Brian Kilrea inducted into AHL Hall of Fame
The winningest coach in Canadian Hockey League history, Brian Kilrea was once among the cornerstones of a 1960’s AHL dynasty and on Monday was recognized as one of the American Hockey League’s all-time greats, entering the league’s Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Verona, New York.
Kilrea’s induction comes 49 years after his final AHL game in a career headlined by three consecutive Calder Cup titles with the Springfield Indians in 1960, 1961 and 1962.
The now 83-year-old was a steady point producer during his on-ice career, racking up 624 points (171-453–624) over 623 career AHL games between 1959 and 1969.
Our fourth and final 2018 #AHLHOF inductee is Brian Kilrea. Congratulations, Brian! pic.twitter.com/dSel8CaZEQ
— AHL (@TheAHL) January 29, 2018
He also owns the distinction of having scored the first goal in Los Angeles Kings franchise history in 1967 as part of a 26-game NHL tenure.
“Not too many may remember I was a player before I was a coach,” a laughing Kilrea told the Ottawa Sun’s Don Campbell.
“I’m proud of it. I think some of the names I played with and against, they would have been stars in the NHL today,” he added, citing that there were just six teams in the NHL and six teams in the AHL during his playing days.
Kilrea joined former Springfield teammate Don Cherry on the bench at the 2018 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Guelph, Ont. last week.
Your #AHLHOF Class of 2018. Congratulations, gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/QaDjfRzEki
— AHL (@TheAHL) January 29, 2018
A 2003 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee in the builder category, Kilrea entered the AHL’s Hall of Fame alongside another former Springfield teammate in Jim Bartlett and other league standouts in Oshawa Generals graduate Don Biggs (1982-85) and Glenn Merkosky as part of the class of 2018.
A five-time OHL Coach of the Year, Kilrea coached to an all-time record of 1,193-771-153-39 over a 32-year span with the Ottawa 67’s, winning Mastercard Memorial Cup titles in 1984 and 1999.
For more on Kilrea’s AHL Hall of Fame induction, visit theahl.com.
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