Peter Horachek (born January 26, 1960) is currently an assistant coach for the
New Jersey Devils of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
(NHL). Horachek was previously a long-time assistant coach for the
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators (commonly referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and ha ...
, as well as the interim head coach of the
Florida Panthers and the
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...
.
Horachek played
junior hockey
Junior hockey is a level of competitive ice hockey generally for players between 16 and 21 years of age. Junior hockey leagues in the United States and Canada are considered amateur (with some exceptions) and operate within regions of each cou ...
with the
Oshawa Generals. Although he was not selected in an
NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft (french: Repêchage d'entrée dans la LNH) is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League (NHL) systematically select the rights to available ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirem ...
, he signed a minor league contract with the
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans (colloquially known as the Amerks) are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League; the team is an owned and operated affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, ...
and had a long career in the
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the le ...
(AHL) and
International Hockey League (IHL). He later played with the
Flint Generals
The Flint Generals were a minor professional ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan. They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at Perani Arena and Event Center. The Generals won two league championship ...
, where he scored a career-high 86 points in 1984, and with the
Flint Spirits
The Flint Spirits were a professional hockey team in Flint, Michigan from 1985 to 1990, and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. They were a part of the International Hockey League and replaced the recently departed Flint Generals t ...
. He began his coaching career when he was promoted to serve as an assistant during his final campaign with the Spirit
Horachek started the 2013–14 season as head coach of the
San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. The Rampage was primarily owned by Spurs Sports & Entertainment throughout the team's existence. In 2020, the franchise was sold ...
, the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Florida Panthers. On November 8, 2013, he was named the Panthers' interim head coach, replacing
Kevin Dineen
Kevin William Dineen (born October 28, 1963) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. , Dineen is the head coach of the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League (AHL). Dineen previously served as the head coach for the Fl ...
. On April 29, 2014, Panthers general manager
Dale Tallon
Michael "Dale" Tallon (born October 19, 1950) is a Canadian ice hockey executive and former player. He played in the NHL for ten years as a defenceman for the
Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Following his retir ...
announced the team had fired Horachek, who would not remain with the organization.
Horachek was appointed as an assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 11, 2014, and named him the interim head coach of the team on January 7, 2015, after
Randy Carlyle
Randolph Robert Carlyle (born April 19, 1956) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is the former head coach of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Toronto Maple Leafs and the Anaheim Ducks. He won the Stanley Cup in 2 ...
was fired from the position. On January 9, 2015, Horachek was named head coach of Toronto for the remainder of the
2014–15 season. Under his direction, Toronto recorded a 9–28–5 record in 42 games as the team struggled throughout the second half of the season, resulting in a 15th-place finish in the
Eastern Conference. Horachek was fired on April 12, 2015, one day after the
2014–15 regular season ended, along with general manager
Dave Nonis
David M. Nonis (born May 25, 1966) is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman. He is a special assignment scout for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and serves as a consultant to the team's general manager.
Playing career
G ...
, assistant coaches
Steve Spott
Steve Spott (born May 18, 1968 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian ice hockey coach who is an assistant coach for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL).
He previously was an assistant coach for the Vegas Golden Knights. He previous ...
and Chris Denis and goaltending coach Rick St. Croix.
NHL coaching record
See also
*
List of NHL head coaches
The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league composed of 32 teams, founded in 1917. Each team is entitled to one head coach who handles the directing of games and team practices, while providing direction and strategy for ...
References
External links
*
Peter Horachek's profile at EliteProspects.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Horachek, Peter
1960 births
Living people
Canadian ice hockey coaches
Canadian ice hockey forwards
ECHL coaches
Flint Generals players
Flint Spirits players
Florida Panthers coaches
Ice hockey people from Ontario
Milwaukee Admirals coaches
Nashville Predators coaches
New Jersey Devils coaches
New Jersey Devils scouts
Oshawa Generals players
Rochester Americans players
Saginaw Generals players
Toronto Maple Leafs coaches