Bobby Francis

Robert Emile "Bob" Francis ( born December 5, 1958 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan ) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player (defender) and coach who played in the 1982/83 season for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League and from 1999-2004 Phoenix Coyotes trained.

Career

In his early years Francis moved with his parents to New York because his father Emile Francis worked as a general manager of the New York Rangers. As a junior player he had in common with Rod Langway on the University of New Hampshire and played for their team.

In the senior level, he played in the minor leagues for the Muskegon Mohawks of the International Hockey League and the Birmingham Bulls and Oklahoma City Stars in the Central Hockey League. For the 1982/83 season he signed as a free agent contract with the Detroit Red Wings. After good performances in the farm team for the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League, he managed soon jump into the NHL team and scored in the 14 games he played for the Red Wings, two hits. Shortly before the turn of the year he was released to the Calgary Flames, but there he never made ​​the jump to the NHL squad and played in the CHL with the Colorado Flames. His last team was the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the IHL, with whom he won the Turner Cup in his last active year 1987.

In Salt Lake City, where he ended his active career, he began immediately following his coaching career. After two years as an assistant coach, he took over the Golden Eagles to four years as head coach. In 1993 he moved to the AHL to the Saint John Flames, the former farm team of the Calgary Flames. After two years he took over in the AHL, the Providence Bruins and was promoted after two years as assistant coach of the Boston Bruins.

For the 1999/2000 season, the Phoenix Coyotes picked him as head coach in the NHL. He was honored as best coach of the NHL with the Jack Adams Award 2002. After he could not build on the previous successes with the team in the season 2003/ 04, it was after 64 games replaced by Rick Bowness.

In 2006 he took over the Finnish team HIFK Helsinki, but still before the New Year they parted from him there.

NHL stats

Sporting successes

  • Turner Cup: 1987

Personal Awards

  • CHL First All -Star Team: 1982
  • Ken McKenzie Trophy (CHL Rookie of the Year ): 1982
  • Phil Esposito Trophy (CHL top scorer ): 1982
  • Tommy Ivan Trophy (CHL Most Valuable Player ): 1982
  • Jack Adams Award: 2002
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