INTERNATIONAL BACKGROUND

Canada’s head coach at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, winning a silver medal

HOCKEY BACKGROUND

The longest-tenured current coach in the NHL, he just completed his 12th season as the Buffalo Sabres’ head coach, the 15th head coach in franchise history … With 438 wins, he ranks first among all NHL coaches with their current team … Fifth overall among active coaches and 23rd all-time with 438 wins … The all-time winningest coach in Buffalo Sabres’ history, he is also the all-time leader in playoff games coached (88) and wins (52) … Runner-up to Vancouver’s Alain Vigneault for the 2007 Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL’s coach of the year … In 2006-07, helped Buffalo win its first Presidents’ Trophy, along with a franchise-record 53 wins … On April 5, 2007, he became the 31st coach in NHL history to record 300 career wins and the 16th in NHL history to reach this milestone with the same team … Was named to the NHL All-Star Game on two occasions (1999, 2007) … Won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s coach of the year in 2006 … Led Buffalo to the Eastern Conference Final in 2005-06 … In his second season as head coach of Buffalo, 1998-99, he lead the Sabres to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 24 years … Only the third head coach under the present Stanley Cup playoff format to lead his team to the conference final in each of his first two seasons … Was an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers, under Roger Neilson, from 1993-97 … Was a player/assistant coach with the IHL’s San Diego Gulls in 1991-92 … Played 691 games in the NHL as a defenceman and left winger, recording 105 goals and 195 assists … Served as Buffalo’s captain from 1987 through 1989, replacing Gilbert Perreault … Was Buffalo’s second-round pick, 32nd overall, in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft … Played junior hockey with the WHL’s Lethbridge Broncos from 1976-79

PERSONAL

He and his wife Gaye have four children, Brett, Eryn and twins Brian and Madeleine … Born on February 17, 1960 in Edmonton, Alta. … Raised in Warburg, a small town south of Edmonton (pop. 621)