Michel Bergeron (hockey coach)
Michel Bergeron (born June 12, 1946 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a former National Hockey League head coach.
Bergeron began his coaching career behind the bench of a midget team from Rosemont, Quebec. During his second season, he led the team to a national championship. He then took over for the Trois-Rivieres Draveurs of the QMJHL, leading the team to two Memorial Cup appearances.
Bergeron coached the Quebec Nordiques from 1980 to 1987. His teams gained a reputation for playing a high scoring, quick paced game. As coach, Bergeron also devoted significant time to pursuing European players, adding the Stastny brothers after their defection from Czechoslovakia. His teams reached the postseason in each of seven years behind the Quebec bench, including two trips to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Just before the 1987 draft, Bergeron was being traded to the New York Rangers for a first round draft pick and $75 000, a first in the NHL history. Relations had become strained between the head coach and Quebec management, in spite of on-ice achievements, and Bergeron's reputation as a strong motivator enticed the Rangers, who were seeking coaching stability. [1] With two games remaining in the 1988–89 NHL season he was relieved of his duties and replaced by general manager Phil Esposito. Bergeron had drawn the ire of Esposito by vocally requesting a contract extension; Esposito stating that the firing was rooted in "philosophical differences."
Bergeron returned as Nordiques coach during the 1989–90 NHL season, presiding over a ghastly 12-win season that is still the worst in franchise history. He was fired after the season. In December 1990, he was treated for a mild heart attack.
Bergeron earned the nicknames of "Le Tigre" ("The Tiger") and "Napoleon", in reference to his fiery temper, small stature, and French lineage. Bergeron reportedly even got under the nerves of Cuban leader Fidel Castro; in 1964, Bergeron was the catcher on a travelling Canadian baseball team, and, despite of the tradition of visiting teams showing deference to the Cuban executive during his appearances in games, Bergeron cut down Castro as he attempted to score.[2]
Bergeron served as panelist on the popular French talkshow "l'antichambre" which is broadcast on RDS. He spent 6 years with RDS and he was nicknamed "le capitaine" on the talkshow. Bergeron quit RDS for TVA Sports on December 19th 2013. He is a panelist before and during games when TVA broadcasts them. TVA Sports recently acquired the rights to air rights to broadcast the Montreal Canadiens games in French. [3]
Coaching record
NHL
| Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Finish | Result | ||
| QUE | 1980–81 | 74 | 29 | 29 | 16 | - | (78) | 4th in Adams | Lost in first round |
| QUE | 1981–82 | 80 | 33 | 31 | 16 | - | 82 | 4th in Adams | Lost in third round |
| QUE | 1982–83 | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | - | 80 | 4th in Adams | Lost in first round |
| QUE | 1983–84 | 80 | 42 | 28 | 10 | - | 94 | 3rd in Adams | Lost in second round |
| QUE | 1984–85 | 80 | 41 | 30 | 9 | - | 91 | 2nd in Adams | Lost in third round |
| QUE | 1985–86 | 80 | 43 | 31 | 6 | - | 92 | 1st in Adams | Lost in first round |
| QUE | 1986–87 | 80 | 31 | 39 | 10 | - | 72 | 4th in Adams | Lost in second round |
| NYR | 1987–88 | 80 | 36 | 34 | 10 | - | 82 | 5th in Patrick | Missed playoffs |
| NYR | 1988–89 | 78 | 37 | 33 | 8 | - | (82) | 3rd in Patrick | (Fired) |
| QUE | 1989–90 | 80 | 12 | 61 | 7 | - | 31 | 5th in Adams | Missed playoffs |
| Total | 792 | 338 | 350 | 104 | |||||
QMJHL
| Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Finish | Result | ||
| TRO | 1975–76 | 72 | 36 | 31 | 5 | - | 77 | 2nd in East | Lost in second round |
| TRO | 1976–77 | 72 | 38 | 24 | 10 | - | 86 | 3rd in Dilio | Lost in first round |
| TRO | 1977–78 | 72 | 47 | 18 | 7 | - | 101 | 1st in Dilio | Won President's Cup |
| TRO | 1978–79 | 72 | 58 | 8 | 6 | - | 122 | 1st in Dilio | Won President's Cup |
| TRO | 1979–80 | 72 | 36 | 27 | 9 | - | 81 | 4th in Dilio | Lost in first round |
References
- ↑ Eskenazi, Gerald (1987-06-19). "Rangers Pull a Surprise: Bergeron Becomes Coach". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ↑ Eskenazi, Gerald (1987-06-19). "Rangers Pull a Surprise: Bergeron Becomes Coach". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ↑ "RDS.ca". RDS. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
External links
| Preceded by Maurice Filion Jean Perron |
Head coach of the Quebec Nordiques 1980–87 1989–90 |
Succeeded by Andre Savard Dave Chambers |
| Preceded by Phil Esposito |
Head coach of the New York Rangers 1987–89 |
Succeeded by Phil Esposito |
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