OHL coaching alumni lead charge in Stanley Cup final four

As the Stanley Cup Playoffs reach their final stage, the four remaining teams continue to be driven by the success of OHL alumni, including those making decisions behind the bench. The Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, and New York Rangers are the last teams standing in the Western and Eastern Conferences, with three of the four head coaches having made significant marks in the OHL.

Leading the Oilers to a 49-27-6 record in his first regular season as Head Coach, Kris Knoblauch has been instrumental in Edmonton’s success since being hired in November 2023. Reunited with former Otters forwards Connor McDavid, Connor Brown and Warren Foegele, Knoblauch has made a notable impact. He was named OHL Coach of the Year in 2016 and led the Erie Otters to the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions in 2017, coming within one win of a Memorial Cup title. Knoblauch spent the last five seasons as Head Coach of the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The Oilers currently sit tied in the Western Conference Final 1-1 with the Dallas Stars.

Photo of the Detroit Junior Red Wings and their head coach, Paul Maurice jumping off the bench to celebrate their OHL championship in 1995. They defeated Guelph in 6 games and would go on to finish 2nd at the Memorial Cup, losing to the hometown Kamloops Blazers in the final. pic.twitter.com/cF7T4EtGJl

— OHL History (@OHL_History) June 6, 2022

Another former OHL Coach of the Year, Paul Maurice, has continued to excel at the NHL level, guiding the Florida Panthers to a 52-24-6 regular season record. Now in his 25th NHL season, Maurice became the youngest coach in NHL history to coach 1,000 games at the age of 43 in 2010. His head coaching career spans the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, and Panthers. Maurice has made two Stanley Cup Final appearances and won an OHL Championship with the Windsor Spitfires in 1988. He later coached the Detroit Jr. Red Wings to an OHL championship in 1995. Maurice himself played four seasons in the OHL with the Spitfires from 1984-88.

Dallas Stars Head Coach Peter DeBoer, a former teammate of Maurice with the Spitfires, is aiming for his third Stanley Cup Final appearance. Coaching in his 16th NHL season, DeBoer has led teams including the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights, and now the Stars.

Photo of Peter DeBoer running a Detroit Whalers practice during the 1996-97 season, his second season as an OHL head coach. pic.twitter.com/R905XRmdac

— OHL History (@OHL_History) February 3, 2021

“I obviously haven’t won the whole thing. But whether that deep as a conference final or a final, you galvanize with a group and a team and a bunch of men together through that journey, because it’s so hard and it takes so much sacrifice both personally and on the ice. And that’s the juice that we coach for,” said DeBoer.

After a four-year playing career with the Windsor Spitfires from 1985-89, DeBoer spent 21 seasons involved in the OHL, starting as Assistant Coach of the Detroit Jr. Red Wings (1993-95) before becoming General Manager and Head Coach of the Detroit/Plymouth Whalers (1995-2001). He later found success with the Kitchener Rangers as Head Coach and General Manager (2001-08), winning the Memorial Cup in 2003. DeBoer was also part owner of the Oshawa Generals from 2009-18.

Despite their extensive accomplishments, none of these three coaches have hoisted the Stanley Cup as NHL champions. The ongoing battle for the top spot promises to be a historic one, as each coach strives to secure their first taste of NHL supremacy.

Coach Kris Knoblauch of the @ErieOtters presented with the Matt Leyden Trophy.

WATCH: https://t.co/h5ZHlOfquS pic.twitter.com/AM9LE06eqF

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) June 8, 2016