Terrance Arthur Crisp (born May 28, 1943) is a Canadian former professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
coach and player. Crisp played ten seasons in 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 ...
for the
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...
,
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the s ...
,
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
and
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wells ...
between 1965 and 1977. Crisp coached for 11 seasons in 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 ...
for the
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wells ...
,
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
and
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. They play th ...
. He currently is a radio and TV broadcaster 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 ...
. On October 30, 2021, the Predators announced Crisp will be retiring from his broadcast duties at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Crisp was a member of two
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
championship teams with the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970s, and later coached the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
to the title in
1989
File:1989 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Cypress Street Viaduct, Cypress structure collapses as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing motorists below; The proposal document for the World Wide Web is submitted; The Exxo ...
.
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
Philip Anthony Esposito ( , ; born February 20, 1942) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, coach and executive, and current broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Lightning. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he played 18 seasons in t ...
of the Sarnia Legionnaires for the league scoring title. At 17, he had pondered quitting hockey due to homesickness and become a school teacher. However, Stan Moore, who coached the B team, followed him when Crisp travelled four hours to his home at Parry Sound. He convinced him to pack his suitacase and come back down to play.
Crisp began his pro career in the
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...
organization, playing one season for them before being chosen by the
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the s ...
in the 1967 NHL 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
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
. Late in the
1972–73 season, he was traded to the
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wells ...
for
Jean Potvin
Jean René Potvin (March 25, 1949 – March 15, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, ...
. 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 #
Denis Charles Potvin (born October 29, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and team captain for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a four-time Stanley Cup winner as a member of the early ...
, 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
The World Hockey Association (french: Association mondiale de hockey) was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (NHL) ...
.
Crisp played on the notorious Philadelphia Flyers teams of the 1970s when they were also known as the
Broad Street Bullies
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wells ...
. He won two
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
s 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
Frederick Alexander Shero, nicknamed The Fog (October 23, 1925November 24, 1990) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach, and general manager. He played for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). However, he spen ...
. 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. The club finished first in the Ontario Hockey League with 54 wins, eleven losses, and one tie. 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, 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. The
1987–88 Calgary Flames season saw them go 48–23–9 and win their first division title in team history, which saw Crisp allow his players to decide who would play and who would not among a cadre of talent that included
Al MacInnis
Allan MacInnis (born July 11, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames (1981-1994) and St. Louis Blues (1994-2004). A first round selection of ...
,
Theo Fleury
Theoren Wallace "Theo" Fleury (born June 29, 1968) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, author, and motivational speaker. Fleury played for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, and Chicago Blackhawks of the ...
,
Joe Nieuwendyk
Joseph Nieuwendyk ( ; born September 10, 1966) is a Canadian former National Hockey League (NHL) player. He was a second round selection of the Calgary Flames, 27th overall, at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and played 20 seasons for the Flames, Dallas ...
, and
Lanny McDonald
Lanny King McDonald (born February 16, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played over 1,100 games during a 16-year c ...
. They were awarded the
Presidents' Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy (french: Trophée des présidents) is an award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL) to the team that finishes with the most points (i.e. best record) during the NHL regular season. If two teams are tied for the mo ...
due to having the most points among all NHL teams. However, the Flames lost in the second round to their rival in the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
, who beat them in a sweep in an eventual Stanley Cup championship (their fourth in five years). The 397 goals scored in the season is a franchise record.
The
1988–89 Calgary Flames season was even better. They went 54–17–9 (becoming the fifth team to win 50 games in league history) and lost only four times at home in the regular season while winning the Presidents' Trophy again. In the playoffs, the only challenge proved to be in the first round against the
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...
, who took them to Game 7 that saw Calgary win in overtime. They won the next two rounds while only losing once combined to reach the
1989 Stanley Cup Final. Facing the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
, they won Game 1 before Montreal took the next two games. However, Crisp and the Flames rebounded with three straight wins, which included a Game 6 win at the
Montreal Forum
Montreal Forum (french: Le Forum de Montréal) is a historic building located facing Cabot Square in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by ''Sporting News'', it was an indoor arena which served as the h ...
, becoming the second and last team to clinch a Stanley Cup at the historic venue. The
1989–90 Calgary Flames season
The 1989–90 Calgary Flames season was the Flames eighteenth season, and their tenth in Calgary. In defense of their first Stanley Cup championship, despite losing Lanny McDonald to retirement the Flames remained a dominant team on the ice, ...
saw them go 42–23–15 and win another division title while being the best in their conference. They faced the Los Angeles Kings, who had finished 24 points behind them. Calgary would be stunned in six games by the Kings, who split the first two games in Calgary before winning the next two (with a 12-4 loss being one of them). Only a Game 5 win delayed their demise in a Game 6 that saw them lose in double overtime.
