In addition to Hitchcock, who was hired by the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 20 to replace Todd McLellan, other winners announced by Hockey Canada on Wednesday are Hockey Hall of Fame member Jayna Hefford and longtime coach George Kingston. The award, selected by a 12-member committee, honors Canadian players, coaches and executives for their contributions to hockey.
The 67-year-old's 837 wins are the most among active NHL coaches and third all-time, behind Scotty Bowman (1,244) and Joel Quenneville (890). In 22 seasons with the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues and Oilers, Hitchcock is 837-520-121 with 88 ties. His 1,566 games coached are fifth all-time and second to the New York Islanders' Barry Trotz (1,573) among active coaches.
Hitchcock coached the Stars to the Stanley Cup in 1999 and won Olympic gold medals as an assistant with Canada in 2002, 2010 and 2014. He cited being an assistant to Pat Quinn at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics as one of his most memorable experiences.
"We had a lot of veteran players that were banged up and needed time during the tournament to recover," he said. "To see a team come together like that and to see a team play that well in the end was really impressive. Was my first experience at extreme leadership, where I saw what Mario (Lemieux) and Steve (Yzerman) and Al MacInnis and Rob Blake and the difference they could make. It was a great experience."
Hefford was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018. She helped Canada win the gold medal at the Olympics four times and at the IIHF Women's World Championship seven times. The 41-year-old is the commissioner of the Canadian Women's Hockey League.
"For myself as a young girl I just wanted to play the game," she said. "I loved it so much, and thankfully my parents allowed me to play the game. Whether as a player, a coach, a volunteer administrator, we need people that are passionate about the game and want to help it grow."
Kingston was named coach of the expansion San Jose Sharks on April 12, 1991, and in two seasons went 28-129 with seven ties. He also worked as an assistant with the Minnesota North Stars (1988-89), Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2001) and Florida Panthers (2001-07).
He coached Canada to the gold medal at the 1994 IIHF World Championship and has extensive international experience coaching national teams in Germany, Norway, Mexico and Lithuania.
The 79-year-old credited his time living in Edmonton for his coaching success.
"I came off a farm in Saskatchewan and landed in Edmonton and at that time how do you like having Murray Smith (Alberta Sports Hall of Fame member) as a Grade 10 teacher, and (Hockey Hall of Fame builder) Clare Drake as a [Grade] 11/12 teacher and coach. The lessons I took away from them are the lessons I tried to impart."
Hitchcock, Hefford and Kingston will be honored at the 2019 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala and Golf in Edmonton on June 17-18.
"As players and coaches, this group of honorees has proudly represented Canada on some of the biggest stages in the game," Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney said. "To be recognized as a distinguished honoree of the Order of Hockey in Canada is one of the most prestigious accomplishments one can receive, and this year's honorees are certainly well-deserving."
