Barry Melrose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barry Melrose |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Barry Melrose pictured at the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals
|
|||
| Born | July 15, 1956 Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Canada |
||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Cincinnati Stingers Winnipeg Jets Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings |
||
| NHL Draft | 36th overall, 1976 Montreal Canadiens |
||
| WHA Draft | 37th overall, 1976 Cincinnati Stingers |
||
| Playing career | 1974–1987 | ||
Barry James Melrose (born July 15, 1956) is a Canadian-American who used to play and coach professional ice hockey. He also worked as a sports commentator. Barry Melrose played in two major hockey leagues: the World Hockey Association (WHA) and the National Hockey League (NHL).
After he stopped playing, he became a head coach. He is well-known for leading the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals in 1993. For many years, until 2023, he was a popular hockey expert and commentator for ESPN. He also contributed to the NHL Network.
Contents
Barry Melrose's Hockey Journey
Playing as a Defenceman
Barry Melrose started his hockey career as a defenceman in 1974. He played for the Kamloops Chiefs in the WCHL for two years. In the 1976–77 season, he joined the Springfield Indians in the AHL. Later that season, he moved to the Cincinnati Stingers in the WHA, where he played until 1979.
When the WHA league ended, some of its teams joined the NHL. Melrose then joined the Winnipeg Jets for the 1979–80 season. For the rest of his playing career, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings. He also played for their minor league teams in the AHL. Barry Melrose played his last season with the Adirondack Red Wings in the AHL during the 1986–87 season.
During his time in the NHL, he played 300 games. He scored 10 goals and made 23 assists. He also spent 728 minutes in the penalty box. He played in 7 playoff games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he had 2 assists.
Coaching Hockey Teams
Right after he stopped playing, Barry Melrose started coaching. In the 1987–88 season, he coached the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL. He led them to a great record and helped them win the Memorial Cup title.
The next season, he coached the Seattle Thunderbirds. After that, he moved to the AHL to coach the Adirondack Red Wings. He coached the Red Wings for three years. In the 1991–92 season, he led them to win the Calder Cup.
In the 1992–93 season, Melrose became the coach for the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL. He guided them all the way to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals. They played against the Montreal Canadiens but lost in five games. He coached the Kings for two more seasons, but they did not make the playoffs.
After coaching, he spent 13 years as a hockey expert for ESPN. On June 4, 2008, Melrose said on a TV show that he missed coaching. He was open to coaching offers from any NHL team.
In June 2008, the Tampa Bay Lightning hired Melrose as their head coach. On October 21, 2008, he got his first win as a head coach in over 13 years. His team beat the Atlanta Thrashers 3–2. However, on November 14, 2008, the Lightning decided to let him go. His record with them was 5 wins, 7 losses, and 4 overtime losses.
Barry Melrose as a Commentator
Working at ESPN
Barry Melrose first joined ESPN as a guest expert in 1994 and 1995. He became a full-time commentator and studio expert in the fall of 1995. He worked alongside hosts like John Buccigross and John Saunders. He left ESPN in June 2008 to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning.
After his short time coaching, he returned to ESPN on January 1, 2009. This was during the Winter Classic game between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. He was the main studio expert on the show NHL 2Night. He worked with Ray Ferraro and host John Buccigross. This trio also called some NHL games and the Frozen Four championship games.
On October 10, 2023, John Buccigross, who worked with Melrose for a long time at ESPN, announced some news. He shared that Barry Melrose was retiring from ESPN. He was leaving to spend more time with his family after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Working at NHL Network
Melrose also joined the NHL Network in September 2011. He worked there as a contributor, sharing his hockey knowledge.
Barry Melrose's Personal Life
Barry Melrose was born in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Canada. He grew up on a farm outside the town. His parents are Norrie and James Melrose. He is related to other former NHL players, including his cousins Wendel Clark and Joe Kocur. Another cousin, Kerry Clark, played in the minor leagues for a long time.
Barry Melrose lives in Glens Falls, New York with his wife, Cindy. They have two sons named Tyrell and Adrien. In March 1998, Barry Melrose became an American citizen.
Images for kids
-
Barry Melrose pictured at the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals
