Mike Keenan, a 1972 graduate of St. Lawrence, has been hired as head coach
and assistant general manager of the Florida Panthers hockey team.
Keenan, who has coached six other teams and won a Stanley
Cup in 1994 with the New York Rangers, stated, "We see a young team that's
developing and has opportunity and potential to develop and move, in terms
of our vision...to build a team that's capable of competing for and winning
the Stanley Cup." His most recent coaching position was with the Boston
Bruins.
Keenan is ranked fifth in all-time wins among NHL coaches with 539 victories and is ranked
fifth with 1069 games coached. His teams have combined for three 50-plus-victory seasons
and five 100-plus point seasons, three President's Trophies representing the league's top
record and six divisional titles. He has coached teams to four Stanley Cup Finals, with
Philadelphia in 1985 and 1987, with Chicago in 1992 and he won the Stanley Cup with the
New York Rangers in 1994 as he brought the Rangers their first championship in 54 years. He
won the Jack Adams Award as the league's top coach in 1984-85 with Philadelphia and has
also coached in three NHL All-Star Games. Keenan has a remarkable playoff record, winning
18 of 28 playoff series and 91 of 160 games. He is ranked fourth all-time in playoff wins. He
becomes the sixth coach in Panthers' history.
Keenan is a member of the St. Lawrence Athletic Hall of Fame.