Brian Kilrea

Brian Blair Kilrea (born October 21, 1934 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a head coach, general manager and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Kilrea is a nephew of former NHL players Wally, Ken, and Hec Kilrea.
==Playing career==
Kilrea played his first major junior season with the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1954–55. In his playing career he played only 26 NHL games, although he had great success in the minor leagues. Kilrea spent four seasons with the Troy Bruins of the IHL, where he was named a second team All-Star in 1958–1959. Most of Kilrea's career was spent with the AHL's Springfield Indians, where he was a multiple All-Star and the franchise's career leader in assists. He has been named to the Springfield Hockey Hall of Fame. Kilrea played under Eddie Shore and credits Shore with teaching him many things that he took into his coaching career. 
Kilrea returned to the NHL, briefly, with expansion in 1967. Kilrea has the distinction of scoring the first-ever goal for the NHL Los Angeles Kings.
==Coaching career==
After ending his playing career, Kilrea started coaching minor hockey in Ottawa. He first made a name for himself when his Ottawa West Midget AA team defeated a touring Soviet squad, the only loss by the Soviets on their tour. This caught the attention of the owners of the OHL major junior Ottawa 67's and they soon offered him a coaching job, replacing Leo Boivin. He began coaching the at the start of the 1974–75 season. He would continue coaching the 67's until 1984, when he became an assistant coach with the defending Stanley Cup champions, New York Islanders of the NHL. However, after two seasons, he would return to coaching the 67's. Head coach of the Sarnia Sting, Dave McQueen played for Kilrea and says that Kilrea had his players over to his house at Christmas but when you were in his 'dog house' it was often tough to get out. 
Except for a brief retirement for the 1994–95 season, Kilrea has coached the 67's ever since, and is also the General Manager of the club. He has won the Memorial Cup, emblematic of Canada's major junior championship, twice with the 67's (1984 and 1999) and is the winningest coach in junior hockey history - a task completed on January 17, 1997 with his 742nd win. On February 2, 2007, Brian Kilrea coached his 2000th game as head coach of the 67's.
Kilrea has also won the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL Coach of the Year in 1980–81, 1981–82, 1995–96, 1996–97 and 2002–03. Kilrea was also honoured with the Bill Long Award in 1994, for distinguished service to the OHL.
In 2003, Brian Kilrea was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builders category. The Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award, given annually to the top coach in the Canadian Hockey League, was renamed in his honour shortly after his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Kilrea won the award in 1996–97 when it was known as the CHL Coach of the Year Award.
In twenty-nine seasons with the 67's he has only had six losing seasons - an extraordinary task in junior hockey, which due to age restrictions has a high turnover rate of players.
On September 3, 2008, Kilrea announced that 2008–09 would be his final season as coach of the 67's, though he plans to continue serving as general manager of the club.
On March 15, 2009, Ottawa beat the Kingston Frontenacs 5-3 to give Kilrea a win in his final regular season game, giving him 1,193 wins all-time.
==Career statistics==
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
  	  	  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1954–55 	Hamilton Tiger Cubs	OHA 	 	49 	27 	25 	52 	0 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1955–56 	Troy Bruins 	IHL 	 	60 	16 	36 	52 	22 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1956–57 	Troy Bruins 	IHL 	 	60 	9 	35 	44 	46 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1957–58 	Edmonton Flyers 	WHL 	 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1957–58 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1958–59 	Troy Bruins 	IHL 	 	54 	33 	60 	93 	44 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1959–60 	Springfield Indians	AHL 	 	63 	14 	27 	41 	26 	 	8 	0 	1 	1 	4
1960–61 	Springfield Indians	AHL 	 	70 	20 	67 	87 	47 	 	8 	1 	5 	6 	2
1961–62 	Springfield Indians	AHL 	 	70 	20 	73 	93 	28 	 	2 	0 	1 	1 	0
1962–63 	Springfield Indians	AHL 	 	72 	25 	50 	75 	34 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1963–64 	Springfield Indians	AHL 	 	72 	22 	61 	83 	28 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1964–65 	Springfield Indians	AHL 	 	72 	23 	54 	77 	18 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1965–66 	Springfield Indians	AHL 	 	70 	13 	47 	60 	14 	 	6 	3 	1 	4 	0
