Winter Hawks Memorial Cup Champion Named Head Coach of NHL Calgary Flames

Salem-News.com

PORTLAND - Former Portland Winter Hawks defenseman Jim Playfair was named head coach of the NHL Calgary Flames Wednesday.

Playfair was a member of the 1982-83 Winter Hawks' Memorial Cup championship team. He played some of his best hockey in a Hawks' uniform during that tournament and was a first round NHL draft choice of the Edmonton Oilers.

Darryl Sutter relinquished head coaching duties of the Calgary Flames to focus completely on duties as a General Manager. Playfair was promoted from his position as assistant coach of the Flames to head coach.

At the end of the playoffs Sutter said he was considering not coaching and concentrating on the general manager task.

“I consider Jim Playfair as one of the top young coaches in our league today with more experience than the majority of that group,” said Sutter. “Jim has won at every level, both as a player and a coach, he is well prepared and well deserving of this opportunity."

"Even though we are hiring a new head coach today, and it’s not a surprise, remember this is a great staff. That’s what it’s about. It’s not about one person, it’s about the whole organization taking control and those are the steps that we’ve made,” Sutter added.

Sutter, 47, led the Flames to a Stanley Cup berth in 2004, where they fell in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Calgary posted a 46-25-11 record this year—good for third in the Western Conference—but lost to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in seven games in the first round of the playoffs.

Playfair, 42, has spent the past three seasons as a Flames assistant after two-plus seasons as head coach of the Flames’ AHL affiliate in Saint John. N.B. Playfair led the AHL’s Flames to the Calder Cup title in 2001 and has been coaching for 14 years.

"I think the character of our dressing room is a big factor. We have to continue to build our identity of a hard-working team," said Playfair. "We have to continue to grow and improve that identity."

Playfair said spending so much time in the organization will help make the coaching transition smooth.

"Coming through the organization you know what it is all about and you know what the identity is. It's an honour," said Playfair.

Wayne Fleming was named as Playfair’s replacement. Fleming formerly served stints as assistant coach with the New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers.

"He has won. He understands player development. He has a great handle on the NHL and developing players," said Playfair of Fleming.

Playfair said the Flames will remain the Flames. In other words, he won't be changing the style of play. He will be reinforcing what Sutter has instilled since arriving in Calgary.

"Our team is hungry. Our team is focused. I like the mind set of our players," said Playfair.

“Wayne is a proven international pro coach who is coming off three Olympic Games and a World Cup,” said Sutter. “He brings tremendous experience and is a good compliment to our current coaching staff.”

“This is an exciting time for me joining the Flames organization,” said Fleming. “I’m proud to join Jim Playfair and the rest of the coaching staff as well as two great hockey individuals in Ken King and Darryl Sutter. In this game winning is everything and there is no question the commitment of the Flames is winning the Stanley Cup.”

Fleming joins the Flames after three seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was named to the Flyers coaching staff on May 30, 2002. Philadelphia posted a 130-67-39-10 during Fleming’s time with the club.

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