Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) Name John Torchetti Shot Right Role Coach | NHL Draft Undrafted Positions Winger Playing career | |
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Born July 9, 1964 (age 59)
Boston, MA, USA ( 1964-07-09 ) Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) Played for Binghamton Whalers, Carolina Thunderbirds, Virginia Lancers | ||
The other state of hockey 5 20 15 with coach john torchetti
John Torchetti (born July 9, 1964) is a former American ice hockey player, and current assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Torchetti previously served as the head coach for the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League (2002–2003), the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL (2006–2007), the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (2014–2016), and interim head coach of the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (2016). He also served as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Atlanta Thrashers, and Chicago Blackhawks; Kontinental Hockey League's HC CSKA Moscow. Torchetti was also the interim head coach for the Florida Panthers, and the Los Angeles Kings.
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Playing career
Torchetti played prep school hockey for the powerful New Preparatory School of Cambridge, Massachusetts as a Post-Graduate at the age of eighteen under the coaching tutelage of the regionally renowned George Kozack. Before attending New Prep School, Torchetti played for Jamaica Plain High School in the Boston City League, where he set state scoring records, superseding the ones achieved in the late 1960s by the legendary Robbie Ftorek of Needham High School.
Torchetti started his professional career as a member of the Carolina Thunderbirds, where he would spend seven of his eight seasons. Torchetti led the All-American Hockey League in goals (63), assists (71), and points (134) during the 1987–88 AAHL season. He would have a brief callup with the Binghamton Whalers of the AHL at the start of the 1988–89 season, but would return to Carolina after ten games.
After eight seasons in the minors, Torchetti retired from hockey after the 1990–91 ECHL season.
Coaching career
His first coaching assignment came as an assistant coach for the Greensboro Monarchs of the ECHL. His first head coaching position was with the San Antonio Iguanas of the CHL, where he took over when Bill Goldsworthy became ill. He coached the Iguanas to the finals twice in two years and won the Commissioner's Trophy for coach of the year in 1995. After spending the first half of the 1996–97 season as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Dragons of the IHL, Torchetti became head coach of the Fort Wayne Komets. In 1998 he won the Commissioners' Trophy.
Before the 1999–2000 NHL season Torchetti was hired as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning under Steve Ludzik. In 2002 Torchetti was hired as head coach of the San Antonio Rampage. Due to his many coaching stints in the city, "Torch" has kept close ties to San Antonio. After 65 games he was promoted to assistant coach with the parent club, the Florida Panthers. In 2004, he served 27 games as interim head coach, replacing Rick Dudley. He finished with a 10–12–4–1 record before being replaced by Jacques Martin. During the 2005–06 NHL season, Torchetti was hired by Dave Taylor as interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings. With a chance to clinch a playoff spot, he had a 5–7 record in the team's final 12 games and was not retained by the Kings, instead being replaced by Marc Crawford.
In 2006, he was hired by the Moncton Wildcats to replace Ted Nolan as head coach and director of hockey operations. He coached the team to a 39–25–0–4 record and a third-placed finish in the QMJHL's Eastern Division. The Wildcats were eliminated in the first round by the Halifax Mooseheads.
Torchetti was hired as an associate coach for the Chicago Blackhawks on May 16, 2007, and won his first Stanley Cup in 2010.
On July 8, 2010 it was announced that Torchetti has been hired by the Atlanta Thrashers as the associate head coach under Craig Ramsay.
On July 5, 2011 he was announced as the new head coach of the Houston Aeros, replacing Mike Yeo.
On June 24, 2013 he was introduced as the new head coach of the KHL's CSKA Moscow.
On November 12, 2014 he was announced as the head coach of the Iowa Wild. He replaced Kurt Kleinendorst, who had started the season with a 2–10 record. This marked a return to a franchise he led in Houston.
On February 13, 2016, Torchetti was announced as the interim head coach of the Minnesota Wild.
On June 9, 2016, Torchetti was named an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings.