. In September 1985 Babcock also had a brief try-out with the Vancouver Canucks
.
Babcock graduated from McGill in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and also did some post-graduate work in sports psychology. In 146 career games with the Redmen, he tallied 22 goals and 85 assists for a total of 107 points and 301 penalty minutes, graduating as the second-highest scoring defenseman in McGill history. He moved to England in 1987 as a player-coach for Whitley Warriors (near Newcastle upon Tyne
), who missed out on the league title by two points. In 49 games, he contributed 45 goals and 127 assists, accumulating 123 penalty minutes.
guided the New York Rangers
; George Burnett served in Edmonton
) and in 2008, Babcock became the second McGill graduate to win the Stanley Cup
, the other being Ken Dryden
. He was a two-time all-star rearguard at McGill from 1983–84 to 1986–87, where he also won the Bobby Bell trophy as team MVP.
He has had a distinguished coaching career and entered the 2008–09 season with a lifetime 656–470–114 regular season coaching record in 15 seasons overall, including a 231–118–61 NHL mark in five seasons (two with Anaheim and three with Detroit). He also guided Team Canada to gold medals at the 1997 world junior championships in Geneva, the 2004 IIHF world hockey championships in Prague and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Detroit marks the seventh coaching stint for the nomadic Babcock, a native of Ontario who has lived in six Canadian provinces (Saskatchewan
, Quebec
, Alberta
, Ontario
, British Columbia
, Manitoba
) and four US states (Washington, Ohio
, California
and his current residence, Michigan
).
In 1988, Babcock was appointed head coach at Red Deer College
in Alberta. He spent three seasons at the school, winning the provincial collegiate championship and earning coach-of-the-year honours in 1989.
Babcock moved to the Western Hockey League in 1991 where he guided the Moose Jaw Warriors
for a two-year term. He then served one season as bench boss of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns
, earning Canada West coach-of-the-year honours in 1993–94 after guiding Lethbridge to their first-ever appearance in post-season play and an entirely unexpected Canadian university national title with a 34–11–3 over-all mark.
In 1994, he was appointed coach of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs
, where he posted a regular-season record of 224–172–29 over six seasons for a .564 winning percentage. He was named twice as the West Division coach of the year (1995–1996 and 1999–2000).
From 2000–01 to 2001–02, Babcock guided the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
, to a 74–59–20–7 record, including a franchise-high 41 wins and 95 points. The team qualified for the playoffs both years.
(then the Mighty Ducks) on May 22, 2002, and through two seasons, guided them to a combined 69–62–19 regular season record (including 14 overtime losses). In the Stanley Cup Playoffs
with the Ducks, he posted a 15–6 record, leading the Ducks
to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals
where they lost in 7 games to the New Jersey Devils
.
Following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Babcock declined an offer to remain with the Ducks, and on July 15, 2005, was named head coach of the Detroit Red Wings
. In three seasons, Babcock has led the Red Wings to a combined 162–56–28 regular season record and a 28–18 playoff record. Babcock and the Red Wings
were eliminated by his former club, the Anaheim Ducks
, in the Western Conference Finals of the 2006–07 playoffs
.
In the 2007–08 NHL season, while coaching the Detroit Red Wings
, Babcock achieved his 200th NHL career win. This was on December 15 against the Florida Panthers
, with a 5–2 final score. Heading into the All-Star game
, as the top team in the league, Detroit's Babcock was selected to coach the Western Conference
in the All-Star game. On June 4, 2008, Babcock led the Detroit Red Wings to another Stanley Cup
championship by defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins
in six games.
He was announced as a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy for the 2007–08 season, awarded to the coach who best contributes to his team's success but finished third behind Bruce Boudreau
of the Washington Capitals
and Guy Carbonneau
of the Montreal Canadiens
.
In June 2008, Babcock signed a three-year contract extension with the Red Wings. In 2009
, he became the second head coach (after Mike Keenan
) to coach a Stanley Cup Final Game 7 with two different teams. With the Red Wings
loss in Game 7, Babcock became the first head coach to lose a Stanley Cup Final Game 7 with two different teams, an unfortunate fate that Keenan avoided, though he was with the Philadelphia Flyers
in 1987
, as he was with the New York Rangers
in 1994
.
