Mike Yeo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mike Yeo |
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Yeo in 2012
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| Born | July 31, 1973 Scarborough, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Houston Aeros WBS Penguins |
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| Coached for | Houston Aeros Minnesota Wild St. Louis Blues Philadelphia Flyers |
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| Playing career | 1994–2000 | ||
| Coaching career | 2000–present | ||
Michael Yeo (born July 31, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He is currently an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League (NHL). Yeo has also been a head coach for NHL teams like the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. He even coached the Philadelphia Flyers for a short time. Mike grew up in North Bay, Ontario. He has also worked as an assistant coach for other teams, including the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks.
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Playing Career Highlights
Mike Yeo played hockey for five seasons with the Houston Aeros. This team was part of the International Hockey League (IHL). In the 1998–99 season, he was the team captain. He led the Aeros to win the Turner Cup Championship that year.
In 1999, Yeo joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. This team was a top minor league affiliate for the Pittsburgh Penguins. His playing career ended after only 19 games due to a serious knee injury.
Starting His Coaching Journey
After his injury, Mike Yeo decided to stay with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He became an assistant coach to Glenn Patrick. Later, when Michel Therrien took over as head coach in 2003, Yeo continued in his assistant role.
In 2005, Yeo moved up to the Pittsburgh Penguins with Therrien. He became an assistant coach for the NHL team. His main job was to help with special teams, like power plays and penalty kills. He helped the Penguins get back to the playoffs in the 2006–07 season. The team also had one of its best seasons ever in 2007–08. He continued as an assistant coach under Dan Bylsma. In 2009, he helped the team win the Stanley Cup.
Becoming a Head Coach
On June 16, 2010, Mike Yeo became the head coach of the Houston Aeros. This team was in the American Hockey League (AHL). The Aeros had finished last in their division the year before. But under Yeo, the team improved a lot. They even reached the AHL Calder Cup Finals in his first year.
Yeo was named the head coach of the Minnesota Wild on June 17, 2011. His first game with the Wild was a 4–2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team started strong, but then struggled. They did not make the playoffs in his first season.
During the 2012–13 season, Yeo had to apologize to Todd McLellan, the coach of the San Jose Sharks. This was after Yeo said that Sharks players were faking penalties.
Playoff Success with the Wild
Early in the 2013–14 season, there were rumors that Yeo might lose his job. However, the Wild played much better in the second half of the season. They made the playoffs for the second year in a row. The Wild beat the Colorado Avalanche in seven games. Then, they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round. Because of this success, Yeo received a new three-year contract with the Wild in May 2014.
In the 2014–15 season, Yeo's job was again uncertain. But a trade for goalie Devan Dubnyk helped the team greatly. Before the trade, the Wild's record was 18 wins, 19 losses, and 5 overtime losses. After the trade, they finished the season with 46 wins, 28 losses, and 8 overtime losses. The Wild made the playoffs but were again eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks.
On February 13, 2016, Yeo was fired as head coach of the Minnesota Wild. This happened after the team lost 13 of their last 14 games.
Coaching the St. Louis Blues
On June 13, 2016, Mike Yeo was named the future head coach of the St. Louis Blues. He worked as an assistant coach during the 2016–17 season. He was set to become the head coach in the 2017–18 season.
However, on February 1, 2017, Yeo became the head coach of the Blues earlier than planned. This happened after Ken Hitchcock was fired. Yeo led the Blues to a great turnaround. They won 22 games, lost 8, and had 2 overtime losses. The team made the playoffs and beat his former team, the Minnesota Wild, in the first round. They then lost to the Nashville Predators.
On November 19, 2018, the Blues fired Yeo. Craig Berube took over as coach. Berube then led the Blues to win their first Stanley Cup Championship.
Recent Coaching Roles
On May 6, 2019, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that Yeo would be an assistant coach under Alain Vigneault. On December 6, 2021, Yeo became the interim head coach of the Flyers. This happened after Vigneault was fired. Yeo was then fired by Philadelphia on May 3, 2022, after the end of the 2021–22 season.
On July 1, 2022, Yeo was hired as an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks. He worked under Bruce Boudreau. On May 28, 2024, the Canucks and Yeo announced they had decided to part ways.
Yeo was hired on June 4, 2024, as an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators.
Personal Life
Mike Yeo is married to Tanya. They have a daughter named Braeden and a son named Kyler. He went to Widdifield Secondary School.
Even though his last name, Yeo, sounds like it might be from Asian culture, Mike is not of Asian descent. He has said that his family's original last name was Yeomen, and it was shortened by an ancestor a long time ago.
Images for kids
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Yeo in 2012
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Mike Yeo with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2010 playoffs.
