Steve Stirling Inducted Into Beanpot Hall Of Fame
January 30, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CT â Steve Stirling, the head coach of the American Hockey League's 2001-02 Regular Season Champion and Eastern Conference Playoff Champion Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, has been inducted into the Beanpot Hockey Hall of Fame. Stirling will be recognized at the start of this season's tournament this Monday, February 3rd at the FleetCenter in Boston.
"It's a tremendous honor," said Stirling. "To be put into a class with so many great players who distinguished themselves at the Beanpot means so much."
"Anyone who's from Boston or who's played in the tournament, knows what a great event it is and how many great players have been involved. Having played in it three times and won it twice, including my senior season when we went on to win the national championship, I have nothing but fond memories of the Beanpot," continued Stirling.
Stirling led the Boston University Terriers to appearances in the Beanpot during each of his three seasons, 1968-71, at the school winning the tournament in 1970 and 1971. In 1971, as a senior and BU's team captain, he was named Beanpot Most Valuable Player with two goals and five assists as the Terriers beat Northeastern 12-2 and Harvard 4-1. Stirling then led the Terriers to the 1970-71 National Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship.
Following his three years at BU, Stirling played six seasons, 1971-77, of professional hockey in the AHL and North American Hockey League, as well as in Austria. He spent the bulk of his professional-playing career in the AHL with the Boston Braves, 1971-74, and Rochester Americans, 1974-77. Stirling moved into the coaching ranks leading the Babson College Beavers from 1978 through 1983 and 1985 through 1993. He was the NCAA Division II/III Coach of the Year in 1980 and again in 1982 and also served as Babson's athletic director from 1986 through 1997. Stirling coached Division I Providence College from 1983 though 1985 leading the Friars to an appearance in the 1985 NCAA National Championship.
Stirling joined the Islanders as a scout in 1997. He served as an assistant coach for the Lowell Lock Monsters, the Islanders' AHL affiliate, from 1998 through 2000 and for the Islanders in 2000-01. Stirling was named coach of the Sound Tigers, by the Islanders, on July 26, 2001 and led the team to the AHL's best regular-season record in 2001-02 before falling to the Chicago Wolves in the Calder Cup Finals last June. The 2001-02 Sound Tigers are one of only 11 teams in AHL history to advance to the Calder Cup Finals during their first season in the league. The Hockey News named Stirling its Minor League Coach of the Year last season.
The Sound Tigers will finish a four-game homestand versus the Worcester IceCats tomorrow at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard at 7:35 p.m. They will visit the Albany River Rats Saturday at 7 p.m. in their final game before the AHL All-Star break. All Sound Tigers' games are broadcast live on "The ZONE" FOX Sports Radio 1300 and at www.soundtigers.com. WSTC/WNLK 1400/1350 also broadcasts road games.
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