1966–67 	Springfield Indians	AHL 	 	63 	25 	38 	63 	29 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1967–68 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	 	25 	3 	5 	8 	12 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1967–68 	Springfield Kings 	AHL 	 	38 	7 	25 	32 	14 	 	4 	0 	3 	3 	0
1968–69 	Vancouver Canucks 	WHL 	 	1 	0 	1 	1 	0 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1968–69 	Tulsa Oilers 	CHL 	 	24 	11 	25 	36 	12 	 	4 	0 	1 	1 	0
1968–69 	Rochester Americans	AHL 	 	33 	2 	11 	13 	4 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
1969–70 	Denver Spurs 	WHL 	 	32 	5 	14 	19 	8 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	26 	3 	5 	8 	12 	 	- 	- 	- 	- 	-
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Coaching record==
Team 	Year 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season 	Post season
Team 	Year 	G 	W 	L 	T 	OTL 	Pts 	Finish 	Result
OTT 	1974–75 	70 	33 	30 	7 	- 	73 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in OMJHL 	Lost in first round
OTT 	1975–76 	66 	34 	23 	9 	- 	77 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in third round
OTT 	1976–77 	66 	38 	23 	5 	- 	81 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in Leyden	Won J. Ross Robertson Cup
OTT 	1977–78 	68 	43 	18 	7 	- 	93 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in third round
OTT 	1978–79 	68 	30 	38 	0 	- 	60 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in first round
OTT 	1979–80 	68 	45 	20 	3 	- 	93 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in third round
OTT 	1980–81 	68 	45 	20 	3 	- 	93 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in second round
OTT 	1981–82 	68 	47 	19 	2 	- 	96 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in Leyden	Lost OHL Finals
OTT 	1982–83 	70 	46 	21 	3 	- 	95 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in third round
OTT 	1983–84 	70 	50 	18 	2 	- 	102 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in Leyden	Won Memorial Cup
OTT 	1986–87 	66 	33 	28 	5 	- 	71 	3<SUP>rd</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in Second Round
OTT 	1987–88 	66 	38 	26 	2 	- 	78 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in third round
OTT 	1988–89 	66 	30 	32 	4 	- 	64 	5<SUP>th</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in second round
OTT 	1989–90 	66 	38 	26 	2 	- 	78 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in first round
OTT 	1990–91 	66 	39 	25 	2 	- 	80 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in second round
OTT 	1991–92 	66 	32 	30 	4 	- 	68 	6<SUP>th</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in second round
OTT 	1992–93 	66 	16 	42 	8 	- 	40 	8<SUP>th</SUP> in Leyden	Missed playoffs
OTT 	1993–94 	66 	33 	22 	11 	- 	77 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in Leyden	Lost in third round
OTT 	1995–96 	66 	39 	22 	5 	- 	83 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in East 	Lost in second round
OTT 	1996–97 	66 	49 	11 	6 	- 	104 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in East 	Lost OHL Finals
OTT 	1997–98 	66 	40 	17 	9 	- 	89 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in East 	Lost OHL Finals
OTT 	1998–99 	68 	48 	13 	7 	- 	103 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in East 	Lost in second round
OTT 	1999–00 	68 	43 	20 	4 	1 	91 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in East 	Lost in second round
OTT 	2000–01 	68 	33 	21 	10 	4 	80 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in East 	Won J. Ross Robertson Cup
OTT 	2001–02 	68 	36 	20 	10 	2 	84 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in East 	Lost in second round
OTT 	2002–03 	68 	44 	14 	7 	3 	98 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in East 	Lost OHL Finals
OTT 	2003–04 	68 	29 	26 	9 	4 	71 	1<SUP>st</SUP> in East 	Lost in first round
OTT 	2004–05 	68 	34 	26 	7 	1 	76 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in East 	Lost OHL Finals
OTT 	2005–06 	68 	29 	31 	- 	8 	66 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in East 	Lost in first round
OTT 	2006–07 	68 	30 	34 	- 	4 	64 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in East 	Lost in first round
OTT 	2007–08 	68 	29 	34 	- 	5 	63 	3<SUP>rd</SUP> in East 	Lost in first round
OTT 	2008–09 	68 	40 	21 	- 	7 	87 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in East 	Lost in first round
OHL totals	1974–2009	2156 	1193 	771 	153 	39 	2578 	 	
==External links==
* 
* (player)
1.http://www.cbc.ca/sportsnews/story/2008/09/03/ot-kilrea-080903.html
Category:Born in 1934
Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Hamilton Tiger Cubs alumni
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Edmonton Flyers players
Category:Hockey Hall of Fame
Category:Los Angeles Kings players
Category:Ottawa 67's coaches
Category:Ottawa 67's alumni
Category:Rochester Americans players
Category:Springfield Indians players
Category:Vancouver Canucks (WHL) players
Category:Memorial Cup winners
Category:Springfield Kings players
Category:Retired in 1970