Graeme Townshend

Last updated
Graeme Townshend
Born (1965-10-23) October 23, 1965 (age 59)
Kingston, Jamaica
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Boston Bruins
New York Islanders
Ottawa Senators
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 1989–1999

Graeme Scott Townshend (born October 23, 1965) is a Jamaican-born Canadian retired ice hockey right winger. He was the first Jamaican-born player to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), and played 45 games in the NHL between 1990 and 1993. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1989 to 1999, was spent in the minor leagues.

Contents

Playing career

Prior to starting his professional career, Townshend played four seasons at RPI in ECAC Hockey, serving as a team captain during the 1987–88 season. He also played for the Mimico Monarchs of the Central Junior "B" Hockey League.

Townshend started his National Hockey League career with the Boston Bruins. He scored his first NHL goal on February 2, 1991, in Boston's 6–2 loss at Pittsburgh. He also played with the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators. His NHL career lasted from 1990 to 1994.

He played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Maine Mariners, Capital District Islanders, and Prince Edward Island Senators. Townshend also played in the International Hockey League with the Houston Aeros, Minnesota Moose, and Utah Grizzlies and in the Western Professional Hockey League for the Lake Charles Ice Pirates. His professional playing career lasted for 10 seasons. Townshend was distinguished by the International Hockey League and the Western Professional Hockey League as the Man of The Year for his leadership on and off the ice and for his contributions to his community.

Post-playing career

After his retirement, Townshend coached professional hockey for the Macon Whoopee of the Central Hockey League and the Greensboro Generals of the ECHL.

For four years, he served as the player development coordinator for the NHL's San Jose Sharks (one of only 3 in the NHL). His primary responsibility was to prepare all Sharks players and prospects with the skills required for the "new" NHL, most notably, enhancing their skating skills. [1]

On September 9, 2008, he was hired as the skating coach for the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs. [1] He held the position until the end of the 2012 season.

In December 2011, Townshend was approached by E. J. Phillipps, co-founder of the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation (JOIHF) and asked to serve as its first head coach. [2] As a head coach, he organized the first player identification and tryout camp for the new organization in August 2014. [3] Townshend continues to be a head coach of the Jamaica men's national junior team, with aspirations of making it to the Winter Olympics.

Townshend was inducted into the Canadian Black Hockey Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Townshend was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but was raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada when his family moved there in 1969. He has a brother, Kurt, who was also born in Kingston, Jamaica, and sister, Laurie, who was born in Toronto, Ontario. He is married to Lori-Ann Townshend.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1984–85 Mimico Monarchs COJHL 352222449325141125—
1985–86 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ECAC 2917852—————
1986–87 Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteECAC2961756—————
1987–88 Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteECAC326142262—————
1988–89 Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteECAC316162262—————
1988–89 Maine Mariners AHL 521311—————
1989–90 Boston Bruins NHL 40007—————
1989–90 Maine MarinersAHL64151328162—————
1990–91 Boston BruinsNHL1825712—————
1990–91 Maine MarinersAHL4616102611922024
1991–92 New York Islanders NHL71230—————
1991–92 Capital District Islanders AHL611423379440220
1992–93 New York IslandersNHL20000—————
1992–93 Capital District IslandersAHL672921504520000
1993–94 Ottawa Senators NHL140009—————
1993–94 Prince Edward Island Senators AHL56161329107—————
1994–95 Houston Aeros IHL 71192140204402222
1995–96 Minnesota Moose IHL30000—————
1995–96Houston AerosIHL6321113297—————
1996–97 Houston AerosIHL742115366830002
1997–98 Utah Grizzlies IHL10000—————
1997–98Houston AerosIHL10000—————
1997–98 Lake Charles Ice Pirates WPHL 6843448767404414
1998–99 Lake Charles Ice PiratesWPHL6028295711311731012
AHL totals299928117353882244
NHL totals45371028—————

Related Research Articles

George Robert Ramage is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers. He also played one season in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Birmingham Bulls. He was a two-time Stanley Cup winner in the NHL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Wilson (ice hockey, born 1955)</span> Canadian-American ice hockey coach

