Cunniff 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); a record that lasted for 39 years. 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, was a three-time All-East selection, and a three-time All-New England choice. He was named to the All-Time Boston Garden Beanpot Tournament Team.
Cunniff wore #2 for the Eagles from 1963–66 and registered 153 points—71 goals and 82 assists—in 75 collegiate games. He earned All-America honors in 1965 and 1966.
John Cunniff enjoyed a successful professional playing career with the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, and Quebec Nordiques organizations, and as a member of the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association in 1972–74. Cunniff played on the New England Whalers team that won the WHA's inaugural championship. He returned to the U.S. national team for the 1975 hockey world championship tournament.
Coaching career
Cunniff served as a player/coach in the North American Hockey League and New England Hockey League before joining the Hartford Whalers as an assistant coach in 1981 after his playing career had ended in 1979. He was named head coach of the Binghamton Whalers the following season and coached the Hartford Whalers during the 1982–83 NHL season.
He then joined the Boston Bruins organization as assistant coach of the 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 his name was engraved on the Stanley cup with the Devils in 2000.
His involvement in 13 seasons with the Devils organization includes serving as head coach of the NHL club for two seasons (1989–90 and 1990–91). Prior to joining the Devils' organization, he was an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins for three seasons. In addition, he guided the Hartford Whalers for 13 games as head coach in 1982-83.
Cunniff served as head coach of the Albany River Rats—the top minor-league affiliate of the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils—for five seasons (1996–2001). He finished in 2000-01 as the AHL's longest tenured head coach at the time. After posting a record of 187-169-39 as head coach with Albany, Cunniff transitioned to New Jersey's scouting staff in 2001.
Cunniff was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997; was named the 1998 Walter Yaciuk Award Winner for his outstanding contribution to USA Hockey's coaching education program and in 2002; was posthumously honored with the USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award.
A superb strategist, innovative trainer, and excellent coach, he was among the first U.S. hockey coaches to incorporate international (Russian/European) training and open play-making to successfully coach and mentor some of the best NHL players. He was well known for his voracious reading of military strategy, leadership, and motivational training.
He was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978, and his number was retired to the rafters of Conte Forum at Boston College.[2]
john, cunniff, john, paul, cunniff, july, 1944, 2002, american, hockey, coach, former, professional, player, appeared, world, hockey, association, regular, season, games, between, 1972, 1976, cunniff, inducted, into, united, states, hockey, hall, fame, 2003, b. John Paul Cunniff July 9 1944 May 10 2002 was an American NHL hockey coach and former professional player who appeared in 65 World Hockey Association regular season games between 1972 and 1976 Cunniff was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 John CunniffBorn 1944 07 09 July 9 1944South Boston Massachusetts U S DiedMay 10 2002 2002 05 10 aged 57 Albany New York U S Height5 ft 9 in 175 cm Weight175 lb 79 kg 12 st 7 lb PositionLeft wingShotLeftPlayed forNew England Whalers Quebec NordiquesNational team United StatesPlaying career1966 1980 Contents 1 Amateur career 2 Professional career 3 Coaching career 4 NHL Coaching record 5 See also 6 Awards and honors 7 References 8 External linksAmateur career EditCunniff 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 amp 65 a record that lasted for 39 years 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 was a three time All East selection and a three time All New England choice He was named to the All Time Boston Garden Beanpot Tournament Team Cunniff wore 2 for the Eagles from 1963 66 and registered 153 points 71 goals and 82 assists in 75 collegiate games He earned All America honors in 1965 and 1966 He joined the U S National team in 1967 for the Ice Hockey World Championship tournament in Vienna and also played for the U S at the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble Professional career EditJohn Cunniff enjoyed a successful professional playing career with the Detroit Red Wings Boston Bruins and Quebec Nordiques organizations and as a member of the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association in 1972 74 Cunniff played on the New England Whalers team that won the WHA s inaugural championship He returned to the U S national team for the 1975 hockey world championship tournament Coaching career EditCunniff served as a player coach in the North American Hockey League and New England Hockey League before joining the Hartford Whalers as an assistant coach in 1981 after his playing career had ended in 1979 He was named head coach of the Binghamton Whalers the following season and coached the Hartford Whalers during the 1982 83 NHL season He then joined the Boston Bruins organization as assistant coach of the 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 his name was engraved on the Stanley cup with the Devils in 2000 His involvement in 13 seasons with the Devils organization includes serving as head coach of the NHL club for two seasons 1989 90 and 1990 91 Prior to joining the Devils organization he was an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins for three seasons In addition he guided the Hartford Whalers for 13 games as head coach in 1982 83 Cunniff s extensive experience with USA Hockey includes serving as associate coach during the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer Norway assistant coach for the 1998 U S Olympic Men s Ice Hockey Team in Nagano Japan and assistant coach for the 2002 U S Olympic Men s Hockey Team in Salt Lake City Utah Cunniff was named assistant coach for the United States team that captured the championship in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey He was an assistant coach for four U S National Teams 1982 1991 1992 and 1993 at the International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF Men s World Championships and was an assistant on two U S National Junior Teams 1992 and 1993 at the IIHF World Junior Championships In addition Cunniff was an assistant coach for Team USA in the 1981 Canada Cup tournament Cunniff served as head coach of the Albany River Rats the top minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League s New Jersey Devils for five seasons 1996 2001 He finished in 2000 01 as the AHL s longest tenured head coach at the time After posting a record of 187 169 39 as head coach with Albany Cunniff transitioned to New Jersey s scouting staff in 2001 Cunniff was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 was named the 1998 Walter Yaciuk Award Winner for his outstanding contribution to USA Hockey s coaching education program and in 2002 was posthumously honored with the USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award A superb strategist innovative trainer and excellent coach he was among the first U S hockey coaches to incorporate international Russian European training and open play making to successfully coach and mentor some of the best NHL players He was well known for his voracious reading of military strategy leadership and motivational training He died from esophageal cancer in Albany New York and is buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Dorchester Massachusetts He was inducted to the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame and the U S Hockey Hall of Fame 1 He was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978 and his number was retired to the rafters of Conte Forum at Boston College 2 NHL Coaching record EditTeam Year Regular season Post seasonG W L T Pts Finish ResultHAR 1982 83 13 3 9 1 45 5th in Adams Missed PlayoffsNJ 1989 90 66 31 28 7 83 2nd in Patrick Lost in First RoundNJ 1990 91 67 28 28 11 79 4th in Patrick fired Total 146 62 65 19See also EditList of members of the United States Hockey Hall of FameAwards and honors EditAward YearAll ECAC Hockey First Team 1963 641964 65AHCA East All American 1964 651965 66ECAC Hockey All Tournament First Team 1965All NCAA All Tournament First Team 1965 3 All ECAC Hockey Second Team 1965 66References Edit Massachusetts Hockey http bceagles cstv com genrel cunniff john00 html dead link NCAA Frozen Four Records PDF NCAA org Retrieved 2013 06 19 External links EditBiographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects com or The Internet Hockey DatabaseAwards and achievementsPreceded byRichie Green ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year1963 64 Succeeded byDoug FergusonPreceded byBob Brinkworth ECAC Hockey Player of the Year1964 65 Succeeded byTerry YurkiewiczPreceded byJerry Knightley NCAA Ice Hockey Scoring Champion1964 65 Succeeded byDoug FergusonSporting positionsPreceded byJim Schoenfeld Head coach of the New Jersey Devils1989 91 Succeeded byTom McViePreceded byLarry Pleau Head coach of the Hartford Whalers1982 83 Succeeded byJack Tex Evans Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Cunniff amp oldid 1081499658, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
