John Brophy resigns as Wheeling Nailers Head Coach
March 27, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING, WV The Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League announced Head Coach John Brophy will resign from his position effective at the conclusion of the 2002-2003 season. Brophy has been the Nailers head coach for two seasons, the second longest tenure in the Wheeling franchise.
The 2002-2003 season is the 29th season Brophy has been a head coach in professional hockey. During his career, he has won over 1,000 professional games, the second highest total in the history of professional hockey, and is one of only two men to win over 1,000 professional games.
Brophy's coaching career began in the 1973-74 season with the Long Island Ducks of the North American Hockey League. After one season, he moved to the Hampton Gulls of the Southern Hockey League where he won a division title in the 1976-77 season. The following season the Gulls joined the American Hockey League, Brophy's first stint in the AHL.
After coaching Hampton, he moved on to the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association. Brophy earned the WHA Coach of the Year with the Bulls in 1979 before the league folded and merged with the National Hockey League. He remained with the Bulls for two more seasons as part of the Central Hockey League, before returning to the AHL with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs. After coaching the Voyageurs for one season, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Brophy as an assistant coach.
The following season the Maple Leafs made Brophy the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the St. Catharines Saints. His position with the Saints would be his third and final coaching job in the AHL. The next season the Maple Leafs hired Brophy as their head coach. Brophy coached the Maple Leafs from 1986-89, reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice.
Brophy began his East Coast Hockey League career with the Hampton Roads Admirals in the 1989-90 season and was the only coach in the Admirals ECHL 11-year history. He never had a losing record with the Admirals and reached the post-season every year of their existence. He won two division titles and three league championships while with the Admirals and is the ECHL leader in regular season and playoff coaching victories.
The Admirals left the ECHL for the 2000-01 season and Brophy returned to the league for the 2001-02 season as the head coach of the Wheeling Nailers. During his first season, the Nailers missed the playoffs by one win, but his 1,000th professional coaching victory highlighted his season and career with the Nailers. The win came on March 30, 2002, 3-0 over the Dayton Bombers at the Wheeling Civic Center. Brophy ends his Nailers coaching career and his 13th ECHL season when the Nailers play the Toledo Storm on Sunday, March 30 in Wheeling.
Fans of Brophy have two more home games to see him behind the bench. The Nailers host the Johnstown Chiefs at 7:30p.m. Friday and the regular season finale on Sunday against Toledo. The person to succeed Brophy has not been determined and the position will not be filled until the conclusion of this season.
Call the Nailers at 234-4625 or toll free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX for ticket information.
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