Ronald Lawrence Wilson is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey player and head coach. In his coaching career in the National Hockey League (NHL), he has coached the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs. He also was head coach of the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 1998 and 2010 Winter Olympics. Wilson holds dual citizenship of the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirk Muller</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1966)

Kirk Christopher Muller is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and current assistant coach with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played in the NHL for 19 seasons from 1984–85 until 2002–03 with the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs and won the Stanley Cup in 1993 as member of the Montreal Canadiens. Muller also previously served as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes from 2011 to 2014, and was an associate coach with the Canadiens from 2016 to 2021 following a previous stint as assistant coach with the team between 2006–2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alyn McCauley</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Alyn Daniel McCauley is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for ten years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and the Los Angeles Kings. Prior to his NHL career, McCauley was named CHL Player of the Year for 1996–97 while a member of the Ottawa 67's. McCauley was born in Brockville, Ontario, but grew up in Gananoque, Ontario. On February 3, 2022, he was named Director of Player Personnel for the Philadelphia Flyers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Davison</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1980)

Robert W. Davison is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. A defenceman, Davison played for the San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, and New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a former assistant coach of the Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syl Apps</span> Canadian ice hockey player and politician

Charles Joseph Sylvanus Apps, was a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1936 to 1948, an Olympic pole vaulter and a Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario. In 2017 Apps was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Jönsson</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1974)

Kenny Per Anders Jönsson is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders, and for Rögle BK in the Swedish Hockey League. Internationally, he played for the Sweden men's national ice hockey team and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Simpson</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1967)

Craig Andrew Simpson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres. He is currently the lead colour commentator with Sportsnet for Hockey Night in Canada and Toronto Maple Leafs' Sportsnet regional broadcasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Kessel</span> American ice hockey player (born 1987)

Philip Joseph Kessel Jr. is an American professional ice hockey winger who is an unrestricted free agent. He has previously played for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kessel is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, winning back-to-back championships with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017 and with the Golden Knights in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Tavares</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1990)

John Tavares is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). In the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he was selected first overall by the New York Islanders, for whom he played nine seasons and served as captain for five seasons.

Brian M. Wiseman is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward and NHL assistant coach.

Randolph B. Wood is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Scrivens</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1986)

Ben Scrivens is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He is the current team manager of the University of Denver Pioneers. Scrivens has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, and Montreal Canadiens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Biega</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1991)

Danny Biega is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Hurricanes in the third round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. His brother, Alex Biega, has played 250 games in the NHL. He is under contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Ho-Sang</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1996)

Joshua Navarro Ho-Sang is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL and recording artist. He recently played for the Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected by the New York Islanders in the first round, 28th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Vesey</span> American ice hockey player (born 1993)

James Michael Vesey is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the third round, 66th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Vesey attended Harvard and won the Hobey Baker Award in 2016. In 2016 he signed as a free-agent with the New York Rangers with whom he played 3 seasons, before playing the next 3 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils. He re-signed with the Rangers in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaica men's national ice hockey team</span>

The Jamaica national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of Jamaica. They are controlled by the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation and became an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) since 18 May 2012. Jamaica is currently not ranked in the IIHF World Ranking and has not entered in any IIHF World Championship events. Jamaica made its international debut in the 2019 Amerigol LATAM Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carter Verhaeghe</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1995)

Carter Verhaeghe is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the third round, 82nd overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played for the minor league affiliates of the Maple Leafs and New York Islanders, but did not play in the NHL until being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Verhaeghe won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Lightning in 2020, after which he signed as a free agent with the Panthers. Verhaeghe won a second Stanley Cup with Florida in 2024, becoming the first player to win a Stanley Cup with both teams from the state of Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Lafferty</span> American ice hockey player (born 1995)

Sam Lafferty is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vancouver Canucks.

Nicholas Abruzzese is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL).

References

  1. 1 2 "Maple Leafs Add Townshend to Staff". ECAC Hockey. 2008-09-09. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Saco man pursues dream of Olympic hockey team for Jamaica". Portland Press Herald. 2014-08-29. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Hockey players lace up for a shot at Team Jamaica". Toronto Star Newspaper. 23 August 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.