Gary Dineen
Encyclopedia
Daniel Patrick "Gary" Dineen (December 24, 1943 in Montreal
, Quebec
- April 1, 2006 in Springfield
, Massachusetts
)was a former Canadian Olympian, career minor league hockey player who played four games for the Minnesota North Stars
of the NHL, and best known as a top developer of hockey talent in the Springfield area. He was a key member of the Springfield Kings when they won the Calder Cup
championship of the American Hockey League
in 1970-71, and would go on to coach and GM the Springfield Kings and Springfield Indians
for several years. In 1972 he helped form the Springfield Olympics of the New England Junior Hockey League where he coached the 'Pics to several Wallace Cups as league champions, and remained part of the franchise until his death. He helped develop several players who would go on to division 1 and 2 college hockey programs. He also had a few of his former players go on to successful careers in the NHL, including Bill Guerin
. Dean Lombardi
, current President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings
of the National Hockey League
, also played for Dineen in the mid-late 1970s. Dineen, a native of Montreal, made West Springfield
, Massachusetts
his home with his wife and daughter for well over 30 years. His keen hockey intelect and coaching abilities made him a magnet for upper echelon junior players from New England
, primarily Western Massachusetts
/Northern Connecticut
, who aspired to play college and professional hockey.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
- April 1, 2006 in Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
)was a former Canadian Olympian, career minor league hockey player who played four games for the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
of the NHL, and best known as a top developer of hockey talent in the Springfield area. He was a key member of the Springfield Kings when they won the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
championship 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...
in 1970-71, and would go on to coach and GM the Springfield Kings and Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
for several years. In 1972 he helped form the Springfield Olympics of the New England Junior Hockey League where he coached the 'Pics to several Wallace Cups as league champions, and remained part of the franchise until his death. He helped develop several players who would go on to division 1 and 2 college hockey programs. He also had a few of his former players go on to successful careers in the NHL, including Bill Guerin
Bill Guerin
William Robert Guerin is an American former professional ice hockey player and current player development coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Guerin played eighteen seasons in the National Hockey League winning two Stanley Cup championships with the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins teams...
. Dean Lombardi
Dean Lombardi
Dean Lombardi is President and General Manager of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. He previously served as GM of the San Jose Sharks, a position he held for seven seasons .-Early life:...
, current President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of 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...
, also played for Dineen in the mid-late 1970s. Dineen, a native of Montreal, made West Springfield
West Springfield
West Springfield may refer to a location in the United States:* West Springfield, Massachusetts* West Springfield, Virginia...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
his home with his wife and daughter for well over 30 years. His keen hockey intelect and coaching abilities made him a magnet for upper echelon junior players from New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, primarily Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires, the Pioneer Valley, and some or all of the Swift River Valley. The region is always considered to include Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, and the...
/Northern Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, who aspired to play college and professional hockey.