Tom Webster (ice hockey)
Thomas Ronald "Hawkeye" Webster (October 4, 1948 – April 10, 2020) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach.
| Tom Webster | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster in 1969 | |||
| Born | October 4, 1948 Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Died | April 10, 2020 (aged 71) Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Boston Bruins Detroit Red Wings California Golden Seals New England Whalers (WHA) | ||
| National team | Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 19th overall, 1966 Boston Bruins | ||
| Playing career | 1968–1980 | ||
Playing career edit
Originally selected by the Boston Bruins in the 1966 NHL Entry Draft, Webster played in a total of 102 National Hockey League (NHL) games with the Bruins and Detroit Red Wings. Webster scored 30 goals for the Red Wings in the 1970-71 season, but only managed 3 goals in 12 games of the 1971-72 season.[1] He also played 352 games for the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association, scoring 40 or more goals three times. Spinal fusion surgery [1] complicated the end of his career, and Webster retired in 1981 at age 31. [2]
Coaching career edit
After retiring as a player, Webster had been the coach for a number of teams at various levels of hockey.[3]
His first head coaching job came in 1986, when he became coach of the New York Rangers following Ted Sator's firing.[4][5] After only five games, Webster fell ill with what was later diagnosed as an inner-ear infection that left him unable to fly.[6] He returned as head coach on January 5 for home games only; general manager Phil Esposito split coaching duties with assistants Eddie Giacomin and Wayne Cashman for road games.[7] He was cleared to fly again in January, but he suffered a relapse during a game against the Edmonton Oilers, and was told to stay off planes for at least three months.[8][9][10] Esposito named himself head coach for the remainder of the season. When it became apparent that Webster would not be able to return to the bench full-time the following season, he resigned on April 30, 1987.[11][12][13][14]
Webster's next head coaching stint was with the Los Angeles Kings, from May 31, 1989, to May 4, 1992.[15][16] He led the Kings to their first and only regular season division title in franchise history, in the 1990-91 season.[17]
While coaching the Kings in a game against Detroit on November 16, 1991, Webster became upset at what he felt was a blown call by referee Kerry Fraser. The Kings were assessed an extra penalty, and Webster took a stick and threw it on the ice, hitting one of Fraser's skates. Webster was suspended for 12 games.[18]
Webster also served as an amateur scout for the Calgary Flames from 2003 to 2014.[3][19]
Honours edit
In 2012, he was inducted into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame.[20]
Death edit
Webster died on April 10, 2020, at the age of 71; he had been reported to have brain cancer.[17]
Career statistics edit
Regular season and playoffs edit
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1965–66 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA-Jr. | 43 | 16 | 27 | 43 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1966–67 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA-Jr. | 47 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 26 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 22 | 4 | ||
| 1967–68 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA-Jr. | 54 | 50 | 64 | 114 | 55 | 19 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 20 | ||
| 1967–68 | Niagara Falls Flyers | MC | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 10 | ||
| 1968–69 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1968–69 | Oklahoma City Blazers | CHL | 44 | 29 | 42 | 71 | 31 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 19 | ||
| 1969–70 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1969–70 | Oklahoma City Blazers | CHL | 49 | 29 | 35 | 64 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970–71 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 78 | 30 | 37 | 67 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971–72 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971–72 | California Golden Seals | NHL | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972–73 | New England Whalers | WHA | 77 | 53 | 50 | 103 | 89 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 6 | ||
| 1973–74 | New England Whalers | WHA | 64 | 43 | 27 | 70 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 7 | ||
| 1974–75 | New England Whalers | WHA | 66 | 40 | 24 | 64 | 52 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1975–76 | New England Whalers | WHA | 55 | 33 | 50 | 83 | 24 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 6 | ||
| 1976–77 | New England Whalers | WHA | 70 | 36 | 49 | 85 | 43 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1977–78 | New England Whalers | WHA | 20 | 15 | 5 | 20 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Adirondack Red Wings | AHL | 12 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 102 | 33 | 42 | 75 | 61 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| WHA totals | 352 | 220 | 205 | 425 | 241 | 43 | 28 | 26 | 54 | 19 | ||||
International edit
Coaching record edit
| Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | Result | ||
| NYR | 1986-87 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | (76) | 4th in Patrick | (interim; returned to assistant coaching role) |
| LA | 1989-90 | 80 | 34 | 39 | 7 | 75 | 4th in Smythe | Lost in Second Round |
| LA | 1990-91 | 80 | 46 | 24 | 10 | 102 | 1st in Smythe | Lost in Second Round |
| LA | 1991-92 | 80 | 35 | 31 | 14 | 84 | 2nd in Smythe | Lost in First Round |
| Total | 258 | 120 | 113 | 31 | ||||
References edit
- ^ Davis, Jefferson (2000). The Three Stars and Other Selections: More Amazing Hockey Lists for Trivia Lovers. Canada: ECW Press. p. 180. ISBN 9781550224276.
- ^ "Tom Webster, former hockey player and coach, dies at 71". USA Today. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ^ a b Kepke, Cami (10 April 2020). "Former Calgary Flames scout Tom Webster dead at 71". Global News. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ^ Wolff, Craig (1986-11-22). "ESPOSITO RUSHES IN, DROPS SATOR AND TAKES OVER". New York Times. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ "The New York Rangers will name Tom Webster head... - UPI Archives". UPI. November 29, 1986. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ "SURGERY FOR WEBSTER (Published 1986)". 1986-12-20. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ Wolff, Craig (1987-01-05). "WEBSTER RETURNS FOR RANGERS (Published 1987)". Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ Wolff, Craig (1987-01-23). "WEBSTER'S RELAPSE CAUSES CONCERN (Published 1987)". New York Times. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ Wolff, Craig (1987-01-24). "WEBSTER'S AILMENT CLOUDS HIS FUTURE (Published 1987)". Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ "New York Rangers General Manager Phil Esposito Wednesday assumed... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ Wolff, Craig (1987-01-29). "Esposito Names Himself Coach". The New York Times.
- ^ Yannis, Alex (1987-01-26). "Pro Hockey; Esposito Will Fill in Again for Webster". The New York Times.
- ^ Moran, Malcolm (1987-04-28). "Webster Leaves Ranger Job". The New York Times.
- ^ Archives, L. A. Times (1987-04-28). "Rangers' Ailing Coach Webster Resigns". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (May 31, 1989). "Kings name Webster coach - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ Springer, Steve (1992-05-05). "Kings Make Webster Part of Past : Hockey: They fire him as coach with one year left on contract. No replacement expected to be named soon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
- ^ a b Elliott, Helene (10 April 2020). "Tom Webster, former Kings coach and standout WHA player, dies at 71". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ Springer, Steve (November 28, 1991). "NHL Suspends Kings' Webster
Hockey: Stick-throwing incident will cost him 12 games, the longest penalty ever given a coach by the league". Los Angeles Times. Times Staff Writer. Retrieved April 2, 2010. - ^ Gilbertson, Wes (10 April 2020). "Flames mourn death of longtime scout Tom Webster". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ^ WHA Hall of Fame Members
External links edit
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com