Post by David on Jun 16, 2016 11:28:46 GMT -8
Image Courtesy of Tony Longworth
6.16.16 -
Spokane Chiefs Head Coach Don Nachbaur has been awarded the Pat Quinn Coaching Award.
On Monday, the BC Hockey Hall of Fame announced that Nachbaur was the inaugural recipient of the Pat Quinn Coaching Award. The award, named after renowned hockey coach Pat Quinn, was created in 2015 and recognizes an individual, regardless of what level of hockey they coach, who helps and shares excellence by educating players in hockey.
“I am truly humbled and honored to be the first recipient of the Pat Quinn Coaching Award,” Nachbaur said in the BCHHF’s press release. “To be mentioned in the same breath as Pat Quinn is quite overwhelming. As a coach, I can only hope to impact people as Pat did in his life. It is with much respect and gratitude to accept this recognition.”
Nachbaur is one of the most successful winning coaches in the Western Hockey League with over 600 wins as head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds (1994/95-1999/2000), Tri-Cities Americans (2003/04-2008/09) and Spokane Chiefs (2010/11-present). He was also head coach of the AHL's Binghamton Senators in 2009-10.
Before becoming a head coach, Nachbaur played pro-hockey for 14 years, including parts of 8 seasons with the Hartford Whalers (1980/81-1981/82), Edmonton Oilers (1982/83) and Philadelphia Flyers (1985/86-1989/90). He played in 223 career NHL games, scoring 23 goals, 46 assists and 465 penalty minutes. He retired from professional hockey at the end of the 1993/94 season.
Nachbaur has the distinction of being the only coach in WHL history to be named Coach of the Year with three separate teams. He won the award with the Thunderbirds in 1995, the Americans in 2008, and the Chiefs in 2011.
Last season, Nachbaur surpassed former Chiefs and current Toronto Maple Leafs HC Mike Babcock for most wins in franchise history. Entering the 2016-17 season, Nachbaur has 234 wins with Spokane.
- DKH
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