John Cunniff

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John Cunniff (9 July 1944 - 10 May 2002) was an American NHL hockey coach.

He was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and attended Boston College, where he was a two-time All-American left wing, and was the 1964 Rookie of the Year, and was the first hockey player ever to be named the Beanpot MVP twice ('64 & '65). He was a dominant scorer, his 71 goals and 82 assists in just 75 games established a Boston College career point record. His 67 points in 1966-67 was best in the nation, and helped the Eagles reach the NCAA Championship finals.

Twice he won All-America honors and was a three-time All-East selection. He was named to the All-Time Boston Garden Beanpot Tournament Team.

He joined the United State's National team in 1967 and played for the U.S. at the Olympics in 1968 in Grenoble.

Subsequently he enjoyed a successful professional playing career with the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association, and for the Quebec Nordiques.

He also served as assistant coach of the Boston Bruins with Terry O'Reilly in the 1987-88 Stanley Cup appearance. He was head coach of the New Jersey Devils from 1989 to 1991, coached the Albany River Rats, and received two Stanely Cup rings with the Devils organization.

Cunniff also coached the U.S. team to victory in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and coached the US Men's Olympic Hockey Teams at Lillehammer, Norway ('94); Nagano, Japan ('98), and Salt Lake City, Utah (silver medal) (2002).

He died of throat cancer and is buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Cunniff was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.