Mike Kitchen

Last updated
Mike Kitchen
Mike Kitchen.jpg
Kitchen as an assistant coach for the Blackhawks
Born (1956-02-01) February 1, 1956 (age 68)
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Colorado Rockies
New Jersey Devils
NHL draft 38th overall, 1976
Kansas City Scouts
WHA draft 83rd overall, 1976
Toronto Toros
Playing career 19761985

Michael Elwin Kitchen (born February 1, 1956) is a Canadian former defenceman and coach. He most recently was an assistant coach for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League. [1] As of February 2016, Kitch has coached in over 2400 NHL games including playoffs. In 2012/2013 he assisted in coaching the Hawks to their longest winning streak without a loss. He also spent time as the head coach of the Lake Simcoe Snappers, the Georgina Men’s League Champions.

Contents

He was selected in the third round of the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft, 38th overall, by the Kansas City Scouts. He was also taken in the seventh round of the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft, 83rd overall, by the Toronto Toros, although Kitchen ultimately chose to enter the NHL. Kitchen was born in Newmarket, Ontario, but grew up in Schomberg, Ontario.

Mike is well known for his charitable work and has used his day with the Stanley Cup to raise funds for Southlake Regional Health Centre and other local charities.

Kitchen is the older brother of Bill Kitchen, also a former hockey player.

Playing career

A defensive defenceman, Kitchen played his amateur career with the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Association, winning a Memorial Cup in 1975. He turned professional for the 1976–77 NHL season, serving a brief, 14-game apprenticeship Rhode Island Reds of the AHL, before making his NHL debut. Kitchen joined the Colorado Rockies in his first professional season, and spent his entire NHL career with the same franchise. The team moved to New Jersey after the 1981–82 NHL season, and Kitchen went on to play two more seasons for the New Jersey Devils. Kitchen was sent to the Maine Mariners of the AHL for the entire 1984–85 NHL season, and decided to retire following that season's conclusion.

Coaching career

Kitchen was hired as an assistant coach by the Newmarket Saints of the AHL for the 1988–89 season, and was subsequently hired for the same position by the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he spent eight seasons helping them to conference finals appearances in 1993 and 1994. He then left Toronto for the same position with the St. Louis Blues franchise, a position he held until his elevation to head coach halfway through the 2003–04 NHL season. The Blues struggled and were 9th place in the Western Conference when they fired Joel Quenneville and replaced him with Kitchen as head coach. However under Kitchen, they picked up their play and went 10–7–4 in the process to make the playoffs once again.

In the 2005–2006 NHL season, Mike Kitchen led a younger group of Blues to a 21–46–15 record. 2006–2007 started the same as the Blues stumbled out of the gate to a 7–17–4 mark. On December 11, 2006, after a seven-game losing streak, Kitchen was fired as head coach of the St. Louis Blues and replaced by former Los Angeles Kings head coach Andy Murray. [2] Blues president John Davidson indicated that he would like Kitchen to remain with the organization in a different capacity.

At the end of that season, Kitchen left the Blues to become an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers in 2007. He stayed with the club through the 2009-2010 season. With that contract having expired, on July 12, 2010 Mike agreed to a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks which saw him reunited with head coach Joel Quenneville. Joel and Mike had coached together in St. Louis from 1998 - 2003, leading the Blues to a franchise record 114 points in 1999-2000 while winning the President’s Trophy.

The Hawks were fresh off their first Stanley Cup victory in 49 years. Since arriving, Kitchen helped the team win two more Stanley Cups, in 2012-2013 and in 2014-2015.

Kitchen was relieved of his duties with the Blackhawks, which focused on defense and the penalty kill, on April 24, 2017 following the team's second consecutive first-round playoff exit, this time against the Nashville Predators after a 4-0 sweep. [3]

In 2018, Kitchen joined Team Canada for the first time as an assistant coach. The team participated in the 92nd Spengler Cup, which was held from 26 to 31 December 2018 at the Vaillant Arena, Davos. Canada placed second in this tournament.

