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Marc Joseph HabcheidHead Coach and General Manager of the Chilliwack Bruins
Date of Birth: 01.05.1963
Country:  Canada |
Content:
Biography of Mark Habscheid
Mark Habscheid is a former NHL forward, head coach, and general manager of the Chilliwack Bruins, a team in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Born on March 1, 1963, in the small town of Swift Current in the southwestern province of Saskatchewan, Canada, Habscheid had a successful career in the NHL before transitioning into coaching and management roles.
Early Life and NHL Career
Habscheid's hockey journey began in Saskatchewan when his father bought him used skates for Christmas. After playing three seasons for the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL, Habscheid was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round, 113th overall, in the 1981 NHL Draft. In his debut season, 1981-82, Habscheid recorded an impressive 152 points, ranking second on the team's scoring chart. He also represented Team Canada in the 1982 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where they won their first-ever gold medal.
After attending training camps and learning from his idol, Wayne Gretzky, Habscheid spent time playing in the minor leagues to improve his defensive skills. He played in 74 games for the Oilers from 1981 to 1985. However, in 1985, Habscheid was suspended for refusing to play for the Oilers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs. He was later traded to the Minnesota North Stars in December 1985 and played 113 games for the team, with his best season being 1988-89 when he scored 23 goals and made 31 assists in 76 games. Habscheid then played for the Detroit Red Wings from 1989 to 1991 and the Calgary Flames after being traded. He spent the next four seasons between the International Hockey League teams and various European clubs before retiring at the end of the 1995-1996 season.
During his NHL career, Habscheid represented Team Canada twice, participating in the 1988 Winter Olympics and the 1992 World Championships.
Coaching and Management Career
In 1997, Habscheid began his coaching career by becoming the head coach of the Melfort Mustangs in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. He then moved on to coach the Kamloops Blazers, a team in the WHL. In November 1999, Habscheid was offered the position of head coach for the Kelowna Rockets, where he achieved great success. Under his leadership, the team won the Hershey Cup in 2002 and the Memorial Cup in 2004.
Habscheid also coached the Canadian national junior team, leading them to a silver medal in the 2003 World Junior Championships and a gold medal in 2004. His team won another silver medal in 2005. Additionally, Habscheid served as an assistant coach at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
On June 3, 2009, Habscheid accepted an offer from the Chilliwack Bruins to become their head coach and general manager. With his wealth of experience working with both young and established hockey players, Habscheid continues to make a significant impact on the sport.
