Mike Babcock spent parts of eighteen seasons as a professional and head coach in the National Hockey League.
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35 Facts About Mike Babcock
2.
Mike Babcock began as head coach of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, whom he led to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals.
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3.
In 2005, Babcock signed with the Detroit Red Wings, winning the Stanley Cup with them in 2008, and helping them to the Stanley Cup playoffs every year during his tenure, becoming the winningest coach in Red Wings history.
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4.
Mike Babcock was born in Manitouwadge, Ontario, and grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
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5.
Mike Babcock guided the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup in 2008; he led Team Canada to gold at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships in 2004; and he led Team Canada to gold at both the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
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6.
Mike Babcock is the only coach to win six distinct national or international titles.
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7.
In September 1985, Mike Babcock had a brief try-out with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.
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8.
Mike Babcock graduated from McGill in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in physical education, and did some post-graduate work in sports psychology.
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9.
Mike Babcock moved to the United Kingdom in 1987 as a player-coach for Whitley Warriors, who missed out on the league title by two points.
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10.
Mike Babcock is one of four McGill University players to coach an NHL team.
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11.
In 2008, Mike Babcock became the second McGill hockey player to coach a Stanley Cup winner, the first being Lester Patrick.
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12.
Mike Babcock guided Team Canada to gold medals at the 1997 world junior championships in Geneva, the 2004 IIHF world hockey championships in Prague, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.
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14.
Mike Babcock spent three seasons at the school, winning the provincial collegiate championship and earning coach-of-the-year honours in 1989.
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15.
Mike Babcock moved to the Western Hockey League in 1991, where he guided the Moose Jaw Warriors for a two-year term.
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16.
Mike Babcock was named twice as the West Division coach of the year.
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17.
In June 2008, Mike Babcock signed a three-year contract extension with the Red Wings.
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18.
On December 6,2014, Mike Babcock earned his 500th career win as a head coach, becoming the second-fastest coach in NHL history to do so; only Hockey Hall of Famer and former Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman reached the 500-win plateau faster.
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19.
However, on May 20,2015, it was announced that Mike Babcock would become the new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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20.
Mike Babcock worked closely with these rookies, and their youthful energy and talent, coupled with the addition of goaltender Frederik Andersen, allowed the team to qualify for the playoffs, marking a rare occasion where a team goes from last in the league to capturing a playoff appearance.
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21.
Mike Babcock's coaching was praised throughout the playoffs as it was during the regular season, with many lauding his attempts at player development while maintaining a high level of team success.
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22.
In recognition for these achievements throughout the season, Mike Babcock was nominated for the Jack Adams Award, but lost to John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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23.
On February 20,2021, the University of Saskatchewan announced that Mike Babcock would become the coach of the Men's Hockey Team for two seasons starting May 2021.
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24.
Mike Babcock continued his tradition of building a team with skills rather than enforcement in Detroit.
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25.
Mike Babcock was accused of mistreating Mitch Marner during his rookie season, by asking him to rank his teammates in order of their work ethic and later sharing the list with the rest of the team.
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26.
Mike Babcock confirmed the incident after it was reported, expressing his regret and stating that he had apologized to Marner at the time.
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27.
Mike Babcock coached Canada's team at the 1997 World Junior Championships, where the country won a fifth consecutive gold medal.
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28.
On June 24,2009, Mike Babcock was announced as the head coach of Canada's men's national ice hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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29.
On July 22,2013, Mike Babcock was announced as the head coach of Canada's men's national ice hockey team for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
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30.
Mike Babcock coached Canada to victory at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey on September 29,2016, making him the first and only coach to date to have won the Stanley Cup, coach a team to an Olympic gold medal, a World Cup, a World Championship, and a World Junior Championship.
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31.
Mike Babcock spent the majority of his childhood moving around between Northern Ontario, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, before his family settled in Saskatoon, which he considers his hometown, in 1975.
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32.
Mike Babcock attended both St James Elementary School and Holy Cross High School on Saskatoon's east side.
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33.
Mike Babcock is an outspoken advocate for Bell Let's Talk, CAMH, and other mental health awareness campaigns.
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34.
Mike Babcock became involved in the fight for awareness when his hometown in Saskatchewan lost two boys to mental illness in one summer.
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35.
Mike Babcock was made a member of the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2018.
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