After being away from hockey for two seasons, Kitchen reunited once more with Joel Quenneville this time with the Florida Panthers again for the second time In his career as an assistant coach with the team, this time instead working under Quenneville’s watch for the upcoming 2019-20 NHL Season.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1972–73 Aurora Tigers OPJAHL 4451419138
1973–74 Toronto Marlboros OHA 6931720145
1974–75 Toronto Marlboros OMJHL 685303513621191035
1974–75 Toronto Marlboros M-Cup 40448
1975–76 Toronto MarlborosOMJHL65618241481002226
1976–77 Rhode Island Reds AHL 140101014
1976–77 Colorado Rockies NHL 6018936
1977–78 Colorado RockiesNHL61217194520002
1978–79 Colorado RockiesNHL5314528
1979–80 Colorado RockiesNHL4216725
1979–80 Fort Worth Texans CHL 30099221501116
1980–81 Colorado RockiesNHL75178100
1981–82 Fort Worth TexansCHL1315616
1981–82 Colorado RockiesNHL6318960
1982–83 New Jersey Devils NHL77481252
1983–84 New Jersey DevilsNHL4314524
1984–85 Maine Mariners AHL1201110
NHL totals47412627437020002

Coaching record

TeamYear Regular season Post season
GWLTOTLPtsFinishResult
STL 2003–04 2110740(91)2nd in Central Lost in first round
STL 2005–06 82214615575th in CentralMissed playoffs
STL 2006–07 287174(81)3rd in Central(fired)
Total1313870419

Transactions

Awards

Click on the link and watch Kitchen’s induction ceremony and video documentary. https://aurorashof.ca/inductee/mike-kitch-kitchen/

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacques Martin (ice hockey)</span> Canadian ice hockey coach

Jacques Martin is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach. In the National Hockey League (NHL), he has served as head coach of the St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers. Martin also served as the general manager of the Panthers and has served as an assistant coach with the Canadian men's national ice hockey team. Martin is a Franco-Ontarian, and a two-time Stanley Cup champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Quenneville</span> Canadian-American ice hockey coach

Joel Norman Quenneville is a Canadian–American ice hockey coach and former player in the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Coach Q", he is second in NHL coaching wins at 969 behind Scotty Bowman. Quenneville achieved his greatest success as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, a team he coached from 2008 to 2018. He led the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup titles between 2010 and 2015. The team's championship victory in 2010 was the Blackhawks' first since 1961, ending the then-longest Stanley Cup drought.

The 2005–06 NHL season was the 89th season of operation of the National Hockey League (NHL). This season succeeded the 2004–05 season which had all of its scheduled games canceled due to a labor dispute with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) over the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the League and its players. The season featured the first time that all 30 of its member teams played games on the same day, which happened the first day of the season, October 5, 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Keenan</span> Canadian professional hockey coach (born 1949)

Michael Edward Keenan is a Canadian professional hockey coach currently serving as head coach of the Italian men's national ice hockey team. Previously, he served as head coach and/or general manager with several NHL teams between 1984 and 2009. He currently ranks fifth in playoff wins with 96. He is noted for his early career success in coaching Team Canada to win the 1987 Canada Cup round-robin tournament in a thrilling best-of-three series finale against Viktor Tikhonov's Red Army team. He is one of three coaches to coach in a playoff Game 7 ten times, for which he won five times. Keenan was the third person to lead three different teams to the Stanley Cup Finals; only one coach has accomplished the feat since Keenan.

The 1997–98 NHL season was the 81st regular season of the National Hockey League. The Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina, becoming the Carolina Hurricanes. The Stanley Cup champions were the Detroit Red Wings, who swept the Washington Capitals in four games.

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

Robert Jesse Pulford is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League. He later served as head coach of the Kings before spending 30 years with the Chicago Blackhawks as a coach and general manager.

