Terry Crisp

Terrance Arthur Crisp (born May 28, 1943) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey) who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers and who coached for 11 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames and Tampa Bay Lightning. He currently is a radio and TV broadcaster for the Nashville Predators.

Crisp was a member of two Stanley Cup championship teams with the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970s, and later coached the Calgary Flames to the title in 1989.

Playing career

Crisp got his start playing Jr. 'B' hockey with the St. Marys Lincolns of the Western Jr. 'B' Hockey League. In 1961 he edged out Phil Esposito of the Sarnia Legionnaires for the league scoring title.

Crisp began his pro career in the St. Louis Blues in the 1967 Expansion Draft. With the Blues, he went to the Finals three straight seasons. In 1972, he was again chosen in the Expansion Draft, this time by the New York Islanders. Late in the 1972–73 season, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Jean Potvin. It is believed the trade was made because the Islanders, who would have the first overall pick in the upcoming draft, intended to draft Denis Potvin, and believed having his older brother on the team would entice him to sign with the Isles instead of going to the rival World Hockey Association.

Crisp played on the notorious Philadelphia Flyers teams of the 1970s when they were also known as the Broad Street Bullies. He won two Stanley Cups as a member of the Flyers in 1973–74 and 1974–75.

Coaching career

Crisp retired two games into the 1976-77 season at the age of 33 to become the Flyers assistant coach under Fred Shero. In the 1980s, he coached in the junior ranks and led the 1985 Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds to an undefeated season at home, going 33-0. With the like of scoring stars Wayne Groulx and Graeme Bonar, and the toughness supplied by Bob Probert and Jeff Beukeboom, the club finished first in the Ontario Hockey League with 54 wins, eleven losses, and one tie. Crisp once called Groulx, who wore number nine, the second best player ever to play for the Sault, behind only Wayne Gretzky, number 99. The club set a Canadian junior record by winning 33 games in a row at home. The Sault also took the OHL playoff championship, losing just two games in total, ironically, both at home. The Greyhounds represented the OHL at the Memorial Cup, where they came up short, losing to eventual champion Prince Albert of the WHL.

Thanks to his tremendous coaching success in junior, Crisp was named head coach of the Calgary Flames in 1987-88, following two years as the head coach of the team's AHL affiliate in Moncton. Despite a strong record and a Stanley Cup championship in 1989 over the Montreal Canadiens, Crisp and some of the team's players always seemed to be at odds with one another, and he was let go. Crisp then coached the Tampa Bay Lightning from their inception in 1992 until 1997.

Awards

• 1973–74 - Stanley Cup Champion (Philadelphia Flyers)
• 1974–75 - Stanley Cup Champion (Philadelphia Flyers)
• 1988–89 - Stanley Cup Champion (Calgary Flames - Head Coach)

Career statistics

Coaching record

NHL head coaching

Minor leagues & assistant coach positions

¹ Midseason replacement

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NHL.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database