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs of 2011, Babcock's Red Wings fell behind the San Jose Sharks 3 games to none in the second round, but won three straight to force a game seven, which the wings lost 3-2.
Thus far into his coaching career he has accumulated a playoff record of 63-39. In October 2010, Babcock signed a further four-year extension with the Red Wings that will see him through to the end of the 2014-15 season.
in Vancouver
. The team finished the round robin with a regulation win over Norway, a shootout win over Switzerland, and a loss to the United States. In the elimination rounds they defeated Germany, Russia, and then Slovakia to advance to the gold medal game where they defeated the USA 3-2 in single overtime.
With the win Babcock became the first coach (and only thus far) in the International Ice Hockey Federation's
Triple Gold Club
. In addition to the Olympic gold, Babcock earned a World Championship title coaching Canada in 2004
and a Stanley Cup
championship coaching the Detroit Red Wings
in 2008
.
To honour Babcock's entrance into the Triple Gold Club, the City of Saskatoon announced that July 17, 2010, will be known as "Mike Babcock Day."
, he grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
, which most media guides incorrectly state as his birthplace. He spent the majority of his childhood moving around between Northern Ontario
, Manitoba
and the Northwest Territories
, before his family settled in Saskatoon, which he considers his hometown. Babcock's family didn't establish their roots in the city until 1975. Babcock attended both St. James Elementary School
(since closed) and Holy Cross High School
on Saskatoon's east side. Babcock is also one of the many notable graduates on Holy Cross High School's "Wall of Honour."
Manitouwadge, Ontario
Manitouwadge is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in the Thunder Bay District, at the north end of Highway 614, east of Thunder Bay and west of Sault Ste. Marie.-History:...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
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...
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...
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...
of 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...
(NHL) and former player. He serves as head coach of the Red Wings. He also served as the head coach of Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver. He is the only coach to gain entry to the Triple Gold Club
Triple Gold Club
The Triple Gold Club is a term used to describe ice hockey players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League...
as of June 2011.
Playing and coaching career
Before his playing days at McGill UniversityMcGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
(where he was captain), Babcock played for the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL in 1980–81 and spent a season with the Kelowna Wings in 1982–83. In between, he played a year under Dave King at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
and transferred to McGill in 1983 under coach Ken Tyler. In September 1985 Babcock also had a brief try-out with the 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,...
.
Babcock graduated from McGill in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and also did some post-graduate work in sports psychology. In 146 career games with the Redmen, he tallied 22 goals and 85 assists for a total of 107 points and 301 penalty minutes, graduating as the second-highest scoring defenseman in McGill history. He moved to England in 1987 as a player-coach for Whitley Warriors (near Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
), who missed out on the league title by two points. In 49 games, he contributed 45 goals and 127 assists, accumulating 123 penalty minutes.
Coaching career
Babcock is the third McGill player to coach an NHL team (Lester PatrickLester Patrick
Curtis Lester "The Silver Fox" Patrick born in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, was a professional ice hockey player and coach associated with the Victoria Aristocrats/Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association , and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League...
guided 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...
; George Burnett served in Edmonton
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 ....
) and in 2008, Babcock became the second McGill graduate to win the 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...
, the other being Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden
Kenneth Wayne Dryden, PC, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, author, and former NHL goaltender. Dryden is married with two children and four grandchildren and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame...
. He was a two-time all-star rearguard at McGill from 1983–84 to 1986–87, where he also won the Bobby Bell trophy as team MVP.
He has had a distinguished coaching career and entered the 2008–09 season with a lifetime 656–470–114 regular season coaching record in 15 seasons overall, including a 231–118–61 NHL mark in five seasons (two with Anaheim and three with Detroit). He also guided Team Canada to gold medals at the 1997 world junior championships in Geneva, the 2004 IIHF world hockey championships in Prague and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Detroit marks the seventh coaching stint for the nomadic Babcock, a native of Ontario who has lived in six Canadian provinces (Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, 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....
