Robbie Ftorek

Robert Brian Ftorek (born January 2, 1952) is a professional ice hockey coach and former player. He was enshrined as member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.[1]

Robbie Ftorek
Ftorek in 2020
Born	January 2, 1952 Needham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
Position	Center/Left Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Detroit Red Wings Phoenix Roadrunners Cincinnati Stingers Quebec Nordiques New York Rangers
National team	United States
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1972–1986
Medal record Men's ice hockey Representing  United States Olympic Games 1972 Sapporo Team

Playing career

Ftorek played in the 1962, 1963 and 1964 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with his Boston youth team.[2] He later played on the 1972 United States Olympic Hockey team that surprisingly won the silver medal at the 1972 Winter Olympics. He also played for Team USA at the 1972 "Pool B" Ice Hockey World Championship where he was selected to the tournament all-star team. Originally drafted by the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972, Ftorek instead signed with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). However, the Red Wings regarded him as too small to make it as a professional and he only appeared in a handful of NHL games. Having spent most of his time in the minors with the Virginia Wings of the American Hockey League (AHL), Ftorek decided to move over to the WHA in 1974, and at this time the Whalers traded his WHA rights to the Phoenix Roadrunners.

Ftorek quickly became the Roadrunners' biggest star and he made history in 1977 when he won the Gordie Howe Trophy as the league's most valuable player, becoming the first American professional ice hockey player to be named a league MVP.[3] Ftorek confirmed his status as the most accomplished American player of the 1970s in the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup, where he was elected MVP of Team USA and also was the team's leading scorer. After playing parts of three seasons in Phoenix, when the Roadrunners franchise folded Ftorek signed with the Cincinnati Stingers.

After the WHA folded following the 1978–79 season, he signed with the Quebec Nordiques of the NHL and served as the team's captain in 1981. Ftorek played for Team USA at the 1981 Canada Cup tournament. He was traded to the New York Rangers during the 1981–82 NHL season, where he played through the 1984–85 NHL season and finished his NHL career. Ftorek was a member of the Tulsa Oilers (CHL) team that suspended operations on February 16, 1984, playing only road games for the final six weeks of 1983–84 season. Despite this adversity, the team went on to win the league's championship.[4] He played in parts of two seasons with the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHL before retiring from professional play.

Ftorek completed his NHL career with 77 goals, 150 assists, 227 points, and 262 penalty minutes in 334 games.[5] In his WHA career, Ftorek tallied 216 goals, 307 assists, 523 points, and 365 penalty minutes in 373 games,[5] making him sixth on the WHA's all-time points list, and ninth in both the WHA's all-time career goal and assist leaders. His other WHA accomplishments include participating in the 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979 WHA All-Star games as well as making the All-WHA First team in 1977, 1979, and the All-WHA Second team in 1976 and 1978.[5]

Coaching career

Ftorek began his professional coaching career with the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks in 1985. He remained with then until the 1987–88 season when he moved up to the NHL as the Los Angeles Kings' head coach until 1989. Following this, he was an assistant coach for the Quebec Nordiques and New Jersey Devils in the NHL. In 1992, he was named head coach of the AHL's Utica Devils - New Jersey's top farm team - and remained as head coach when the team became the Albany River Rats. In 1995, the same year the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup, Ftorek led the River Rats to the Calder Cup in the AHL. In 1996, Ftorek began his second stint as a New Jersey Devils assistant coach, then took the head coach's position in 1998. On January 29, 2000, the Devils played a memorable game against Detroit. In the second period, the Devils' Jay Pandolfo was involved in a collision with Detroit's Mathieu Dandenault that left Pandolfo's face bloody after a collision with the boards in the Red Wings zone.[6] The officials allowed play to continue, only for Kirk Maltby to skate down to the other end of the rink and score a goal that gave Detroit a 3–1 lead.[6] So irate was Ftorek over play not being stopped because of Pandolfo's injury, that Ftorek hurled the Devils' wooden bench onto the ice, resulting in Ftorek's ejection from the game, and subsequent one-game suspension.[6]

In 2000, Ftorek led the Devils back into the playoffs but was fired by Lou Lamoriello with nine games remaining in the regular season amidst complaints from the players. Dissent sources included Ken Daneyko, whom Ftorek benched two games short of 1,000 games played, making him miss out on the achievement at home.[7] Assistant coach Larry Robinson replaced Ftorek and the Devils went on to win their second Stanley Cup. He remained with the team as a scout, and had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup for the second time in that year.

