Graeme Townshend facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Graeme Townshend |
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| Born | October 23, 1965 Kingston, Jamaica |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Boston Bruins New York Islanders Ottawa Senators |
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| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 1989–1999 | ||
Graeme Scott Townshend, born on October 23, 1965, is a retired ice hockey player from Canada. He was born in Jamaica and made history as the first player from Jamaica to play in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played 45 games in the NHL between 1990 and 1993. Before and after his time in the NHL, he played in various minor hockey leagues from 1989 to 1999.
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Playing Hockey: From College to the NHL
Graeme Townshend started his hockey journey playing college hockey at RPI. He played there for four seasons. During his last year, the 1987–88 season, he was chosen as a team captain. He also played for the Mimico Monarchs in a junior hockey league before turning professional.
Making it to the NHL
Townshend began his professional career with the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League. He scored his very first NHL goal on February 2, 1991. He also played for the New York Islanders and the Ottawa Senators. His time in the NHL lasted from 1990 to 1994.
Playing in Minor Leagues
Besides the NHL, Graeme played in several other professional leagues. He played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for teams like the Maine Mariners. He also played in the International Hockey League and the Western Professional Hockey League. His professional playing career lasted for 10 seasons. He was even named "Man of The Year" in two different leagues for his leadership and community work.
Life After Playing Hockey
After retiring as a player, Graeme Townshend became a coach. He coached professional hockey teams in the Central Hockey League and the ECHL.
Working with NHL Teams
For four years, he worked for the San Jose Sharks in the NHL. His job was to help young players and future stars improve their skills. He focused especially on making their skating better for the "new" NHL game. Later, on September 9, 2008, he became the skating coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, another NHL team. He held this position until 2012.
Coaching for Jamaica
In 2011, Graeme was asked to become the first head coach for the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation. He helped organize the first tryout camp for the new Jamaican team in 2014. Today, Townshend continues to coach the Jamaica men's national junior team. His big dream is to help Jamaica's ice hockey team make it to the Winter Olympics one day!
Honors and Recognition
Graeme Townshend's achievements in hockey were recognized when he was inducted into the Canadian Black Hockey Hall of Fame.
About Graeme's Life
Graeme Townshend was born in Kingston, Jamaica. When he was four years old, in 1969, his family moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he grew up. He has a brother named Kurt, who was also born in Jamaica, and a sister named Laurie, who was born in Toronto. Graeme is married to Lori-Ann Townshend.