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
) and four US states (Washington, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and his current residence, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
).
In 1988, Babcock was appointed head coach at Red Deer College
Red Deer College
Red Deer College is a public comprehensive community college of approximately 7,000 students located in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1964, RDC was built for a smaller semi-rural community but, in the four and a half decades since its founding, the city has grown into the third largest...
in Alberta. He spent three seasons at the school, winning the provincial collegiate championship and earning coach-of-the-year honours in 1989.
Babcock moved to the Western Hockey League in 1991 where he guided the Moose Jaw Warriors
Moose Jaw Warriors
The Moose Jaw Warriors are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League which are based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The team plays its home games at Mosaic Place. The franchise moved to Moose Jaw from Winnipeg after the 1983–84 season, where they had previously been named the...
for a two-year term. He then served one season as bench boss of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns
Lethbridge Pronghorns
The Lethbridge Pronghorns, formerly known as the Chinooks are the athletic teams that represent the University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. They have men's and women's teams that compete in the CIS league in basketball, ice hockey, judo, rugby union, soccer, swimming, and track and...
, earning Canada West coach-of-the-year honours in 1993–94 after guiding Lethbridge to their first-ever appearance in post-season play and an entirely unexpected Canadian university national title with a 34–11–3 over-all mark.
In 1994, he was appointed coach of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs
Spokane Chiefs
The Spokane Chiefs are a major junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League based out of Spokane, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Spokane Arena. Their uniforms are similar to those of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens. Spokane consistently ranks in the top 10 in the...
, where he posted a regular-season record of 224–172–29 over six seasons for a .564 winning percentage. He was named twice as the West Division coach of the year (1995–1996 and 1999–2000).
From 2000–01 to 2001–02, Babcock guided the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, at the Cincinnati Gardens.-History:...
, to a 74–59–20–7 record, including a franchise-high 41 wins and 95 points. The team qualified for the playoffs both years.
NHL
He was named head coach of the NHL's Anaheim DucksAnaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
(then the Mighty Ducks) on May 22, 2002, and through two seasons, guided them to a combined 69–62–19 regular season record (including 14 overtime losses). In the Stanley Cup Playoffs
2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the National Hockey League championship, began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.The sixteen qualifying teams played...
with the Ducks, he posted a 15–6 record, leading the Ducks
2002–03 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season
The 2002–03 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season was the Ducks' tenth season in franchise history. The club qualified for the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history.-Game log:* Green background indicates win ....
to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals
2003 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2003 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the champion of the National Hockey League for the 2002–03 season...
where they lost in 7 games to the New Jersey Devils
2002–03 New Jersey Devils season
The 2002–03 New Jersey Devils season was the team's 21st season in the National Hockey League since the franchise relocated to New Jersey. After claiming Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference titles, the Devils won their third Stanley Cup championship in a seven game series against the Mighty...
.
Following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Babcock declined an offer to remain with the Ducks, and on July 15, 2005, was named head 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...
. In three seasons, Babcock has led the Red Wings to a combined 162–56–28 regular season record and a 28–18 playoff record. Babcock and the Red Wings
2006–07 Detroit Red Wings season
The 2006–07 Detroit Red Wings season was the 81st National Hockey League season in Detroit, Michigan. The Wings entered a new era, following the retirement of longtime captain Steve Yzerman after 22 seasons in the NHL, all with Detroit...
were eliminated by his former club, the Anaheim Ducks
2006–07 Anaheim Ducks season
The 2006–07 Anaheim Ducks season was the 14th season played by the franchise. It was the team's first season as the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks clinched their first Pacific Division title in team history with 110 standings points, and defeated the Ottawa Senators in the Stanley Cup Final 4 games to...
, in the Western Conference Finals of the 2006–07 playoffs
2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 11, 2007. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the...
.
In the 2007–08 NHL season, while coaching the Detroit Red Wings
2007–08 Detroit Red Wings season
The 2007–08 Detroit Red Wings season began October 3, 2007, against the Anaheim Ducks. It was the franchise's 82nd season in the National Hockey League, 76th as the Red Wings.Key dates prior to the start of the season:...
