Patrick J. Kelly (ice hockey)
Pat Kelly | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 8, 1935 Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Ice hockey coach, commissioner |
| Years active | 1952–2003 |
| Known for | Co-founder and inaugural commissioner of the East Coast Hockey League; coaching Colorado Rockies and Birmingham Bulls; Kelly Cup namesake |
Patrick J. "Pat" Kelly (born September 8, 1935) is a retired American ice hockey coach, recognized as a co-founder and the inaugural commissioner of the East Coast Hockey League. The Kelly Cup bears his name in honor of his contributions. In the late 1970s, he also held coaching positions with the Colorado Rockies and the Birmingham Bulls.
Early life
Kelly was born in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, and began his junior hockey career in 1952 playing for the St. Catharines Teepees in the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Career
His professional playing tenure included stints with the Springfield Indians of the AHL, the Trois-Rivières Lions (1955–1960) in the Quebec Hockey League, the Troy Bruins of the International Hockey League, and the Greensboro Generals (1959–1977) competing in the Eastern Hockey League.
Coaching and management
Kelly launched his coaching career in the Eastern Hockey League, initially with the Jersey Devils before moving on to lead the Clinton Comets. During his time with Clinton from 1967 to 1970, he amassed a remarkable 151–39–28 record and secured three consecutive regular season and playoff championships. Notably, the 1967–68 Comets achieved a professional record by limiting losses to just five games (57–5–10). His exceptional performance earned him The Hockey News Minor League Coach of the Year award in 1970.
Between 1973 and 1976, Kelly served as head coach and general manager for Charlotte in the Southern Hockey League. Under his leadership, the Checkers posted a 136–68–12 record and captured two regular season and playoff titles. His achievements were recognized with two SHL Coach of the Year honors.
In the 1977–78 season, Kelly coached the NHL's Colorado Rockies, becoming their sole coach to guide them into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Following various coaching roles within the AHL, he led the Peoria Rivermen (IHL) to a Turner Cup victory during the 1984–85 campaign. On January 4, 1987, he reached a milestone of 800 career wins and was later inducted into the Peoria Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Additional honors include induction into both the Roanoke Hall of Fame and Welland, Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2002, Kelly became the first individual inducted into the Greensboro Hockey Hall of Fame when his jersey number (5) was officially retired.
Kelly held the position of ECHL commissioner for its initial eight seasons before transitioning to commissioner emeritus status after the 1995–96 season. Celebrating his fiftieth season in hockey during 2002–03, he was subsequently inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2008.
National Hockey League
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | Result | ||
| Colorado Rockies | 1977–78 | 80 | 19 | 40 | 21 | 59 | 2nd in Smythe | Lost preliminary round (0-2 vs. PHI) |
| Colorado Rockies | 1978–79 | 21 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 4th in Smythe | Fired |
| NHL totals | 1977-1979 | 101 | 22 | 54 | 25 | 69 | 0-2 (0.000) | |
World Hockey Association
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | Result | ||
| Birmingham Bulls | 1976–77 | 57 | 24 | 30 | 3 | (66) | 5th in Eastern | Did not qualify |
| WHA totals | 1976-1977 | 57 | 24 | 30 | 3 | 51 | 0-0 (0.000) | |
Eastern Hockey League (1954-1973)
| Team | Season | Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Standing | Outcome | ||
| Jersey Devils | 1964–65 | 72 | 34 | 34 | 4 | 72 | 4th place Northern Division | Eliminated in division semi-finals (1-3 vs. LI) |
| Clinton Comets | 1965–66 | 72 | 41 | 28 | 3 | 85 | 2nd place Northern Division | Advanced past division semi-finals (3-0 vs. JON), eliminated in division finals (1-4 vs. LI) |
