Kevin Constantine
Kevin Constantine ( * December 27, 1958 in International Falls, Minnesota ) is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender and current coach. In the National Hockey League Constantine oversaw the San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils head coach. Since June 2013 he has been head coach of the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League.
Career
During his three years in college Constantine played at the Rose Polytechnic Institute in Indiana at the goalkeeper position. Although the Montreal Canadiens chose him in the NHL Amateur Draft 1978 in the ninth round at 154th position, Constantine never played a game in the National Hockey League.
As early as 1985 he began his career as a coach. First, he coached in the unterklassigen United States Hockey League ( USHL ) and took a post as assistant coach in the International Hockey League ( IHL ). For the 1991/92 season Constantine received his first offer as head coach for IHL team. In his first season he led the Kansas City Blades equal to winning the Turner Cup. In the 1992/93 season with the team he reached the second round of the playoffs before he took over the position as head coach of the San Jose Sharks at the start of the 1993/94 season.
The Sharks had more than disappointed in their first two NHL seasons, but Constantine led the team straight into the playoffs and turned off in the first round, at No. 1 set out in the Western Conference Detroit Red Wings. In the shortened 1994/95 season he led the team again in the playoffs, but in his third season Constantine was dismissed from his post because he was able to win only three games in the first 25 games. In the season 1996/97 he assisted Brian Sutter for the Calgary Flames.
Already after one year moved Constantine at the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he was head coach an NHL team again. In his three years there he fared similarly in San Jose. After two great years where it also succeeded Constantine and the Penguins in the 1998/99 season, off the best team in the regular season in the first playoff round, the start of the third season was contrary to expectations, weak, and it was after 26 games relieved of his duties. Constantine is still the only NHL coach to the feat achieved, with two set to No. 8 team to reach the second playoff round.
After his release, the Americans took a short break and founded the Pittsburgh Forge, who participated in the NAHL Championship from the 2001/02 season. Constantine filled it from the position of assistant coach and general manager, before him committed the New Jersey Devils during the current season for the rest of the season. Despite the successful feed in the playoffs, his contract was not renewed.
Then he took over the head coach position of the Everett Silvertips, a newly established WHL franchise, which he led in the first year to the playoff finals and he was even honored as best coach. For four years he coached the Silvertips, before 2007 head coach of the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League ( AHL ) was in the summer.
In 2010 he was introduced as head coach of the Ducs d' Angers Ligue Magnus. In October 2010, he left the Ducs and became the new coach of HC Ambri -Piotta from the Swiss National League A.
After he had with the HC Ambri -Piotta in the seasons 2010/11 and 2011/ 12 in the League qualifying ( ascending, descending round ) and in the 2012/13 season a long losing streak lay, he was by Serge Pelletier in the post of Head Coaches replaced. Constantine took over in the wake of the post of Head Scouts before he signed in June 2013 at the Everett Silvertips ( WHL) as head coach.
Awards and achievements
NHL coach statistics
S = Wins; N = Losses; D = Draw; OTL = Overtime defeat