Former Boston Bruins coach Robbie Ftorek (Needham, Mass.) and University of New Hampshire great Darren Haydar were both chosen for induction into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame last month.
The two will be joined in the Class of 2020 by Denis Hamel and Fred Thurier. They will be inducted during All-Star weekend in Ontario, Calif., at the league’s Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony on Jan. 27, 2020.
A veteran of nearly five decades in hockey as a player and coach, Ftorek successfully combined player development with winning during his tenure behind AHL benches. As a player, he totaled 141 points in 138 AHL games over 13 pro seasons before signing on to serve as head coach of the New Haven Nighthawks, in 1985. He was promoted to the parent Los Angeles Kings in 1987-88, replacing the fired Mike Murphy. He coached Wayne Gretzky and the Kings for almost two seasons.
Ftorek joined the New Jersey Devils organization in 1991 and won back-to-back Louis A.R. Pieri Awards as the league’s outstanding coach, first in 1994-95 as he led the Albany River Rats to a Calder Cup championship, and then in 1995-96 on the strength of a 54-win, 115-point regular season, one of the best campaigns in league history. He went on to coach in the NHL with New Jersey and Boston.
Haydar was a dominant performer over his 11 seasons in the AHL after a standout career at UNH, leading that program to two Frozen Fours. The leading career scorer for both the Milwaukee Admirals and Chicago Wolves franchises — he led both to Calder Cup championships — he totaled 788 points in his 780 regular-season AHL games, ranking 14th all-time in scoring and 10th in assists (496), and he remains the league’s all-time leader in postseason goals (63) and points (143).
Eichel ties franchise record
When Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.) scored in overtime to lead the Buffalo Sabres past the San Jose Sharks last month, he tied the Sabres franchise record for OT goals also held by Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek.
Now in his fourth NHL season, the 22-year-old Eichel grabbed a share of the mark that Roy and Vanek achieved at 27 and 28, respectively.
Each year of Eichel’s career has been better statistically. Although it's early, this year he is on pace for 114 points, which would top his previous high of 82, set last season. He is also on pace for 49 goals, which would easily beat his previous high of 28.
N.H. Hall inducts six
The New Hampshire Legends of Hockey enshrined six men in a ceremony on Oct. 20 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, including former NHL players Freddy Meyer (Sanbornville, N.H.) and Deron Quint (Durham, N.H.).
Denis Martin also was inducted as a player. Longtime New England College bench boss Tom Carroll was inducted as a coach, Rod Ross was inducted in the media category and the late Downing Potter “DP” Brown was inducted posthumously as a builder.
Meyer rose to stardom at Boston University, where he was a puck-moving defenseman who collected 17 goals and 72 points during four seasons. A member of the Philadelphia Phantoms’ Calder Cup-winning team in 2004-05, he went on to play parts of seven seasons in the NHL with the Flyers, Islanders, Coyotes and Thrashers.
Quint forged a professional career that spanned 20 years and saw stints with six NHL teams: the Jets, Coyotes, Devils, Blue Jackets, Blackhawks and Islanders. In 463 career NHL games, he produced 46 goals and 143 points and holds the distinction of being the last active player to have skated for the original Winnipeg Jets. He concluded his career by playing for a decade in Europe, largely with Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL.
Ice chips
One of the greatest rivalries in sports will be showcased in Hartford, Conn., when the women’s national hockey teams from the U.S. and Canada face off at XL Center on Dec. 14. The game, part of the 2019 Team USA Champions Series, will be the first between the two hockey powers played in North America in the 2019-20 Rivalry Series. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting the XL Center box office or online at xlcenter.com. ... Archbishop Williams (Mass.) High School has named Ben Leong as its new girls hockey coach. The top assistant for the program for the past two years, he takes over for Mark McHale, who retired. Leong is also the school’s volleyball coach.