, Babcock achieved his 200th NHL career win. This was on December 15 against the Florida Panthers
2007–08 Florida Panthers season
The 2007–08 Florida Panthers season began on October 4 with a game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. It was the Panthers' 15th season in the National Hockey League.The 2007 NHL Entry Draft took place in Columbus, Ohio on June 22–23...
, with a 5–2 final score. Heading into the All-Star game
56th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 56th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held on January 27, 2008 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the Atlanta Thrashers, during the 2007–08 NHL season....
, as the top team in the league, Detroit's Babcock was selected to coach the Western Conference
Western Conference (NHL)
The Western Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Eastern Conference....
in the All-Star game. On June 4, 2008, Babcock led the Detroit Red Wings to another 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...
championship by defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins
2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The 2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Hockey League . Their regular season began on October 5, 2007, against the Carolina Hurricanes and concluded on April 6, 2008, against the rival Philadelphia Flyers...
in six games.
He was announced as a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy for the 2007–08 season, awarded to the coach who best contributes to his team's success but finished third behind Bruce Boudreau
Bruce Boudreau
Bruce Allan Boudreau is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach and current head coach of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . As a player, Boudreau played professionally for 20 seasons, logging 141 games in the NHL and 30 games in the World Hockey Association...
of the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
and Guy Carbonneau
Guy Carbonneau
Guy Carbonneau is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League. He is also the president of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League 's Chicoutimi Saguenéens. He has two daughters Anne-Marie and Kristina, with wife Line Carbonneau. Anne-Marie married his former...
of the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal 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 ...
.
In June 2008, Babcock signed a three-year contract extension with the Red Wings. In 2009
2009 Stanley Cup Finals
The Red Wings took Game 1, 3–1, as three different Detroit players scored goals off of unusual bounces. The first period featured back and forth action, with each team having a variety of chances...
, he became the second head coach (after 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...
) to coach a Stanley Cup Final Game 7 with two different teams. With the Red Wings
2008–09 Detroit Red Wings season
The 2008–09 Detroit Red Wings season saw the Detroit Red Wings attempt to defend their Stanley Cup title, but they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 7 games in the Stanley Cup Finals, the team they defeated in the finals the previous season...
loss in Game 7, Babcock became the first head coach to lose a Stanley Cup Final Game 7 with two different teams, an unfortunate fate that Keenan avoided, though he was with 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...
in 1987
1987 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1987 Stanley Cup Final was played between the Edmonton Oilers and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Oilers would win the series 4–3, for their third Stanley Cup victory.-Paths to the Final:...
, as he was with 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...
in 1994
1994 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1994 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
.
In the Stanley Cup Playoffs of 2011, Babcock's Red Wings fell behind the San Jose Sharks 3 games to none in the second round, but won three straight to force a game seven, which the wings lost 3-2.
Thus far into his coaching career he has accumulated a playoff record of 63-39. In October 2010, Babcock signed a further four-year extension with the Red Wings that will see him through to the end of the 2014-15 season.
International
On June 24, 2009, he was announced as the head coach of the Canada men's national ice hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. The team finished the round robin with a regulation win over Norway, a shootout win over Switzerland, and a loss to the United States. In the elimination rounds they defeated Germany, Russia, and then Slovakia to advance to the gold medal game where they defeated the USA 3-2 in single overtime.
With the win Babcock became the first coach (and only thus far) in the International Ice Hockey Federation's
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
Triple Gold Club
Triple Gold Club
The Triple Gold Club is a term used to describe ice hockey players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League...
. In addition to the Olympic gold, Babcock earned a World Championship title coaching Canada in 2004
2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 2004 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held April 24-May 9, 2004, in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic. Games for this Ice Hockey World Championships tournament were played at Sazka Arena and ČEZ Aréna...
and a 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...
championship coaching 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 2008
2008 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2008 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2007–08 season. As a culmination of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings defeated the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh...
.
To honour Babcock's entrance into the Triple Gold Club, the City of Saskatoon announced that July 17, 2010, will be known as "Mike Babcock Day."