Bob Berry is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings between 1968 and 1977. Bob was elected to play in two NHL all star games. He has also served as a head coach in the NHL for the Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues between 1978 and 1994. He has two sons Bradlee and Brock. His grandson Bodie is following in his grandpa footsteps wearing his jersey #18 and playing junior hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alain Vigneault</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Alain Vigneault is a Canadian former professional ice hockey coach. Vigneault has previously coached the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers for 19 seasons in the NHL, as well as in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). During his career with the Canucks, he won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach of the year in 2006–07 and became the team's record holder for wins as a coach. Under Vigneault, Vancouver won back-to-back Presidents' Trophies and made one appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in (2011). In his first season with New York, he led the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance (2014) in 20 years and a Presidents' Trophy in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Rumble</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Darren William Rumble is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey player. Rumble played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL), but played most of his career with various minor league teams, winning the Eddie Shore Award as the American Hockey League (AHL)'s best defenceman in 1997. He won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004. After retiring later that year, Rumble became an assistant coach with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. He became head coach of the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL in 2008, holding the position until January 2010. He then took up various coaching positions in the minor leagues. He has served as head coach of the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Dineen</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Kevin William Dineen is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. As of 2021, Dineen is the head coach of the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League (AHL). Dineen previously served as the head coach for the Florida Panthers and assistant coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. He was born in Quebec City, Quebec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Richardson</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Luke Glen Richardson is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the head coach for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, seventh overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. Richardson has also played for the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Ottawa Senators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulf Samuelsson</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1964)

Ulf Bo Samuelsson is a Swedish-American former professional ice hockey defenceman who formerly served as assistant coach of the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League. He played several seasons in the NHL with the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Philadelphia Flyers. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992, and the first European-born player to have 2,000 career penalty minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Van Ryn</span> Canadian former ice hockey defenceman

Michael Theodore Van Ryn is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and current assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played for the St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, and Maple Leafs during his National Hockey League career.

Bradley William Shaw is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He was selected by the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the fifth round, 86th overall, in the 1982 NHL entry draft and played as a defenceman for the Hartford Whalers, Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues in the NHL. He was a member of the 1989 NHL All-Rookie Team and twice won the Eddie Shore Award as the American Hockey League's best defenceman. He won the Turner Cup with the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League and the J. Ross Robertson Cup and Memorial Cup as a member of the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League. He is currently an associate coach for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, and has coached in a variety of roles at various hockey levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Stevens (ice hockey)</span> Ice hockey player

John A. Stevens is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is an assistant coach of the Vegas Golden Knights. He is the former head coach of the Los Angeles Kings and the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Stevens was a defenceman for the Flyers and Hartford Whalers during his playing career. Stevens was born in Campbellton, New Brunswick, but grew up in Turkey Point in Norfolk County, Ontario.

The 2008–09 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 83rd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. Prior to the start of the season, the Blackhawks announced that 20-year-old center Jonathan Toews would serve as the team's captain for the 2008–09 season, thus making him the 3rd-youngest player to earn that distinction in the NHL. Their regular season began on October 10, 2008, against the New York Rangers and concluded on April 12, 2009, against the rival Detroit Red Wings. The Blackhawks played in the Winter Classic, an outdoor game, against the Red Wings at Wrigley Field on January 1, 2009. The team succeeded in making the 2008–09 playoffs with a 3–1 win over Nashville on April 3 after missing the 2007–08 playoffs by three points.

The 2013–14 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 88th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. The Blackhawks were attempting to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, a feat that had not been accomplished in the NHL since the Detroit Red Wings won consecutive championships in 1997 and 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claude Julien (ice hockey)</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Claude Julien is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He most recently served as the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Before his firing by the Boston Bruins in 2017, he was the longest tenured head coach in the NHL. He had previously served as head coach of the New Jersey Devils in the NHL, as well as in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Hamilton Bulldogs. In 2011 he coached the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals, against the Vancouver Canucks, winning in 7 games, guiding Boston to their sixth franchise Stanley Cup title. In 2013, he brought Boston to another Stanley Cup Finals; however, they lost the series to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Stanley Cup Finals</span> 2015 ice hockey championship series

The 2015 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2014–15 season, and the culmination of the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Western Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning four games to two to win their sixth championship in franchise history, and their third title in six seasons.

Jamie Kompon is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He now is an assistant coach for the Florida Panthers of the NHL.

References

  1. "Mike Kitchen Bio - Chicago Blackhawks - Team". Archived from the original on 2012-02-03.
  2. "Blues fire Kitchen, hire Murray". ESPN.com. December 12, 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  3. Price, Satchel (April 24, 2017). "Blackhawks fire assistant coach Mike Kitchen". SB Nation-Second City Hockey. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
Preceded by Head coach of the St. Louis Blues
2004–06
Succeeded by