Fred Shero
Innovative coach who won two Stanley Cups with the Flyers.
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Frederick Alexander Shero (October 23, 1925 – November 24, 1990) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach, and general manager. Nicknamed "The Fog", he is best known as the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, leading them to Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and 1975. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2013.
Background
Fred Shero was born in Winnipeg to Russian-born parents who fled religious persecution. He was bullied as a child and became a loner, later crediting his childhood for his introverted personality. At age 13, he became Canadian Bantamweight boxing champion but chose hockey over professional boxing. He signed with the New York Rangers at 17 and served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, playing hockey for HMCS Chippawa.
His NHL debut came on October 16, 1947, against the Montreal Canadiens. He played 19 games with the Rangers that season and later reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1950, losing in double overtime in game seven. After being traded to the Cleveland Barons, he won back-to-back Calder Cups in 1953 and 1954. He retired from playing in 1958.
Shero spent 13 years coaching in the minor leagues, winning multiple championships and the AHL coach of the year award in 1970. Despite success in the Rangers farm system, he was not considered for the Rangers head coaching job due to a perceived alcohol problem and belief he was an ineffective communicator.
In 1971, Flyers general manager Keith Allen hired Shero based on reputation and a "gut feeling." Shero became the first coach to employ systems, hire a full-time assistant coach (Mike Nykoluk), use in-season strength training, study film, and utilize a morning skate. He also insisted on having a European scout. His nickname "The Fog" originated from a 1948 game in St. Paul, Minnesota, where fog was so thick he was the only player who claimed to see the puck.
Career statistics and honours
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1941–42 | St. James Canadians | MJHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1942–43 | St. James Monarchs | MJHL | 16 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 1943–44 | New York Rovers | EAHL | 15 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1943–44 | Brooklyn Crescents | EAHL | 29 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| 1944–45 | Port Arthur Navy | TBJHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1944–45 | Winnipeg Rangers | MJHL | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 1944–45 | Winnipeg HMCS Chippewas | WNDHL | 15 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 1945–46 | New York Rovers | EAHL | 30 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| 1946–47 | New Haven Ramblers | AHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1946–47 | New York Rovers | EAHL | 46 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 44 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 25 |
| New York Rangers | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 1947–48 | St. Paul Saints | USHL | 40 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1948–49 | New York Rangers | NHL | 59 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — |
| New York Rangers | NHL | 67 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 71 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1949–50 | New Haven Ramblers | AHL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1950–51 | Cincinnati Mohawks | AHL | 65 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 94 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1951–52 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 15 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1951–52 | PCHL | 43 | 1 | 16 | 17 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1952–53 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 64 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 54 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 1953–54 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 69 | 21 | 32 | 53 | 95 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
| 1954–55 | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 37 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955–56 | Winnipeg Warriors | WHL | 59 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 99 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 1956–57 | Winnipeg Warriors | WHL | 66 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1957–58 | Shawinigan Falls Cataractes | QSHL | 48 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| AHL totals | 255 | 41 | 79 | 120 | 313 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 34 | ||
| NHL totals | 145 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 137 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
NHL coaching record
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | W | L | Win% | Result | ||
| PHI | 1971–72 | 78 | 26 | 38 | 14 | 66 | 5th in West | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| PHI | 1972–73 | 78 | 37 | 30 | 11 | 85 | 2nd in West | 5 | 6 | Lost in Semifinals (MTL) | |
| PHI | 1973–74 | 78 | 50 | 16 | 12 | 112 | 1st in West | 12 | 5 | Won Stanley Cup (BOS) | |
| PHI | 1974–75 | 80 | 51 | 18 | 11 | 113 | 1st in Patrick Division | 12 | 5 | Won Stanley Cup (BUF) | |
| PHI | 1975–76 | 80 | 51 | 13 | 16 | 118 | 1st in Patrick Division | 8 | 8 | Lost in Stanley Cup Final (MTL) | |
| PHI | 1976–77 | 80 | 48 | 16 | 16 | 110 | 1st in Patrick Division | 4 | 6 | Lost in Semifinals (BOS) | |
| PHI | 1977–78 | 80 | 45 | 20 | 15 | 100 | 2nd in Patrick Division | 6 | 5 | Lost in Semifinals (BOS) | |
| PHI total | 554 | 308 | 151 | 95 | — | — | 47 | 35 | 6 playoff appearances / 2 Stanley Cup titles | ||
| NYR | 1978–79 | 80 | 40 | 29 | 11 | 91 | 3rd in Patrick Division | 11 | 7 | Lost in Stanley Cup Final (MTL) | |
| NYR | 1979–80 | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 86 | 3rd in Patrick Division | 4 | 5 | Lost in Quarterfinals (PHI) | |
| NYR | 1980–81 | 20 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 11 | Resigned | — | — | — | — |
| NYR total | 180 | 82 | 74 | 24 | — | — | 15 | 12 | 2 playoff appearances | ||
| NHL total | 734 | 390 | 225 | 119 | — | — | 62 | 47 | 8 playoff appearances / 2 Stanley Cup titles | ||
Tables copied from the source article, totals included as the source gives them: Wikipedia: Fred Shero (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wide tables scroll sideways.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Fred Shero (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Statistics, medals and awards: the tables of the source article.
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