Dallas Eakins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dallas Eakins |
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Eakins in 2023
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| Born | January 20, 1967 Dade City, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Winnipeg Jets Florida Panthers St. Louis Blues Phoenix Coyotes New York Rangers Toronto Maple Leafs New York Islanders Calgary Flames |
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| Current coach | Adler Mannheim | ||
| Coached for | Edmonton Oilers Anaheim Ducks |
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| NHL Draft | 208th overall, 1985 Washington Capitals |
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| Playing career | 1988–2004 | ||
| Coaching career | 2005–present | ||
Dallas Franklin Eakins (born January 20, 1967) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player. He used to be the head coach for the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League (NHL). Currently, he is the head coach and general manager for Adler Mannheim in Germany's top ice hockey league, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
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Who is Dallas Eakins?
Dallas Eakins is a well-known figure in the world of ice hockey. He has spent many years playing and coaching at high levels. His journey in hockey began when he was young, and he has worked hard to achieve success both on the ice and behind the bench.
Growing Up
Dallas Eakins was born in Dade City, Florida. His mother, Carol Ploof, was from Macon, Georgia. His birth father, Ted Yoder, was Native American, and Dallas believes he was Cherokee. His parents separated when he was very young. Later, his mother married Jim Eakins, a Canadian truck driver, and Dallas took his stepfather's last name.
In 1974, when Dallas was seven years old, his family moved to Peterborough, Ontario, in Canada. This is where he started playing minor ice hockey. He even played in the famous 1980 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with his Peterborough team.
Playing Hockey
Dallas Eakins was a strong player known for his leadership. He played as a defence player, which means his main job was to stop the other team from scoring.
Early Hockey Days
Eakins played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the Peterborough Petes. In his final year, he was named the team captain. He was also recognized as the team's best defence player that season. People who worked with him said he was an amazing leader. He was a hard worker, loyal, tough, and always ready to help his teammates stay focused.
NHL and Other Leagues
In 1985, Dallas was chosen by the Washington Capitals in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. This is when NHL teams pick young players to join their organization. He played 120 games in the National Hockey League (NHL), which is the top league in North America. He didn't score any goals in the NHL but had 9 assists. He was the second player from Florida to play in the NHL and the first to record a point. He even played for the Florida Panthers, a team from his home state.
Most of Dallas Eakins' playing career was spent in other professional leagues, like the American Hockey League (AHL) and the International Hockey League (IHL). He played 882 games in these leagues, scoring 43 goals and 179 assists. He played for 10 different teams during this time. He also won two championships: the Calder Cup and the Turner Cup, both with the Chicago Wolves.
Fun Facts from His Playing Days
Dallas Eakins once made a fun bet with a radio personality named Dennis "Wildman" Walker. Eakins was playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones at the time. Walker bet that Eakins wouldn't score more than 3 goals in a season. If Eakins did, Walker would let him shave his head at center ice! Eakins scored six goals in just 30 games, winning the bet. The head shaving happened before a game in December 1994.
In his last season as a player, Eakins was the captain of the Manitoba Moose. He changed his jersey number from 6 to 37. He did this to honor his friend and former teammate, Dan Snyder, who had passed away in a car accident. Snyder had played for the Atlanta Thrashers.
Coaching Teams
After he stopped playing hockey, Dallas Eakins decided to become a coach. He has coached teams in both the AHL and the NHL.
Starting as a Coach
Eakins started his coaching career with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization in 2005. He first worked as an assistant coach for their minor league team, the Toronto Marlies. Then, in 2006, he became an assistant coach for the Maple Leafs themselves. In 2009, he was promoted to head coach of the Toronto Marlies. He was even chosen as an All-Star coach for the AHL in 2011–2012 and 2012–2013.
Coaching in the NHL
In 2013, Eakins became the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL. He coached the Oilers for about 18 months. After that, in 2015, he was hired by the Anaheim Ducks to coach their AHL team, the San Diego Gulls.
On June 17, 2019, Dallas Eakins was named the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. He coached the Ducks for four seasons. In April 2023, the Ducks decided not to renew his contract.
Coaching in Germany
In November 2023, Dallas Eakins moved to Germany. He was announced as the new head coach and general manager for Adler Mannheim, a team in the German DEL. He took over after the team had made some changes to its coaching staff.
Off the Ice
Dallas Eakins is married to actress Ingrid Kavelaars. They have two daughters together. His life and career are featured in a book called Journeymen: 24 Bittersweet Tales of Short Major League Sports Careers by Kurt Dusterberg.