On May 7, 1990, three weeks after the defeat, Crisp was fired. He had received attention in the city due to criticizing his players in public, and he was told to tone down his fiery temper behind the bench due to the complaints from fans of his foul language. He went 144-63-33 in three seasons. The Flames did not have an immediate successor for Crisp until they hired
Doug Risebrough
Douglas John Risebrough (born January 29, 1954) is a Canadian former player, coach, and general manager in the National Hockey League. In his 31 years in the NHL, he has been involved with the Stanley Cup Playoffs 25 times. He is currently a pro s ...
. The Flames would not win a postseason series until 2004.
Crisp was hired as the inaugural coach of the expansion team
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. They play th ...
on April 23, 1992. He was hired due to his "pizzazz, some jump, some color" by general manager
Phil Esposito
Philip Anthony Esposito ( , ; born February 20, 1942) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, coach and executive, and current broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Lightning. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, he played 18 seasons in t ...
in order to help sell tickets along with coach. They lost plenty of games in the first few years (125 in the first three seasons) before the
1995–96 Tampa Bay Lightning season saw them make the postseason on the final day of the season. They had a record of 38–32–12 and made it as the 8th seed by two points. In the playoffs, they faced the
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wells ...
. The Lightning won Game 2 in overtime before returning to Tampa to host their first ever playoff games. They won Game 3 in overtime, but the Flyers won the next three games to win the series. They finished 32-40-10 the following year, finishing three points out of a playoff spot. The bottom fell out the next year. They were 2-6-2 going into a matchup against the
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home ...
. They led 3-1 in the third period before the Rangers scored three straight goals to win 4-3. He was fired two days after the game on October 26. He was replaced by
Rick Paterson
David Rick Paterson (born February 10, 1958) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 430 games in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Black Hawks from 1979 through 1987. After leaving Chicago, he worked ...
on an interim basis for six games before
Jacques Demers
Jacques Demers (born August 25, 1944) is a former Canadian Senator, former broadcaster and former professional ice hockey head coach. After a lengthy coaching career in the World Hockey Association and in the National Hockey League, Demers bec ...
was brought in to coach the rest of the season, which saw them win 17 games for the second time in four seasons. He went 142–204–45 with Tampa.
Broadcasting career
For a time, Crisp served as a reporter for
NHL on Fox
The ''NHL on Fox'' is the branding used for broadcasts of National Hockey League (NHL) games that were produced by Fox Sports and televised on the Fox network from the 1994–1995 NHL season until the 1998–1999 NHL season. NHL games continue ...
. In 1997, Crisp was hired to serve as the
color commentator
A color commentator or expert commentator is a sports commentator who assists the main (play-by-play) commentator, typically by filling in when play is not in progress. The phrase "colour commentator" is primarily used in Canadian English and t ...
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 ...
, working for
Fox Sports Tennessee and its successor
Bally Sports South
Bally Sports South (BSSO) is an American regional sports network owned by Diamond Sports Group, and operates as an affiliate of Bally Sports Networks. The network carries regional coverage of professional and collegiate sports events from across ...
alongside play-by-play man
Pete Weber. He moved from the broadcasting booth to analyst after the 2013-2014 season. His contribution in hockey insight earned him induction into the
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. He announced his retirement from broadcasting in October 2021, effective at the end of the 2021-22 season.
[https://www.wkrn.com/sports/nashville-predators/longtime-predators-broadcaster-terry-crisp-to-retire-at-end-of-nhl-season/]
Awards
*
1973–74 -
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
Champion (
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wells ...
)
*
1974–75 -
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
Champion (Philadelphia Flyers)
*
1988–89 -
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
Champion (
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
- Head Coach)
Career statistics
Coaching record
NHL head coaching
Minor leagues & assistant coach positions
1 Midseason replacement
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crisp, Terry
1943 births
Living people
Boston Bruins players
Buffalo Bisons (AHL) players
Calgary Flames coaches
Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Canadian ice hockey centres
Canadian ice hockey coaches
Canadian sports announcers
Ice hockey people from Ontario
Kansas City Blues players
Minneapolis Bruins players
Nashville Predators announcers
National Hockey League assistant coaches
National Hockey League broadcasters
New York Islanders players
Niagara Falls Flyers (1960–1972) players
Oklahoma City Blazers (1965–1977) players
Philadelphia Flyers coaches
Philadelphia Flyers players
St. Louis Blues players
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds coaches
Sportspeople from Parry Sound, Ontario
Stanley Cup champions
Stanley Cup championship-winning head coaches
Tampa Bay Lightning coaches