The 45-year-old native of International Falls, Minn., begins his second year as the Silvertips’ head coach.
In his first season, Constantine led the Silvertips to the U.S. Division title – the first time in Western Hockey League history that an expansion team had won a division championship. But the Silvertips didn’t stop there, going on to win the Western Conference championship before falling to Medicine Hat in the WHL title series.
For his success guiding Everett’s expansion franchise, Constantine was named the winner of the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL Coach of the Year.
The Tips’ first-year feats are just the latest accomplishments in a long line of success for Constantine, the WHL’s highest-profile coach.
Constantine spent seven seasons as an NHL head coach, compiling a 159-153-66 record with San Jose (1993-96), Pittsburgh (1997-2000) and New Jersey (2001-02). Under his guidance, Pittsburgh won the Northeast Division title in 1997-98. He set a league record with a 58-point impovement with San Jose in 1993-94. He remains the only coach in NHL history to guide two eighth-seeded teams to first-round Stanley Cup Playoff upsets over No. 1 seeds (San Jose over Detroit in 1994, Pittsburgh over New Jersey in 1999).
In 2001, he founded the North American Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Forge. Compiled an 80-24-8 record in two seasons as GM.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
