Dick Irvin
Four-time Stanley Cup champion coach with over 600 wins.
Dick Irvin was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. He played for teams in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, the Western Canada Hockey League, and the National Hockey League from 1916 to 1928, when repeated injuries forced his retirement. After playing, he built a successful coaching career in the NHL with the Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Montreal Canadiens, leading his teams to the Stanley Cup Finals 16 times in 26 years as a full-time head coach and winning four Stanley Cups.
Quick Facts
- Halloffame
- 1958
- Birth Date
- 1892-07-19
- Birth Place
- Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Death Date
- 1957-05-16
- Death Place
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 9
- Weight Lb
- 162
- Position
- Centre
- Shoots
- Left
- Played For
- Portland Rosebuds / Regina Capitals / Chicago Black Hawks
- Career Start
- 1916
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Irvin was born in Hamilton, Ontario, one of ten children. His family moved to Winnipeg when he was eight. He played senior hockey at age 12 with the Winnipeg Strathconas. During the 1914 Allan Cup, he was ruled ineligible, but after the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was established in 1914, he was declared eligible and won the 1915 Allan Cup with the Winnipeg Monarchs. He also played baseball and curled competitively.
Irvin began his professional career in 1916 with the Portland Rosebuds. He was conscripted into the Canadian Expeditionary Force in November 1917 and served in France as a motorcycle rider. After the war, he returned to amateur hockey before joining the Regina Capitals in 1921. In 1926, he entered the NHL with the Chicago Black Hawks, becoming their first captain. A fractured skull in his second season led to his retirement after 1928–29.
As a coach, Irvin led the Black Hawks to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season but was released in 1931. He then coached the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning the Stanley Cup in his first season at Maple Leaf Gardens. He led the Leafs to the finals six more times without another Cup. In 1940, Conn Smythe replaced him with Hap Day and suggested the Montreal Canadiens hire Irvin. Irvin turned the Canadiens around, leading them to six finals appearances and three Cups in 15 years. He stepped down after the 1954–55 season amid controversy over goon tactics and fan riots. He returned to the Black Hawks for 1955–56 but could not improve the team and retired due to bone cancer before the 1956–57 season.
Reader's Guide
Dick Irvin's significance lies in his remarkable coaching longevity and success. Over 26 years as a full-time head coach, he led his teams to the Stanley Cup Finals 16 times, winning four championships—one with Toronto and three with Montreal. His 692 regular-season wins were the most in league history at the time, surpassed only later by Scotty Bowman. Among the seven coaches with four Stanley Cup championships, only Al Arbour and Bowman have more wins than Irvin. His coaching career spanned three franchises, and he was instrumental in turning around the Montreal Canadiens after a disastrous ten-win season, building them into a dynasty with stars like Elmer Lach, Doug Harvey, Bill Durnan, and Maurice Richard. Despite internal pressure and controversy late in his tenure, his impact on the game was recognized with his election to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958, a year after his death.
Did You Know?
- Irvin was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958, one year after his death.
- He served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War as a motorcycle rider.
- Irvin was the first captain of the Chicago Black Hawks when they entered the NHL in 1926.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dick Irvin?
Dick Irvin was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1892, who went on to become one of the most decorated bench bosses in early NHL history. After a playing career that spanned the PCHA, WCHL, and NHL, he reinvented himself as a coach and left a lasting mark on the sport.
Which NHL teams did Dick Irvin coach?
Irvin served as head coach for the Chicago Black Hawks, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Montreal Canadiens across a 26-year coaching career. His stints with all three franchises made him a familiar and respected figure in multiple hockey markets.
How many Stanley Cups did Dick Irvin win as a coach?
Irvin lifted the Stanley Cup four times during his coaching tenure. He also reached the Stanley Cup Finals on 16 separate occasions, a remarkable consistency that underscored his ability to keep teams competitive season after season.
Why did Dick Irvin stop playing hockey?
Repeated injuries forced Irvin to retire from active play in 1928 after a career that had started in 1916. Those physical setbacks ultimately redirected his talents toward the bench, where he achieved far greater success than on the ice.
What makes Dick Irvin's coaching record stand out?
Irvin accumulated more than 600 wins and 16 Stanley Cup Finals appearances over 26 seasons as a full-time head coach, a combination of longevity and sustained excellence that few of his peers matched. His four championships and deep playoff runs across three different franchises cement his reputation as one of the NHL's great builders.
More in Hockey Hall of Fame Builders and Executives, Part 2 1-24
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