Peter Laviolette Carolina Hurricanes - Head Coach

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Coach Laviolette's Playing Statistics

Peter Laviolette was named the Carolina Hurricanes' 11th head coach on Dec. 15, 2003. He became the first head coach in franchise history to lead his team to a Stanley Cup Championship when the Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers, 3-1, in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals at the RBC Center on June 19, 2006. The victory was the culmination of what had already been a record-setting season for Carolina, as Laviolette led the team to franchise records for regular season wins (52) and points (112). For his efforts, Laviolette was named as a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy as NHL Coach of the Year.

Laviolette scored a 2-1 overtime victory against Pittsburgh at the RBC Center in his Hurricanes coaching debut on Dec. 18, 2003.

NHL.com Articles: Laviolette: It's not about milestones

Laviolette coached his 300th NHL game on Oct. 6, 2006, against New Jersey and recorded his 100th Hurricanes victory on Feb. 8, 2007, when Carolina scored a 5-2 win at Boston.

Prior to joining the Hurricanes, Laviolette coached two seasons with the New York Islanders. As head coach of the Islanders during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, he led the team to the playoffs both seasons after the Islanders missed the post-season seven straight times between 1994 and 2001.

On Aug. 16, 2005, USA Hockey named Laviolette head coach for Team USA at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, and he made his Olympic coaching debut on Feb. 15, 2006. The Franklin, Massachusetts, native was a player on the 1988 and 1994 United States Olympic hockey teams, and captained the 1994 Olympic squad. Laviolette served as head coach for Team USA at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in 2004 and 2005, guiding the American squad to an upset over the host Czech Republic in the quarterfinals and a bronze medal in 2004. Laviolette also served as an Assistant Coach for Team USA in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, helping the Americans reach the semifinals.

Prior to becoming an NHL head coach, Laviolette served as an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins in 2000-01 after two years of guiding Boston's American Hockey League affiliate, Providence. In 1998-99, Laviolette led the Providence Bruins to a 56-15-4 regular-season record, and a 15-4 playoff record that culminated with Providence hoisting the Calder Cup and Laviolette being named AHL Coach of the Year.

Laviolette played 11 seasons of professional hockey, mostly in the AHL and International Hockey League. Along with his successes in the AHL and IHL, Laviolette played 12 games with the New York Rangers during the 1988-89 season.

Laviolette was born on July 12, 1964, and is currently the third-youngest NHL coach. Peter and his wife, Kristen, live in Raleigh with their sons, Peter and Jack, and their daughter, Elisabeth.