Ftorek joined the Boston Bruins as head coach in 2001. However, after two years of poor efforts by his teams, Ftorek was fired late in the 2002–03 season with only nine games remaining in the season. Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell took over as coach for the rest of the season. In 2003, Ftorek rejoined the Devils as head coach of their AHL affiliate in Albany. When the Devils affiliation was moved to the Lowell Devils, Ftorek was retained as head coach of the team.

Ftorek holds the dubious distinction of being the only coach to be fired by two different teams in the final days of what was a winning regular season for that team – New Jersey in 1999–2000 and Boston in 2002–03. His record was 41–20–8–5 with the Devils and 33–28–8–4 with the Bruins.

In October 2007, Ftorek was hired as the head coach of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), replacing Peter Sidorkiewicz. Ftorek led the Otters to a 15–34–4 record over their final 53 games as the team missed the playoffs for their third consecutive season. In 2008–09, the Otters returned to the post-season as they improved to a 34–29–5 record, earning 73 points. Erie was then eliminated by the London Knights in the first round of the playoffs. The Otters made their second straight playoff appearance in 2009–10, as they had a record of 33–28–7, earning 73 points once again. Erie was eliminated in the first round once again, as the Windsor Spitfires swept the Otters in four games. The Otters improved their point total further in 2010–11, winning 40 games, and earned 82 points and a third-straight post-season appearance. Erie took the two-time Memorial Cup champions Spitfires to seven games before being eliminated. The 2011–12 campaign for Ftorek and the Erie Otters was incredibly dismal, as the Otters dealt with a rebuilding roster after losing many large stars of the previous years, ending the season with the OHL's third-worst season by a single team in its history at 10-52-6. On November 29, 2012, the Otters announced that they had relieved Ftorek of his head coaching duties.[8][9]

On August 7, 2013, the Calgary Flames hired Ftorek as an assistant coach for their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat.[10]

On November 29, 2016, Ftorek was named head coach of the ECHL's Norfolk Admirals replacing Rod Aldoff.[11] He was released by the Admirals following an ownership change in 2019.[12]

Awards and accomplishments

• 1972 Ice Hockey World Championships Pool B all star team
• Most Valuable Player (Team USA ) (1976 Canada Cup)
• Won Gary Davidson Trophy (WHA Most Valuable Player) (1977)
• All-WHA First team (1977, 1979)
• All-WHA Second team (1976, 1978)
• Played in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 WHA All-Star game

A member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame since 1991, Ftorek was part of the initial group of players elected to the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 2010.[13] He was elected to the AHL Hall of Fame in 2020.[14]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1968–69	Needham High School	HS-MA		18	38	36	74	—		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Needham High School	HS-MA		23	54	64	118	—		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Halifax Atlantics	MaJrHL		28	23	37	60	34		12	15	9	24	18
1971–72	United States	Intl		51	25	47	72	36		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Virginia Wings	AHL		55	17	42	59	36		5	2	2	4	4
1972–73	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		3	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Virginia Wings	AHL		65	24	42	66	37		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		12	2	5	7	4		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Tulsa Oilers	CHL		11	6	10	16	14		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Phoenix Roadrunners	WHA		53	31	37	68	29		5	2	5	7	2
1975–76	Phoenix Roadrunners	WHA		80	41	72	113	109		5	1	3	4	2
1976–77	Phoenix Roadrunners	WHA		80	46	71	117	86		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Cincinnati Stingers	WHA		80	59	50	109	54		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Cincinnati Stingers	WHA		80	39	77	116	87		3	3	2	5	6
1979–80	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		52	18	33	51	28		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		78	24	49	73	104		5	1	2	3	17
1981–82	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		19	1	8	9	4		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	New York Rangers	NHL		30	8	24	32	24		10	7	4	11	11
1982–83	New York Rangers	NHL		61	12	19	31	41		4	1	0	1	0
1983–84	Tulsa Oilers	CHL		25	11	11	22	10		9	4	5	9	2
1983–84	New York Rangers	NHL		31	3	2	5	22		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		17	9	7	16	30		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	New York Rangers	NHL		48	9	10	19	35		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
WHA totals				373	216	307	523	365		13	6	10	16	10
NHL totals				334	77	150	227	262		19	9	6	15	28

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972	United States	OLY		6	0	2	2	0
1972	United States	WC B		6	7	3	10	—
1976	United States	CC		5	3	2	5	16
1981	United States	CC		4	0	0	0	0
Senior totals				15	3	4	7	16

