Joe Sacco (ice hockey)

Last updated

Joe Sacco
Born (1969-02-04) February 4, 1969 (age 56)
Medford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
New York Islanders
Washington Capitals
Philadelphia Flyers
Coached for Colorado Avalanche
Boston Bruins
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 71st overall, 1987
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 19902003
Coaching career 2005present
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1996 Vienna

Joseph William Sacco (born February 4, 1969) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). His younger brother David Sacco also played in the NHL.

Contents

Playing career

As a youth, Sacco played in the 1982 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Boston Braves minor ice hockey team. [1] He played ice hockey for Medford High School in Massachusetts. [2]

Drafted in the 1987 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sacco played for Boston University before joining the Maple Leafs. Sacco also played for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Flyers. In 738 NHL games, he recorded 94 goals and 119 assists. [3]

International play

Sacco represented the United States national team in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2002 World Championships. He also played in the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Coaching career

In the 2005–06 season, two years into retirement from playing, Sacco was hired as an assistant coach for the Lowell Lock Monsters, affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. On May 7, 2007, after two years as an assistant, Sacco was named head coach of the Colorado Avalanche's new AHL franchise, the Lake Erie Monsters. [4] Sacco then led the Monsters for the next two seasons and while recording somewhat unimpressive season's numbers with limited resources was credited with helping development of younger players to the NHL. [5]

On June 4, 2009, a day after Avalanche head coach Tony Granato was fired, Sacco was promoted and later introduced as the new head coach of the Colorado Avalanche for the 2009–10 season, a job former Avs great Patrick Roy turned down days prior. [6] After being projected finishing 15th in the Western Conference by most ice hockey pundits, Sacco coached the Avalanche to the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs posting a record of 43–30–9 in his rookie year of coaching in the NHL. [3] His team was eliminated in the conference quarterfinals after six games by the San Jose Sharks. On April 28, 2010, Sacco was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award alongside Dave Tippett of the Phoenix Coyotes and Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators. [7] Following the 2012–13 season, his fourth year at the helm, finishing last in the Western Conference and out of the playoffs for a third consecutive year, Sacco was relieved of his duties on April 28, 2013, [8] ending his eight-year association with the Avalanche. [9]

On July 2, 2013, the Buffalo Sabres hired Sacco as an assistant coach. [10]

On July 24, 2014, the Boston Bruins hired Sacco as an assistant coach. [7] In July 2024, he was promoted to associate coach. [2] On November 19, 2024, the Bruins named Sacco as interim head coach after Jim Montgomery's firing. [11] Sacco went 24-30-6 as interim coach as the Bruins finished last in the Atlantic Division and missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2015–16 season. As the Bruins interviewed candidates for a new head coach, Sacco was among those involved. [12] However, on June 2, 2025, it was reported that Sacco had been informed that he would not remain as head coach. [13]

On June 5, 2025, Sacco was named an assistant coach for the New York Rangers. [14]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1985–86 Medford High School HS-MA 20303060
1986–87Medford High SchoolHS-MA21223254
1987–88 Boston University HE 3414223638
1988–89 Boston UniversityHE3321194066
1989–90 Boston UniversityHE4428245270
1990–91 Newmarket Saints AHL 4918173524
1990–91 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 200552
1991–92 United States National Team Intl5011263761
1991–92 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL1774114
1991–92 St. John's Maple Leafs AHL11120
1992–93 St. John's Maple LeafsAHL3714163045764102
1992–93 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL234488
1993–94 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL8419183761
1994–95 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL411081823
1995–96 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL7613142740
1996–97 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL7712172935112022
1997–98 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL558111924
1997–98 New York Islanders NHL2533610
1998–99 New York IslandersNHL7330345
1999–2000 Washington Capitals NHL79716235050004
2000–01 Washington CapitalsNHL6977144860002
2001–02 Washington CapitalsNHL6507751
2002–03 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL64374
2002–03 Philadelphia Flyers NHL341562040000
NHL totals73894119213421262028

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1989 United States WJC 73142
1990 United States WC 101122
1991 United StatesWC101016
1992 United States OG 80220
1992 United StatesWC61014
1994 United StatesWC801114
1996 United StatesWC82462
2002 United StatesWC72132
Junior totals73142
Senior totals57791630

Head coaching record

NHL

TeamYear Regular season Postseason
GWLOTLPtsFinishWLWin %Result
COL 2009–10 8243309952nd in Northwest 24.333Lost in conference quarterfinals (SJS)
COL 2010–11 8230448684th in NorthwestMissed playoffs
COL 2011–12 8241356883rd in NorthwestMissed playoffs
COL 2012–13 4816257395th in NorthwestMissed playoffs
BOS 2024–25 6024306548th in AtlanticMissed playoffs
NHL total35415416436  24.3331 playoff appearance

AHL

TeamYear Regular season Postseason
GWLOTLSOLPtsFinishWLWin %Result
LEM 2007–08 80264167656th in NorthMissed playoffs
LEM 2008–09 80343835766th in NorthMissed playoffs
AHL total1606079912   

See also

References

  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Ryan, Conor (November 20, 2024). "Five things to know about interim Bruins head coach Joe Sacco" . The Boston Globe . Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Medford's Joe Sacco begins next phase of NHL career as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche". medford.wickedlocal.com. October 7, 2009. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  4. Adrian Dater (June 5, 2009). "Spotlight turns to new Avs coach Sacco". Denver Post. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  5. Adrian Dater (June 5, 2009). "Former players praise Avs' choice for coach". Denver Post. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  6. Adrian Dater (June 4, 2009). "Avs hire Sacco as head coach". Denver Post. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Joe Sacco Hired As Bruins Assistant Coach". July 24, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  8. "Sacco fired as coach of Colorado Avalanche after four NHL seasons". Denver Post . April 28, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  9. "Avalanche fire head coach Sacco, after last place finish". ESPN.com . ESPN. April 28, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  10. "Joe Sacco, ex-Avalanche hired By Buffalo Sabres as assistant". Denver Post . July 2, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  11. Benjamin, Amalie (November 19, 2024). "Montgomery fired as Bruins coach, replaced by Sacco". NHL.com. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  12. Brehm, Mike. "Bruins launch coaching search after missing playoffs; Joe Sacco to be in mix". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  13. Geagan, Matt (June 2, 2025). "Joe Sacco reportedly informed he won't be Bruins next head coach - CBS Boston". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  14. "Rangers Announce Coaching Staff Additions". New York Rangers. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Head coach of the Colorado Avalanche
20092013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Boston Bruins
(interim)

2024–25
Succeeded by