Sad news. Due to his wife, the head coach of Dallas stars has officially announced his retirement.
Bowness coached the Winnipeg Jets to two playoff appearances in the previous two seasons.
Rick Bowness, the Winnipeg Jets’ head coach, announced his retirement from coaching on Monday after 38 seasons in the NHL. Bowness coached eight different organizations and made 17 playoff appearances, including trips to the finals as head coach of the Dallas Stars in 2020, assistant coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015, and associate coach of the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.
“A lifetime in hockey and obviously well-respected by all his coaching peers, but also the players he’s had an effect on over their careers, especially the young defensemen in the league,” Pete DeBoer, the Stars head coach, said. “It’s a who’s who list of the last 20 years, so wonderful career, and I feel privileged to have coached against him, and all I want to do is wish him a happy retirement and congratulate him on a fantastic run.
“His fingerprints are definitely on the current Dallas team. He entrenched the defensive detail into this group’s DNA. I’ve obviously benefited from that.”
An terrific man on and off the ice, as well as a coach who left an indelible mark on our club, fans, and the sport of hockey. Thank you, Bones, for your leadership and contributions to the Stars and the sport.
After leaving the Stars organization after the 2021-22 season, Bowness led the Jets to a 98-57-9 record in his two seasons as head coach in Winnipeg. Bowness was just named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, which honors “the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success” this season.
He is one of only three head coaches (along with Scotty Bowman and Pat Quinn) to have led the team in five distinct decades. He is the most experienced NHL coach in history, having coached 2,726 games.
