Derek Laxdal

Last updated
Derek Laxdal
Born (1966-02-21) February 21, 1966 (age 59)
Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Islanders
Ilves
Humberside Hawks
Nottingham Panthers
Sheffield Steelers
Current AHL coach Coachella Valley Firebirds
Coached for Idaho Steelheads
Edmonton Oil Kings
Texas Stars
Oshawa Generals
NHL draft 151st overall, 1984
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 19842001

Derek Laxdal (born February 21, 1966) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional right winger.

Contents

On July 5, 2024, he became head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League, following two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League Oshawa Generals. [1] [2] In his last season with the Generals, they were OHL finalists, leading the Eastern Division in the regular season, and losing to Memorial Cup runner ups, the London Knights. His return to the head coaching role came after three seasons as assistant coach of the NHL Dallas Stars.

Playing career

Born and raised in Stonewall, Manitoba, Laxdal was drafted in the eighth round, 151st overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He completed his second season in the WHL, having joined the 1983 Memorial Cup champion Portland Winter Hawks in his rookie season (which was also spent in the AJHL with the Red Deer Rebels), and then with Brandon Wheat Kings in his home province. He played 67 games in the National Hockey League: 51 over four seasons with the Maple Leafs, and 16 more over two seasons with the New York Islanders. In an almost 20-year career, he scored points at every level, including a successful four-year stint in the UK between 1995/96 and 1998/99, where he played for the Humberside Hawks (British League), Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers (Ice Hockey Superleague). He also played in the 1986 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for Canada, where Canada were silver medalists.

Coaching career

From December 10, 2019, until May 20, 2022, Laxdal was an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. From 2014 to 2019, he was the head coach of the American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, the Texas Stars. [3] [4] Previously, he served as head coach of the WHL Edmonton Oil Kings (2010–2014), the ECHL Idaho Steelheads (2005–2010), and in the former Central Hockey League, the Wichita Thunder (2002–2005). In 2007, he was the ECHL John Brophy Coach of the Year, leading the Steelheads to the Kelly Cup championship in the 2006–07 season. [5] He led the Edmonton Oil Kings to WHL titles in 2012 and 2014, winning the 2014 Memorial Cup with the Oil Kings. He was the first coach in the history of the WHL to have three 50-win seasons in a row. Before playing in the UK, he was an assistant playing coach in Roanoke, and in Odessa in his final playing years.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1982–83 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 39491327140222
1983–84 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL70232043861204410
1984–85 Brandon Wheat KingsWHL69614110274
1984–85 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 30006
1984–85 St. Catharines Saints AHL 53252
1985–86 Brandon Wheat KingsWHL4234356962
1985–86 New Westminster Bruins WHL18961514
1985–86 St. Catharines SaintsAHL701115
1986–87 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL20007
1986–87 Newmarket Saints AHL7824204469
1987–88 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL50006
1987–88 Newmarket SaintsAHL6718254381
1988–89 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL41961565
1988–89 Newmarket SaintsAHL342222445320225
1989–90 Newmarket SaintsAHL23781552
1989–90 New York Islanders NHL12314410222
1989–90 Springfield Indians AHL281312254213861447
1990–91 New York IslandersNHL40000
1990–91 Capital District Islanders AHL6514253975
1991–92 Capital District IslandersAHL49771461411210
1993–94 Ilves SM-l 1765112031014
1994–95 Roanoke Express ECHL 66322456144824625
1995–96 Humberside Hawks BHL 332929581637941316
1996–97 Nottingham Panthers BISL 3114142854813427
1997–98 Nottingham PanthersBISL44242347103613410
1998–99 Sheffield Steelers BISL299132232
1999–00 Sheffield SteelersBISL1833620
1999–00 Odessa Jackalopes WPHL 462825535320444
2000–01 Odessa JackalopesWPHL652123441031153831
AHL totals3561081222304503110102086
NHL totals67127198810222

References

  1. "Generals name Derek Laxdal 35th head coach in team history – Ontario Hockey League" . Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  2. "DEREK LAXDAL NAMED FIREBIRDS' HEAD COACH" . Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  3. Heika, Mike. "Stars name Derek Laxdal as head coach of Texas Stars" Archived 2014-07-08 at the Wayback Machine , The Dallas Morning News , July 3, 2014. (accessed 8 July 2014)
  4. "DALLAS STARS APPOINT NEIL GRAHAM AS TEXAS STARS HEAD COACH". texas Stars. December 10, 2019.
  5. "Derek Laxdal: Steelheads Staff". Archived from the original on 2008-02-03. Retrieved 2007-10-25.