Paul Baxter
Encyclopedia
Paul Gordon Baxter was an National Hockey League
defenceman from 1979 to 1987 and an NHL assistant coach for eleven seasons. He was coaching the Wenatchee Wild
in the NAHL before his firing in late November 2010. He will be taking over the Wichita Falls Wildcats
as head coach, general manager, and partner as of May 1, 2011.
drafted Baxter in the first round, 11th overall, of the 1974 WHA
Amateur Draft. The following year he was drafted into the NHL (third round; 49th overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins
. He played a year in the NHL representing the Quebec Nordiques
, as well as three years with the Penguins and another four with the Calgary Flames
. Baxter spent prior time with teams in the NAHL and WCHL. He retired from the NHL after 470 games, recording a total of 48 goals, 121 assists, 169 points, and 1564 penalty minutes. Paul is the all-time leader in penalty minutes for the WHA with 962, and is also the single-season leader for the Pittsburgh Penguins with 409 during the 1981–82 season.
Paul Baxter continued his career as a coach, leading the IHL's Salt-Lake Golden Eagles to the championship title in '87-'88. He would go on to become the assistant coach of multiple NHL clubs.
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...
defenceman from 1979 to 1987 and an NHL assistant coach for eleven seasons. He was coaching the Wenatchee Wild
Wenatchee Wild
The Wenatchee Wild is a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's West Division based in Wenatchee, Washington. The team joined the NAHL as an expansion team for the 2008-09 season, the team plays its home games at the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center...
in the NAHL before his firing in late November 2010. He will be taking over the Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wichita Falls Wildcats
The Wichita Falls Wildcats are a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The Wildcats play out of the 6,500-seat Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas. Current coaches of the team are Paul Baxter, Brian Huebel, and Sean Fish.The team's games...
as head coach, general manager, and partner as of May 1, 2011.
Playing career
The Cleveland CrusadersCleveland Crusaders
The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland, Ohio. The Crusaders were founded by Nick Mileti, and played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1976...
drafted Baxter in the first round, 11th overall, of the 1974 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...
Amateur Draft. The following year he was drafted into the NHL (third round; 49th 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...
. He played a year in the NHL representing the Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
, as well as three years with the Penguins and another four with 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...
. Baxter spent prior time with teams in the NAHL and WCHL. He retired from the NHL after 470 games, recording a total of 48 goals, 121 assists, 169 points, and 1564 penalty minutes. Paul is the all-time leader in penalty minutes for the WHA with 962, and is also the single-season leader for the Pittsburgh Penguins with 409 during the 1981–82 season.
Paul Baxter continued his career as a coach, leading the IHL's Salt-Lake Golden Eagles to the championship title in '87-'88. He would go on to become the assistant coach of multiple NHL clubs.
Coaching History
- 1987–89: Salt-Lake Golden Eagles IHL Head Coach
- 1989–92: Calgary Flames NHL Assistant Coach
- 1992–95: Chicago Blackhawks NHL Assistant Coach
- 1995–97: Saint John Flames AHL Head Coach
- 1997–2000: San Jose Sharks NHL Assistant Coach
- 2001–03: Florida Panthers NHL Assistant Coach
- 2006-08: HIFKHIFK (ice hockey)HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897...
SM-liiga (FIN) Head Coach - 2008-10: Wenatchee Wild NAHL Head Coach
- 2011-Present: Wichita Falls Wildcats NAHL Head Coach