NHL coaching records

Team	Year	Regular Season							Post Season
		G	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Finish	Result
Los Angeles Kings	1987–88	52	23	25	4	—	(68)	4th in Smythe	Lost in First round
Los Angeles Kings	1988–89	80	42	31	7	—	91	2nd in Smythe	Lost in Second round
New Jersey Devils	1998–99	82	47	24	11	—	105	1st in Atlantic	Lost in First round
New Jersey Devils	1999–2000	74	41	20	8	5	(103)	2nd in Atlantic	(Fired)
Boston Bruins	2001–02	82	43	24	6	9	101	1st in Northeast	Lost in First round
Boston Bruins	2002–03	73	33	28	8	4	(87)	3rd in Northeast	(Fired)
NHL Totals		443	229	152	44	18

Minor league and junior coaching career

Team	Year	Regular Season							Post Season
		G	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Finish	Result
New Haven Nighthawks	1985–86	80	36	37	7	—	79	4th in South	Lost in First round
New Haven Nighthawks	1986–87	80	44	25	—	11	99	3rd in South	Lost in First round
New Haven Nighthawks	1987–88	27	16	8	3	—	(76)	5th in North	(Promoted)
Halifax Citadels	1989–90	48	25	19	4	—	(80)	4th in North	(Promoted)
Utica Devils	1992–93	80	33	36	11	—	77	3rd in South	Lost in First round
Albany River Rats	1993–94	80	38	34	8	—	84	3rd in North	Lost in First round
Albany River Rats	1994–95	80	46	17	17	—	109	1st in North	Won Calder Cup
Albany River Rats	1995–96	80	54	19	7	—	115	1st in North	Lost in First round
Albany River Rats	2003–04	28	7	15	3	3	(62)	7th in East	Missed Playoffs
Albany River Rats	2004–05	80	29	38	6	7	71	7th in East	Missed Playoffs
Albany River Rats	2005–06	80	25	48	—	7	57	7th in Atlantic	Missed Playoffs
Erie Otters	2007–08	53	15	34	—	4	(40)	5th in Midwest	Missed Playoffs
Erie Otters	2008–09	68	34	29	—	5	73	3rd in Midwest	Lost in First round
Erie Otters	2009–10	68	33	28	—	7	73	4th in Midwest	Lost in First round
Erie Otters	2010–11	68	40	26	—	2	82	3rd in Midwest	Lost in First round
Erie Otters	2011–12	68	10	52	3	3	26	5th in Midwest	Missed Playoffs
Erie Otters	2012–13	27	7	15	2	3	19	5th in Midwest	(Fired)

Personal life

Ftorek and his wife Wendy have four children. His youngest daughter Anna Ftorek died suddenly of a heart attack at the family's home in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire in 2012 at the age of 23.[15][16] His son, Sam, played professional hockey for 17 years, and has since followed in his footsteps as coach and was named the first coach of the Southern Professional Hockey League's expansion team, the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, on April 29, 2016.[17]

See also

List of NHL head coaches

References

1. "U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Inductees". Ushockeyhall.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
2. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
3. "Quebec Still Team To Beat As WHA Sports Different Look". Manchester Journal Inquirer. United Press International. October 5, 1977. p. 64. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
4. Clinton, Jared. "The Tulsa Oilers were true road warriors". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on February 28, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
5. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 1985–86. NHL Communications Department. ISBN 0-920445-02-0.
6. Top 10 stuff thrown on the ice on YouTube
7. MICHAEL RUSSO ON THE NHL (March 26, 2000). "Chain Of Negatives Doomed Devils Coach - tribunedigital-sunsentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
8. Ftorek relieved of duties as head coach; Knoblauch named as head coach Archived November 30, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
9. Daniel Girard (November 29, 2012). "Erie Otters fire Robbie Ftorek despite strong season from Connor McDavid | Toronto Star". Thestar.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
10. By WES GILBERTSON, Calgary Sun (August 7, 2013). "Calgary Flames hire assistant coach Robbie Ftorek for Abbotsford Heat | Flames |". Calgarysun.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
11. "Aldoff Relieved of Duties; Ftorek Named New Coach". Norfolk Admirals. November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
12. "Admirals tab former players as coach, owner in bid to improve fan experience and play". PilotOnline.com. June 25, 2019.
13. WHA Hall of Fame Members Archived March 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
14. "American Hockey League Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2020". OurSports Central. October 10, 2019.
15. "K-Wings honor memory of Anna Ftorek with decals on their helmets". October 30, 2012. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
16. "ANNA FTOREK Obituary - Boston, MA | Boston Globe". Legacy.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
17. "Ftorek named first head coach in Rail Yard Dawgs history | SPHL Southern Professional Hockey League". Thesphl.com. April 29, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database