Don Lever
Encyclopedia
Donald Richard "Cleaver" Lever (born November 14, 1952) is the head coach of the Chicago Wolves
of the American Hockey League
(AHL) and a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
left winger
who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League
from 1972–73 until 1986–87.
in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft
. The forward reached the 20-goal mark six times in Vancouver and played for Canada at the 1978 World Championships. Lever was traded to the Atlanta Flames
alongside Brad Smith
in exchange for Ivan Boldirev
and Darcy Rota
on February 8, 1980. He was later the first captain of the New Jersey Devils
. Lever scored the first goal in Devils history. He was recognized for both his penalty killing and powerplay abilities. Lever played 1020 career NHL games, scoring 313 goals and 367 assists for 680 points. On March 9, 2009, Lever was named an assistant coach for the Montreal Canadiens by Bob Gainey
after the firing of Guy Carbonneau
. His contract was not renewed, and he was named head coach of the Chicago Wolves
of the AHL
on October 21, 2009.
1987-88 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1988-89 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1990-91 Rochester Americans AHL Head Coach 80 45 26 9 0 0.619 Lost in Finals
1991-92 Rochester Americans AHL Head Coach 80 37 31 12 0 0.537 Lost in round 3
1992-93 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1993-94 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1994-95 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1995-96 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate Coach
1996-97 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1997-98 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate Coach
1998-99 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate Coach
1999-00 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate Coach
2000-01 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
2001-02 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
2002-03 St. Louis Blues NHL Assistant Coach
2003-04 St. Louis Blues NHL Assistant Coach
2005-06 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head Coach 80 35 41 0 4 0.463 Out of Playoffs
2006-07 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head Coach 80 43 28 0 9 0.594 Won Championship
2007-08 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head Coach 80 36 34 0 10 0.512 Out of Playoffs
2008-09 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head Coach 65 39 24 0 2 0.615
2008-09 Montreal Canadiens NHL Assistant Coach
.
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) and a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
left winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
from 1972–73 until 1986–87.
Playing career
Lever was drafted 3rd overall by the Vancouver CanucksVancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft
1972 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1972 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft...
. The forward reached the 20-goal mark six times in Vancouver and played for Canada at the 1978 World Championships. Lever was traded to the Atlanta Flames
Atlanta Flames
The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from 1972 to 1980. The team, a member of the National Hockey League , was relocated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the start of the 1980–81 NHL season and were re-named the Calgary Flames. The NHL returned to the...
alongside Brad Smith
Brad Smith (ice hockey)
Bradley Allan Smith is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 242 regular-season and playoff games over nine National Hockey League seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, and Toronto Maple Leafs...
in exchange for Ivan Boldirev
Ivan Boldirev
Ivan Boldirev is a retired Serbian-Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the NHL from 1970 through 1985...
and Darcy Rota
Darcy Rota
Darcy Irwin Rota is a retired professional ice hockey player who spent eleven seasons in the National Hockey League...
on February 8, 1980. He was later the first captain of the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Lever scored the first goal in Devils history. He was recognized for both his penalty killing and powerplay abilities. Lever played 1020 career NHL games, scoring 313 goals and 367 assists for 680 points. On March 9, 2009, Lever was named an assistant coach for the Montreal Canadiens by Bob Gainey
Bob Gainey
Robert Michael "Le Capitaine" Gainey is the former executive vice president and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a former professional ice hockey player who played for the Canadiens from 1973 until 1989...
after the firing of Guy Carbonneau
Guy Carbonneau
Guy Carbonneau is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League. He is also the president of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League 's Chicoutimi Saguenéens. He has two daughters Anne-Marie and Kristina, with wife Line Carbonneau. Anne-Marie married his former...
. His contract was not renewed, and he was named head coach of the Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
on October 21, 2009.
