John Stevens-Hall Of Famer

[DaGreatGazoo]

Did anyone post this???

On Nov. 10, 2011, the American Hockey League announced the four people selected for induction into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame as the Class of 2012.

Honored by the AHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee as the seventh group of enshrinees are Joe Crozier, Jack Gordon, John Stevens and Zellio Toppazzini.

JOHN STEVENS:

A tough defensive defenseman, John Stevens was regarded as one of the top blueliners in the AHL during his playing days, and when injury forced him off the ice he found success as a coach as well.

A native of Campbellton, N.B., Stevens was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1984 and made his professional debut with the Hershey Bears at the age of 18. His first four pro seasons were split between Hershey and Philadelphia, and he was a member of the Bears’ 1988 Calder Cup championship team.

After signing with the Hartford Whalers in 1990, Stevens spent most of the next six seasons in Springfield, where he captained the Indians to a Calder Cup title in 1991. Three years later, Stevens was named the first captain of the Springfield Falcons and scored the first goal in Falcons history – one of just 21 goals he would score in his entire AHL career. He was also selected to be one of the playing captains for the 1996 AHL All-Star Classic, held at his first professional home: Hersheypark Arena.

Stevens returned to the Flyers organization in 1996 and was again turned to for leadership on a new club as he was given the captain’s “C” for the first-year Philadelphia Phantoms. The Phantoms finished with the best record in the AHL in their inaugural season, and a year later won the 1998 Calder Cup title.

An eye injury ended Stevens’ playing career in December 1998, but he remained with the club as an assistant coach under Bill Barber. Stevens was promoted to the head coaching position in 2000 and spent six seasons at the helm, winning another Calder Cup in 2005. He was promoted to the Flyers in 2006, first as an assistant coach and then as head coach, and is now in his second season as an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings.

Stevens has participated in more than 1,400 regular-season AHL games as a player, assistant coach and head coach. His 834 games played are currently ninth-most by a defenseman in league history, and he also ranks 15th all-time with 102 Calder Cup Playoff games played.

Stevens is one of 16 men in AHL history to win Calder Cups as both a player and a head coach, a group that includes AHL Hall of Famers Bun Cook, Frank Mathers, Fred Glover, John Paddock, Bruce Boudreau and fellow 2012 inductee Jack Gordon

[murraycraven]

Good for good old Johnny boy... I wonder if he an Richy will be partying in LA for this acheivement

[DaGreatGazoo]

I just like saying John Stevens, HOF'er. With all the abuse that man took from us over the years, I find it very amusing!

[hf101]

Cake Anyone?

[DaGreatGazoo]

LMFAO!

[idahophilly]

Good for good old Johnny boy... I wonder if he an Richy will be partying in LA for this acheivement

I'd rather be partying in LA than crying in Columbus...

[Samifan]

I can't wait to hear his induction speech, should be electrifying!

[flyerrod]

I was never a big John Stevens fan when he was a coach for the Flyers. I think a large part of that was he left the inmates run the asylum( or at least it appeared that way). When he played with the Phantoms, or coached, he always seem to get the most out of his team. Congrats to him on his induction.

[HockeyFan]

I can't wait to hear his induction speech, should be electrifying!

Hopefully, he'll use a prompter. Then we'll have hope that someone wrote in "blink" and "smile/attempt to move your entire mouth when speaking" to it.

Seriously, though; nice honor for his AHL career.