Kelly McCrimmon

Last updated
Kelly McCrimmon
Born (1960-10-13) October 13, 1960 (age 63)
Plenty, Saskatchewan, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Alma mater University of Michigan
OccupationGeneral manager of the Vegas Golden Knights
Years active1990–present

Kelly McCrimmon (born October 13, 1960) is a Canadian ice hockey executive who currently serves as general manager of the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Contents

Playing career

Kelly McCrimmon played for the Prince Albert Raiders of the SJHL before suiting up with the Wheat Kings for two seasons, winning his first championship there as a player in his rookie season. After his WHL career, he played hockey for the University of Michigan Wolverines for four seasons, and was named captain his final season.

Post-playing career

Brandon Wheat Kings

McCrimmon spent his first years of coaching junior hockey in the SJHL, starting with the North Battleford North Stars for two seasons, then one with the Lloydminster Lancers.

In 1988 he re-joined the Brandon Wheat Kings as an assistant coach, then later became general manager in 1989, as well as a few stints as head coach on the way replacing Doug Sauter and Kevin Maxwell respectively. In 1992, he became the minority owner of the Wheat Kings, purchasing one-third of the franchise. In 2001, he became the sole owner of the franchise after he bought the remaining shares from Bob Cornell.

In 1995–96, McCrimmon won his first championship as a WHL general manager and his second championship with the Wheat Kings.

In 2004, he took over the coaching duties for the Brandon Wheat Kings. In his third stint as head coach of Brandon Wheat Kings, he made an appearance in the finals as head coach and general manager. In 2011, he stepped down from his coaching duties handing them to former Ottawa Senators head coach Cory Clouston.

McCrimmon returned to the bench in the 2013–14 season for the Wheat Kings for the next three seasons. During the 2014–15 season, he coached the Wheat Kings to the Western Hockey League finals, losing to the Kelowna Rockets. The next season he was brought on as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in Helsinki, Finland. The Wheat Kings had a second stint at the finals that year winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup that year against the Seattle Thunderbirds in five games.

Vegas Golden Knights

After twenty-six seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings, on August 2, 2016, McCrimmon was named the first-ever assistant general manager of the new NHL expansion team Vegas Golden Knights. [1] This came after he turned down an offer from the Toronto Maple Leafs to join their front office. [2]

In McCrimmon's first year as assistant general manager, the Vegas Golden Knights became the second expansion team ever, after the St. Louis Blues, to make the Stanley Cup Finals.

On May 2, 2019, he was promoted to general manager [3] as former general manager George McPhee took on the role of president.

On January 26, 2021, McCrimmon acted as head coach of the Golden Knights in a 5-4 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Vegas Golden Knights coaching staff. [4]

On June 13, 2023, the Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers 9 - 3 to win the Stanley Cup. By winning the Cup after six seasons, they become the fastest team to win the Stanley Cup from the time of expansion beating the 1973-74 Philadelphia Flyers who won the Cup in their seventh season.

Awards and honours

AwardYear
WHL
Ed Chynoweth Cup 2016
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2023

Personal life

McCrimmon and his wife, Terri have two adult children, Chelsea and Mick. He is the younger brother of the late former NHL defenseman Brad McCrimmon.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1977-78 Prince Albert Raiders SJHL 4910192963—————
1978-79 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 401524391391807723
1979-80Brandon Wheat KingsWHL551312258993366
1980–81 University of Michigan WCHA 3508830—————
1981–82 University of MichiganCCHA151126—————
1982–83 University of MichiganCCHA325131820—————
1983–84 University of Michigan CCHA 30851334—————
WHL totals95283664228273101329
NCAA totals112212647100

Head coaching record

YearTeamWLOT/TFinishPostseason
1990–91 Brandon Wheat Kings283867th in EastDid not qualify
1990–91 Brandon Wheat Kings195128th in EastDid not qualify
1991–92 Brandon Wheat Kings115568th in EastDid not qualify
2004-05 Brandon Wheat Kings452161st in EastLost in WHL finals
2005-06 Brandon Wheat Kings3032103rd in EastLost East Division quarter-final
2006-07 Brandon Wheat Kings4120111st in EastLost East Division semi-final
2007-08 Brandon Wheat Kings422463rd in EastLost East Division quarter-final
2008-09 Brandon Wheat Kings3032103rd in EastLost East Division final
2009-10 Brandon Wheat Kings501843rd in EastLost West Division final
2010-11 Brandon Wheat Kings323193rd in WestLost East Division quarter-final
2013-14 Brandon Wheat Kings452343rd in EastLost East Division final
2014-15 Brandon Wheat Kings531181st in EastLost WHL finals
2015–16 Brandon Wheat Kings481861st in EastWon WHL Championship; Lost in Memorial Cup

[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

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References

  1. ↑ "Kelly McCrimmon named Las Vegas assistant GM". NHL.com. National Hockey League. August 2, 2016.
  2. ↑ "MCCRIMMON TO STAY WITH WHEAT KINGS". Brandon Wheat Kings . Canadian Hockey League. June 22, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Kelly McCrimmon Named General Manager Of The Vegas Golden Knights". Vegas Golden Knights . National Hockey League. May 2, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Golden Knights isolate coaching staff, Kelly McCrimmon steps behind bench". Sportsnet Staff . Sportsnet. January 26, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Kelly McCrimmon at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com.
  6. ↑ "Kelly McCrimmon named Las Vegas assistant GM". NHL.com.
  7. ↑ "Kelly McCrimmon named general manager of Vegas Golden Knights – WHL Network".
  8. ↑ "Kelly McCrimmon stays w/ Vegas Golden Knights, no Edmonton Oilers GM job". Edmonton Sun. 2 May 2019.
  9. ↑ "Kelly McCrimmon Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com.
  10. ↑ "Brandon Wheat Kings ownership to change hands as team sold to local businessman". CJOB.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by General manager of the Vegas Golden Knights
2019–present		Incumbent
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