Personal
Mike and Maureen Babcock have three children: Alexandra, Michael III and Taylor. Although he was born in Manitouwadge, OntarioManitouwadge, Ontario
Manitouwadge is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in the Thunder Bay District, at the north end of Highway 614, east of Thunder Bay and west of Sault Ste. Marie.-History:...
, he grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, which most media guides incorrectly state as his birthplace. He spent the majority of his childhood moving around between Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, before his family settled in Saskatoon, which he considers his hometown. Babcock's family didn't establish their roots in the city until 1975. Babcock attended both St. James Elementary School
Nutana Park, Saskatoon
Nutana Park is a mostly residential neighbourhood located in south-central Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a suburban subdivision, consisting mostly of low-density, single detached dwellings. As of 2007, the area is home to 2,748 residents...
(since closed) and Holy Cross High School
Holy Cross High School (Saskatoon)
Holy Cross High School is a high school serving grades 9 to 12, located in south-eastern Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is part of the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division.-Sports:-Notable alumni:*Mike Babcock - NHL Head Coach for the Detroit Red Wings...
on Saskatoon's east side. Babcock is also one of the many notable graduates on Holy Cross High School's "Wall of Honour."
Minor league
| Year | Team | League | W | L | OT/T | Finish | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | Moose Jaw Warriors Moose Jaw Warriors The Moose Jaw Warriors are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League which are based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The team plays its home games at Mosaic Place. The franchise moved to Moose Jaw from Winnipeg after the 1983–84 season, where they had previously been named the... |
WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
33 | 36 | 3 | 6th East | Lost East Division quarter-final | |
| 1992–93 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 27 | 42 | 3 | 8th East | Out of playoffs | |
| 1994–95 | Spokane Chiefs Spokane Chiefs The Spokane Chiefs are a major junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League based out of Spokane, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Spokane Arena. Their uniforms are similar to those of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens. Spokane consistently ranks in the top 10 in the... |
WHL | 32 | 36 | 4 | 5th West | Lost West Division semi-final | |
| 1995–96 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 50 | 18 | 4 | 1st West | Lost WHL finals | |
| 1996–97 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 35 | 33 | 4 | 3rd West | Lost West Division semi-final | |
| 1997–98 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 45 | 23 | 4 | 2nd West | Lost West Division final | |
| 1998–99 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 19 | 44 | 9 | 7th West | Out of playoffs | |
| 1999–2000 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 47 | 19 | 6 | 1st West | Lost WHL finals | |
| 2000–01 2000–01 AHL season The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty... |
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Cincinnati Mighty Ducks The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, at the Cincinnati Gardens.-History:... |
AHL 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... |
41 | 26 | 13 | 2nd South | Lost in first round | |
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion... |
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | AHL | 33 | 33 | 14 | 3rd Central | Lost in preliminary round | |
National Hockey League
| Team | |Regular season | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 2002–03 | 82 | 40 | 27 | 9 | 6 | 95 | 2nd in Pacific | Lost in Stanley Cup Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 82 | 29 | 35 | 10 | 8 | 76 | 4th in Pacific | Missed playoffs | |||
| 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... |
2005–06 | 82 | 58 | 16 | |||||||
| 8 | 124 | 1st in Central | Lost in first round | ||||||||
| 2006–07 | 82 | 50 | 19 | ||||||||
| 13 | 113 | 1st in Central | Lost in Conference Finals | ||||||||
| 2007–08 | 82 | 54 | 21 | ||||||||
| 7 | 115 | 1st in Central | Won Stanley Cup | ||||||||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
82 | 51 | 21 | ||||||||
| 10 | 112 | 1st in Central | Lost in Stanley Cup Final | ||||||||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
82 | 44 | 24 | ||||||||
| 14 | 102 | 2nd in Central | Lost in second round | ||||||||
| 2010-11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
82 | 47 | 25 | ||||||||
| 10 | 104 | 1st in Central | Lost in second round | ||||||||
| Total | 656 | 373 | 188 | 19 | 76 | ||||||