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Roger Neilson

Born:June 16, 1934
Hometown:Toronto, ON
Known For:“Captain Video”
“Towel Power”
National Team:Canada

Roger Paul Neilson, CM (June 16, 1934 – June 21, 2003) was a Canadian professional ice hockey coach, most notably in the National Hockey League (NHL), and was responsible for many innovations in the game. He was head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, and Philadelphia Flyers. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category.

Born in Toronto, he attended a public high school, North Toronto Collegiate Institute. Neilson’s coaching career began as a student at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario where he continued to coach until graduation with a degree in Physical Education in both hockey and baseball.

Roger Neilson Toronto Maple Leafs
Head Coach Roger Neilson of the Toronto Maple Leafs, 1977 (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)

Deeper Dive

Coaching History

Scouting History

Achievements

  • Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder in 2002
  • OMHA All-Time Great Team (Coach) (2009)

Sources