Awards and achievements
- 1972: OHAOntario Hockey AssociationThe Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
First All-Star Team - 1972: Red Tilson TrophyRed Tilson TrophyThe Red Tilson Trophy is an annual award given to the most outstanding player in the Ontario Hockey League. The award is voted on by OHL writers and broadcasters, and is named for Red Tilson, a former played for the Oshawa Generals who was killed in service in the Second World War...
(OHA MVP) - 1982: Played in NHL All-Star Game
- 1990–91: Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award
- 2006–072006–07 AHL seasonThe 2006–07 AHL season was the 71st season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs won their first Calder Cup, defeating the defending champions, the Hershey Bears in the finals....
: Head coached the Hamilton Bulldogs to their first franchise Calder Cup, AHL championship
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... | A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... | Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... | PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1969–70 | Niagara Falls Flyers Niagara Falls Flyers ----The Niagara Falls Flyers were two junior ice hockey franchises that played in the top tier in the Ontario Hockey Association. The first, a Junior "A" team existed from 1960 until 1972, and the second in Tier I Junior "A" from 1976 until 1982.... |
OHA Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970–71 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA | 59 | 35 | 36 | 71 | 112 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971–72 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA | 69 | 61 | 65 | 126 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972–73 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
78 | 12 | 26 | 38 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 78 | 23 | 25 | 48 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 80 | 38 | 30 | 68 | 49 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1975–76 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 80 | 25 | 40 | 65 | 93 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1976–77 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 80 | 27 | 30 | 57 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 75 | 17 | 32 | 49 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 71 | 23 | 21 | 44 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1979–80 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 51 | 21 | 17 | 38 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Atlanta Flames Atlanta Flames The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from 1972 to 1980. The team, a member of the National Hockey League , was relocated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the start of the 1980–81 NHL season and were re-named the Calgary Flames. The NHL returned to the... |
NHL | 28 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1980–81 | Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... |
NHL | 62 | 26 | 31 | 57 | 56 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 20 | ||
| 1981–82 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 23 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies (NHL) The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was... |
NHL | 59 | 22 | 28 | 50 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 79 | 23 | 30 | 53 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 70 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 67 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 1985–86 AHL season The 1985–86 AHL season was the 50th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears finished first overall in the regular season... |
Rochester Americans Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
29 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
NHL | 29 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 1986–87 AHL season The 1986–87 AHL season was the 51st season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league institutes awarding one point in the standings, for an overtime loss... |
Rochester Americans | AHL | 57 | 29 | 25 | 54 | 69 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 14 | ||
| 1986–87 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1,020 | 313 | 367 | 680 | 593 | 30 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 26 | ||||
Coaching statistics
Season Team Lge Type GP W L T OTL Pct Result1987-88 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1988-89 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1990-91 Rochester Americans AHL Head Coach 80 45 26 9 0 0.619 Lost in Finals
1991-92 Rochester Americans AHL Head Coach 80 37 31 12 0 0.537 Lost in round 3
1992-93 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1993-94 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1994-95 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1995-96 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate Coach
1996-97 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
1997-98 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate Coach
1998-99 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate Coach
1999-00 Buffalo Sabres NHL Associate Coach
2000-01 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
2001-02 Buffalo Sabres NHL Assistant Coach
2002-03 St. Louis Blues NHL Assistant Coach
2003-04 St. Louis Blues NHL Assistant Coach
2005-06 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head Coach 80 35 41 0 4 0.463 Out of Playoffs
2006-07 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head Coach 80 43 28 0 9 0.594 Won Championship
2007-08 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head Coach 80 36 34 0 10 0.512 Out of Playoffs
2008-09 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL Head Coach 65 39 24 0 2 0.615
2008-09 Montreal Canadiens NHL Assistant Coach
Personal life
He and his wife Karen have three children, Michael, Sarah, and CaitlinCaitlin Lever
Caitlin Lever is a Canadian softball player. She is an outfielder who bats left and throws right. She played for Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She graduated from Georgia Tech in 2007. In her final year, she set team records for hits and on base percentage...
.