Dale McCourt

Dale Allen McCourt ( born January 26, 1957 in Falconbridge, Ontario ) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player ( center ) and coach, who played from 1977 to 1984 for the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.

Career

The age of 15 he played in the juniors in the OHA with the Sudbury Wolves. From the following season, the Hamilton Red Wings his team were. When the team took in 1974 under the new name Hamilton Fincups, he was the top scorer. He scored two seasons in succession more than 100 points and led his team in 1976 to win the Memorial Cup. Then, his team moved again. Even with the St. Catharines Fincups he was the superstar again. In the NHL Amateur Draft 1977 it was no surprise that the Detroit Red Wings, the first draft law for it took to sign him. In the World Hockey Association there were hardly any chance of that player to win the league, so it took until the fourth round to the Indianapolis Racers, the 35 draft laws in the WHA Amateur Draft 1977 used to get the rights to McCourt to secure.

DC for the season 1977/78 he made his NHL debut. With 33 goals, he played a very strong rookie season. He was the best scorer for the Red Wings and helped with that, the team qualified for the first time since 1970 back for the playoffs. This was followed by disputes because the NHL determined that he should be given in return for the obligation of the Star goalkeeper Rogatien Vachon to the Los Angeles Kings. McCourt refused to switch back and forth and could remain for long. In his first four years in Detroit succeeded only Václav Nedomansky even close to surpass him as the best scorer. Over the 1981/82 season, the Red Wings gave from their young star to the Buffalo Sabres. With him, Mike Foligno and Brent Peterson went and in turn changed among others Danny Gare and Jim Schoenfeld to Detroit.

His performance was neat in Buffalo, but he could not meet the expectations of coach Scotty Bowman. With three goals in a playoff game of the season 1982/83 he scored his team to the semifinals, but shortly after the start of the following season he was released by the Sabres. He quickly found with the Toronto Maple Leafs a new team.

After that season, he moved to Europe and played with HC Ambri -Piotta in the Swiss National League B. The team managed to rise and McCourt remained until the 1991/92 season with the Swiss in the National League A.

For the 1998/99 season he took over the Berlin Capitals as a coach. Previously, he worked for the Italian first division Asiago Hockey and HC Gherdeina. Two years he was head coach of the DEL teams.

NHL stats

Sporting successes

  • Memorial Cup: 1976
  • Silver medal at the World Youth Championship: 1977

Personal Awards

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