Hawerchuk claims 200th OHL win

Thursday January 7, 2016

Barrie Colts Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Dale Hawerchuk earned his 200th career OHL coaching victory on Thursday as his club came up with three third period goals to defeat the Mississauga Steelheads 7-4. (Highlights)

Barrie’s fourth win in the last five games sees the Colts sitting atop the Central Division as they remain in the hunt for their second straight division title and seventh in franchise history.

Hawerchuk, who joined the Colts at the start of the 2010-11 season, has won a pair of Central Division crowns (2013, 2015) and one Eastern Conference title (2013) in his five seasons with the club. The Colts have won 40 games or more in three of their past four seasons and could very well continue that trend with 23 wins through their first 37 games this season.

Hawerchuk’s tenure in Barrie follows a decorated playing career that spanned 16 NHL seasons spent with Winnipeg, Buffalo, St. Louis and Philadelphia. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001, he remains the Winnipeg Jets’ all-time leading scorer, was a five-time NHL All-Star and was the first player in NHL history to appear in 1000 games before his 31st birthday.

The Toronto, ON, native currently boasts a career OHL coaching record of 200-157-9-11 with a .557 winning percentage.

Throughout his time in Barrie he has contributed to the development of notable Colts graduates in Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers), Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets), Tanner Pearson (Los Angeles Kings) and Joseph Blandisi (New Jersey Devils).