Tom Webster (ice hockey)

Tom Webster
Webster in 1969
Born (1948-10-04) October 4, 1948
Kirkland Lake, 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

Thomas Ronald "Hawkeye" Webster (born October 4, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former coach. He was born to Clara Lukowicz (née Webster). He is one of 8 siblings.

Playing career

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.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player Webster has been the coach for a number of teams at various levels of hockey.

His first head coaching job came in 1986, when he became coach of the New York Rangers following the firing of Ted Sator. After only five games, Webster fell ill with what was later diagnosed as an inner-ear infection that left him unable to fly. He returned as head coach on January 5 for home games only; general manager Phil Esposito split coaching duties with assistants Ed Giacomin and Wayne Cashman for road games. He was cleared to fly again in January, but suffered a relapse during a game against the Edmonton Oilers, and was told to stay off planes for at least three months. 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.[2][3][4]

Webster's next head coaching stint was with the Los Angeles Kings. He led the Kings to what is (as of the 2016-17 season) the only regular season division title in franchise history, in 1990-91.

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.[5]

Webster currently serves as an amateur scout for the Calgary Flames.

Honours

In 2012, he was inducted into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    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

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1974 Canada SS 4 2 0 2 4

Coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsFinishResult
NYR1986-87 18594(76)4th in Patrick(interim; returned to assistant coaching role)
LA1989-90 8034397754th in SmytheLost in Second Round
LA1990-91 804624101021st in SmytheLost in Second Round
LA1991-92 80353114842nd in SmytheLost in First Round
Total25812011331

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Jefferson (2000). The Three Stars and Other Selections: More Amazing Hockey Lists for Trivia Lovers. Canada: ECW Press. p. 180. ISBN 9781550224276.
  2. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/28/sports/webster-leaves-ranger-job.html
  3. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/29/sports/esposito-names-himself-coach.html
  4. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/26/sports/pro-hockey-esposito-will-fill-in-again-for-webster.html
  5. ↑ Steve Springer (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"    . Times Staff Writer. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  6. ↑ WHA Hall of Fame Members
Preceded by
Ted Sator		 Head coach of the New York Rangers
1986–87		 Succeeded by
Phil Esposito
Preceded by
Robbie Ftorek		 Head coach of the Los Angeles Kings
1989–92		 Succeeded by
Barry Melrose
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