| Clinton Comets | 1966–67 | 72 | 44 | 26 | 2 | 90 | Northern Division champions | Swept division semi-finals (3-0 vs. LI), lost division finals (2-4 vs. JER) |
| Clinton Comets | 1967–68 | 72 | 57 | 5 | 10 | 114 | Northern Division champions | Swept division semi-finals (3-0 vs. LI) Won division finals (4-3 vs. NH) Captured Walker Cup (4-0 vs. CHA) |
| Clinton Comets | 1968–69 | 72 | 44 | 18 | 10 | 98 | Northern Division champions | Swept division semi-finals (3-0 vs. LI) Won division finals (4-3 vs. NH) Secured Walker Cup (4-0 vs. NSH) |
| Clinton Comets | 1969–70 | 74 | 50 | 16 | 8 | 108 | Northern Division champions | Swept division semi-finals (4-0 vs. SYR) Won division finals (4-3 vs. NH) Claimed Walker Cup (4-2 vs. GBO) |
| Clinton Comets | 1970–71 | 74 | 31 | 32 | 11 | 73 | 4th place Northern Division | Eliminated in division semi-finals (1-4 vs. NH) |
| Clinton Comets | 1971–72 | 75 | 30 | 32 | 13 | 73 | 3rd place Northern Division | Exited in division semi-finals (1-4 vs. JON) |
| Clinton Comets | 1972–73 | 76 | 18 | 51 | 7 | 43 | 3rd place Northern Division | Did not qualify for playoffs |
| EHL Totals | 1964-1973 | 659 | 349 | 242 | 68 | 766 | Four division championships | 46-30 record (.605) including three Walker Cup titles |
Southern Hockey League
| Team | Season | Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Standing | Outcome | ||
| Charlotte Checkers | 1973-74 | 72 | 44 | 27 | 1 | 89 | 2nd place SHL | Advanced through league semi-finals (4-2 vs. GRE), lost James Crockett Cup finals (3-4 vs. RV) |
| Charlotte Checkers | 1974-75 | 72 | 50 | 21 | 1 | 101 | SHL regular-season champions | Dominated league semi-finals (4-0 vs. RV) and secured James Crockett Cup (4-2 vs. HAM) |
| Charlotte Checkers | 1975-76 | 72 | 42 | 20 | 10 | 94 | SHL regular-season champions | Won league semi-finals (4-2 vs. RV) and clinched James Crockett Cup title again (4-1 vs. HAM) |
| Charlotte Checkers | 1976-77 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 3rd place SHL | Head Coach promoted to lead the Birmingham Bulls |
| SHL Totals | 1973-1977 | 233 | 146 | 75 | 12 | 294 | Two championship titles | 23-11 playoff record (.676), winning two James Crockett Cups |
American Hockey League
| Team | Season | Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Standing | Outcome | ||
| Rochester Americans | 1978-79 | 52 | 16 | 27 | 9 | 64 | 4th place in South Division | Did not make playoffs |
| Binghamton Dusters | 1979-80 | 30 | 8 | 19 | 3 | 19 | 5th place in South Division | Dismissed |
| AHL totals | 1978-1980 | 82 | 24 | 46 | 12 | 62 | 0-0 (0.000) | |
Eastern Hockey League (1978-1981)
| Team | Season | Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Standing | Outcome | ||
| Salem Raiders | 1980-81 | 72 | 32 | 31 | 9 | 73 | 3rd place in EHL | Lost semifinals (2-4 vs. RIC) |
| EHL totals | 1980-1981 | 72 | 32 | 31 | 9 | 73 | 2-4 (0.333) | |
Atlantic Coast Hockey League
| Team | Season | Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Standing | Outcome | ||
| Salem Raiders | 1981-82 | 47 | 32 | 15 | 0 | 64 | 1st place in ACHL | Won semifinals (4-1 vs. WS) Lost Payne Trophy finals (2-4 vs. MV) |
| Virginia Raiders | 1982-83 | 65 | 20 | 36 | 9 | 49 | 4th place in ACHL | Swept in semifinals (0-4 vs. CAR) |
| ACHL totals | 1981-1983 | 112 | 52 | 51 | 9 | 113 | 6-9 (0.400) | |
International Hockey League
| Team | Season | Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Standing | Outcome | ||
| Peoria Prancers | 1983-84 | 82 | 29 | 48 | 5 | – | 63 | 6th place in IHL | Did not reach playoffs |
| Peoria Rivermen | 1984-85 | 82 | 48 | 29 | 5 | – | 105 | 1st place in East Division | Won quarterfinals (4-3 vs. IND) Won semifinals (4-2 vs. FW) Secured Turner Cup (4-3 vs. MUS) |
| Peoria Rivermen | 1985-86 | 82 | 46 | 31 | – | 5 | 97 | 3rd place in West Division | Won quarterfinals (4-1 vs. MIL) Eliminated in semifinals (3-4 vs. FW) |
| Peoria Rivermen | 1986-87 | 82 | 31 | 42 | – | 9 | 71 | 5th place in West Division | Did not qualify for playoffs |
| Peoria Rivermen | 1987-88 | 82 | 34 | 41 | – | 7 | 75 | 4th place in West Division | Lost quarterfinals (3-4 vs. SL) |
| IHL totals | 1983-1988 | 410 | 188 | 191 | 10 | 21 | 407 | 1 division title | 21-17 (0.553 - 1 Turner Cup) |