Laviolette was a two-time U.S. Olympian as a player and has coached the New York Islanders and now, the Carolina Hurricanes.

Hockey won't let Laviolette go
By John McGourty | NHL.com
Sept. 21, 2004

When he entered Westfield (Mass.) State College, Carolina Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette thought he'd indulge himself in his relatively newly found love for hockey while preparing himself for a career in restaurant management. But hockey wouldn't let go.

When did you begin to think about a coaching career?

"I've never mapped out a hockey career," Laviolette said. "I think a lot of good New England players attend prep school, move on to a Division I college on scholarship and get drafted. My journey has been quite different which makes it unique, not your typical story.

"I went to Franklin High School and matured late as a player. Our team was pretty good for a public high school, but no scholarships came my way. More than anything, I wanted to go to school and get a degree in business. When I went to Westfield State, more and more, I craved hockey and realized hockey was something I wanted to do. But I was playing Division III and didn't think much would come of it.

"After college, things just unfolded for me, a tryout here and an Olympic camp there and I was able to carve out a living for 11 years playing hockey. I never planned it, though," Laviolette continued. "The same can be said for coaching. When I was playing, I didn't think a lot about coaching. I thought hockey would end someday and I would get into a business career. Restaurant chains have always intrigued me."

What people say about Laviolette

Laviolette played 11 seasons of professional hockey, mostly in the AHL and IHL, including 12 games with the New York Rangers during the 1988-89 season. He was a member of the 1988 and 1994 U.S. Olympic hockey teams, and captained the 1994 Olympic squad. His 1994 coach, longtime Yale head coach Tim Taylor, remembers a conversation he had with his captain about life after hockey.

"We had a very young team and Peter was one of a handful of veterans on the team," Taylor said. "He had a lot of leadership qualities and was a great kid in the locker room and on the ice at practice. He was coachable, energetic and enthusiastic, all the good things you want in a player.

"I felt when I was coaching him, that he would turn into a great coach if he chose to go in the that direction. I talked to him during the Games and after, but coaching wasn't on his list coming out of the 1994 Olympics. He was talking about opening a chain of restaurants, primarily featuring salads. I couldn't believe he could turn his back on the game and go on a different career path.

"I felt he would be a great coach," Taylor continued. "He had the personality traits that would be desirable. I was glad to see him get in the Boston Bruins organization and coach at Providence. I get reports back from a lot of ex-college kids who play in the AHL and everybody said what a great guy Peter is to play for and what a great job he did. It was only a matter of time before he got his chance."

What changed your mind about coaching?

"After the Olympics, I played a couple of years for the Providence Bruins and coach Bobby Francis asked me if I would be interested in being player-assistant coach the next year. Honestly, I thought that would keep me playing a few more years. He asked me if I had a passion for coaching and I said I had no idea, but I know I love coming to the rink. Boston had quite a few of our players up there and I was playing a lot until I broke my leg. Then, Boston sent down four defensemen so the timing was good. Bobby went up to be Pat Burns' assistant in Boston and while I would have liked to have had the head coaching job, I didn't get much of a look. So, I went to Wheeling in the ECHL, put a team together and we did well. The Providence job opened the next year and I had some success there and moved up to assistant in Boston. There was some talk of me getting the head-coaching position, but it didn't happen and then Mike Millbury called and I would up in Long Island."

Which of your coaches had the greatest influence?

"I've taken bits and pieces from everyone," Laviolette said. "You are who you are and you get a lot from your family and your upbringing. I give a lot of credit to my parents. If it weren't for Bobby Francis, I know I wouldn't be here. I was in his office all the time. I learned about preparation, organization and motivation. Things you would need to be successful. With Bobby, our personalities are similar and I think it would be tougher to learn from somebody with whom you're not compatible. I learned a lot just watching how he handled people. Tim Taylor is an excellent hockey man and very knowledgeable about the game. The most competitive and fiery coach I ever had was Bob Luccini, my high-school coach. He had this unquenchable thirst for success and winning and he instilled that in me at a young age."

Which Carolina player is ready for a breakout season?

"I think that's why our organization made the move to get Martin Gerber. That's always a good pace to start. If someone is having a breakout year, it would be great if it's the goalie. We have a young team, so there are a couple of players who could break out. Josef Vasicek is a good player and our leading scorer last year, but he could take the next step this year. Eric Staal is still a prospect, but he was a good player in his rookie year. I think there's a good chance he could take the next step like Rick Nash did. Erik Cole has been a good player. Here's a chance for him to be a great player. So, we have a few players in that category."

Which prospect excites you the most?

"Cam Ward, the goaltender from Red Deer. He was the Canadian Goaltender of the year, the MVP last year of the Western Hockey League and twice the WHL goalie of the year. He's going to start in Lowell (AHL) and get in some games. When we think he's ready, we'll bring him up to the NHL. Everything that's said about him has been positive. The kid we drafted this year, Andrew Ladd, is pretty intriguing. He tested as strong as anyone on our team and he's only 18. He's a fit kid who might be physically able to handle the NHL this year."