Shot Right Role Ice hockey player Career end 1980 Name Tom Webster Career start 1968 | Playing career Weight 77 kg Height 1.78 m Position Winger | |
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Born October 4, 1948 (age 76) Kirkland Lake, ON, CAN ( 1948-10-04 ) Played for Boston BruinsDetroit Red WingsCalifornia Golden SealsNew England Whalers (WHA) NHL Draft 19th overall, 1966Boston Bruins Similar People Bob Berry, Bob Pulford, Larry Robinson, Darryl Sutter, Anze Kopitar | ||
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.
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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. 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, however, 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 Edmonton, 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.
Webster's next head coaching stint was with the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL. 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.
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.