Graeme Townshend facts for kids

Graeme Scott Townshend (born October 23, 1965) is a former ice hockey player. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but grew up in Canada. Graeme made history as the first player born in Jamaica to play in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL is the top professional ice hockey league. He played 45 games in the NHL between 1990 and 1993. He also spent many years playing in other professional leagues.

Graeme Townshend's Hockey Journey

Before becoming a professional player, Graeme Townshend played college hockey. He played for four seasons at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). He was even a team captain during his time there.

Playing in the NHL

Graeme started his NHL career with the Boston Bruins. He scored his very first NHL goal on February 2, 1991. This goal happened during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also played for the New York Islanders and the Ottawa Senators. His time in the NHL lasted from 1990 to 1994.

Playing in Other Leagues

Besides the NHL, Graeme played in several other professional hockey leagues. He played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for teams like the Maine Mariners. He also played in the International Hockey League (IHL). In the IHL, he played for teams such as the Houston Aeros. His professional playing career lasted for 10 seasons. Graeme was recognized for his leadership and community work. He received the "Man of The Year" award in both the IHL and the Western Professional Hockey League.

After Playing: Coaching and Development

After retiring as a player, Graeme Townshend became a hockey coach. He coached professional teams in different leagues.

Coaching and Player Development

For four years, Graeme worked for the San Jose Sharks, an NHL team. His job was to help players improve their skills. He focused on making sure they had the skills needed for the "new" NHL style of play. This included helping them become better skaters.

On September 9, 2008, he became the skating coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, another NHL team. He worked with them until the end of the 2012 season.

Helping Jamaican Hockey

In December 2011, Graeme was asked to help start the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation (JOIHF). He became their first head coach. He helped organize the first tryout camp for Jamaican hockey players in 2014. Graeme continues to be the head coach of the Jamaica men's national junior team. His goal is to help Jamaica's team make it to the Winter Olympics.

Graeme Townshend has also been honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Canadian Black Hockey Hall of Fame.

Graeme's Family Life

Graeme Townshend was born in Kingston, Jamaica. His family moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1969. He grew up there. He has a brother named Kurt, who was also born in Jamaica. His sister, Laurie, is a Canadian filmmaker. She was born in Toronto. Graeme is married to Lori-Ann Townshend.