November 8, 2008

Carolina Hurricanes' Head Coach Peter Laviolette raising the Stanley Cup at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. on June 19, 2006. (Photo courtesy of carolinahurricanes.com)

A 2-1 Carolina Hurricanes victory over the Ottawa Senators on November 7, 2008 made Carolina Hurricanes Coach Peter Laviolette the winningest U.S. born NHL coach with 240 victories. He surpasses former Tampa Bay Lightning Coach John Tortorella with 239 wins. Coach Laviolette coached his 300th game with the Carolina Hurricanes on October 28, 2008 when the Canes played at Montreal.

Coach Laviolette, who turns 44 in December, started coaching in the ECHL during the 1997-98 season with the Wheeling Nailers where his team lost in the third round of the playoffs. The next season he moved to the AHL's Providence Bruins where his team won the championship. The next year the Bruins lost in the third round of the playoffs. In the 2000-2001 season, Coach Laviolette became an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins. During the 2001-2002, he took over the head coaching duties with the New York Islanders for two years. He took that team to the playoffs both years losing in the first round. At the end of the 2002-2003 season, the Islanders organization decided to go with a new coach putting Laviolette on the outside. A lot of Boston Bruins fans were hoping he would return to their organization even though that never materialized.

Peter Laviolette took over the head coaching duties with the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2003-2004 season after then Hurricanes' Coach Paul Maurice was dismissed after 30 games that season with a record of 8-12-8-2 (Wins-Losses-Ties-Overtime Losses). Coach Laviolette came in and began to turn the team around immediately. In the next 52 games, the Canes had a record of 20-26-6-0. The next season was cancelled due to the labor lockout. When the 2005-2006 season began, there were a lot of new players on the team and a lot of people questioned whether they could win as a group. Win they did...as in winning the Stanley Cup.

I want to thank to Coach Laviolette for everything he has done for the Carolina Hurricanes and the game of hockey. He is a family man and he brings that philosophy to his team. Coach Laviolette, you are the one who coached our team to a winning season in 2006 including the Stanley Cup Championship. Winning the Stanley Cup was something I never thought I would ever see in Raleigh, N.C. The fans appreciate your dedication to this organization and to the community. We are proud to have you here, and we hope you make North Carolina your home for a long time.