Butch Goring facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Butch Goring |
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Goring with the New York Islanders in the 1980s
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| Born | October 22, 1949 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Los Angeles Kings New York Islanders Boston Bruins |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| NHL Draft | 51st overall, 1969 Los Angeles Kings |
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| Playing career | 1969–1987 | ||
Robert Thomas "Butch" Goring (born October 22, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played for 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). His teams included the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, and Boston Bruins.
Butch Goring was a big part of the New York Islanders team that won four Stanley Cup championships in a row. This amazing winning streak is often called a "dynasty." After he stopped playing, Goring became a coach for both the Bruins and Islanders. Today, he works as a television color commentator for the Islanders on MSG Network. He also commentates for some games on TNT.
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Butch Goring's Hockey Journey
Butch Goring started his professional hockey career after playing in junior leagues. In 1969, the Los Angeles Kings picked him in the NHL draft. This meant they chose him to play for their team. He spent some time playing for both the Kings and their minor league team, the Springfield Kings.
In 1971, Goring helped the Springfield Kings win the Calder Cup. This is a championship trophy for the American Hockey League (AHL), a league below the NHL. He was a top player in those playoffs, scoring many goals and assists.
Becoming an NHL Star
After his success in the AHL, Goring joined the Los Angeles Kings full-time in 1971. He played for the Kings for nine seasons. During this time, he became known as a very skilled and complete player. In 1978, he won two special awards:
- The Bill Masterton Trophy, given to a player who shows great sportsmanship and dedication.
- The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, given to a player who shows good sportsmanship and skill.
Goring was the first player ever to win both of these awards in the same year!
Joining the Islanders Dynasty
In 1980, Goring was traded to the New York Islanders. Many people believed he was the "final piece" the Islanders needed to win a championship. They were right! That same season, he helped the Islanders win their first of four straight Stanley Cups. The Stanley Cup is the biggest trophy in professional ice hockey.
The next season, in 1981, Goring played even better in the playoffs. He scored 10 goals and 10 assists. For his amazing performance, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy. This award goes to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs. That year, Goring played 78 games and didn't get a single penalty!
Later Career and Retirement
Goring played his last NHL season in 1985. After leaving the Islanders, he played for the Boston Bruins for a short time. He then retired from playing and became the Bruins' head coach. He also played a few games in the AHL before retiring for good.
Throughout his career, Butch Goring played 1,107 games. He scored 375 goals and made 513 assists, adding up to 888 points. He had very few penalties, with only 102 penalty minutes in his entire NHL career. This is the lowest total for any player who has played over a thousand games! He was also great at scoring goals when his team was playing with fewer players (called "short-handed goals"). He scored 40 of these goals, which is one of the highest totals ever.
Butch Goring's Legacy
Butch Goring was easy to spot on the ice because of his unique helmet. He wore the same type of helmet, made by the Spaps brand, since he was a kid. He kept wearing it throughout his whole professional career.
Some of his former teammates believe that Goring might have started the tradition of growing a beard during the Stanley Cup playoffs. This is now a common tradition called a "playoff beard." Players grow their beards during the playoffs and don't shave until their team either wins the Stanley Cup or is eliminated.
On February 29, 2020, the New York Islanders honored Butch Goring by retiring his jersey number, 91. This means no other Islanders player will ever wear that number again. It's a special way to remember his important contributions to the team.
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Butch Goring became a coach. He coached in the NHL for the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders. He also coached several minor league teams, winning two championships. In 2002, he led the Krefeld Pinguine team in Germany to their first championship since 1952.
Career Achievements
- Won the MJHL Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship Award (1967)
- Won the Turnbull Cup (MJHL championship) (1969)
- Won the Calder Cup (AHL championship) (1971)
- Won the Bill Masterton Trophy (1978)
- Won the Lady Byng Trophy (1978)
- Played in the NHL All-Star Game (1980)
- Won the Conn Smythe Trophy (1981)
- Won the Stanley Cup four times (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983)
- Played for Team Canada in the Canada Cup Tournament (1981)
- Named Manitoba's Athlete of the Year (1981)
- Won the IHL Coach of the Year award twice (1995 and 1996)
- Won the Turner Cup (IHL championship) twice (1995 and 1996)
- Was the last active player who had played in the 1960s
- Inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum (1992)
- Is an "Honoured Member" of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
- His jersey number 91 was retired by the New York Islanders (2020)
See also
- List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
