| John Torchetti | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Torchetti in 2014 | |||
| Born | (1964-07-09)July 9, 1964 (age 60) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Binghamton Whalers Carolina Thunderbirds Virginia Lancers Winston-Salem Thunderbirds | ||
| Coached for | San Antonio Iguanas Fort Wayne Komets San Antonio Rampage Houston Aeros CSKA Moscow Iowa Wild Detroit Red Wings Moncton Wildcats Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 1984–1991 | ||
| Coaching career | 1991–present | ||
John Torchetti (born July 9, 1964) is a former Americanice hockey player and coach, currently serving as an assistant coach for thePhiladelphia Flyers. Torchetti has been an interim head coach in theNational Hockey League (NHL) for theFlorida Panthers, theLos Angeles Kings, andMinnesota Wild.
Torchetti has served as the head coach for theSan Antonio Rampage of theAmerican Hockey League (2002–2003), theMoncton Wildcats of theQMJHL (2006–2007), and theIowa Wild of theAmerican Hockey League (2014–2016). He served as an assistant coach with theAtlanta Thrashers,Detroit Red Wings,Chicago Blackhawks, and theTampa Bay Lightning in the NHL, as well as theKontinental Hockey League'sHC CSKA Moscow.
Torchetti played prep school hockey for the powerful New Preparatory School ofCambridge, Massachusetts, as a post-graduate at the age of eighteen under the coaching tutelage of the regionally renowned George Kozack. Before attending New Prep School, Torchetti played forJamaica Plain High School in theBoston City League, where he set state scoring records, superseding the ones achieved in the late 1960s byRobbie Ftorek ofNeedham High School.
Torchetti started his professional career as a member of theCarolina Thunderbirds, where he would spend seven of his eight seasons. Torchetti led theAll-American Hockey League (AAHL) in goals (63), assists (71), and points (134) during the 1987–88 AAHL season. He would have a brief call-up with theBinghamton Whalers of theAmerican Hockey League at the start of the 1988–89 season, but returned to Carolina, which had since helped found theEast Coast Hockey League (ECHL), after ten games.
After eight seasons in the minors, Torchetti retired from hockey after the 1990–91 ECHL season.
His first coaching assignment came as an assistant coach for theGreensboro Monarchs of theECHL. His first head coaching position was with theSan Antonio Iguanas of theCentral Hockey League, where he took over whenBill Goldsworthy became ill. He coached the Iguanas to the finals twice in two years and won theCommissioner's Trophy for coach of the year in 1995. After spending the first half of the 1996–97 season as an assistant coach with theSan Antonio Dragons of theInternational Hockey League, Torchetti became head coach of theFort Wayne Komets. In 1998, he won the Commissioners' Trophy.
Before the1999–2000 NHL season Torchetti was hired as an assistant coach for theTampa Bay Lightning underSteve Ludzik. In 2002, Torchetti returned to San Antonio when he was hired as head coach of theSan Antonio Rampage in theAmerican Hockey League (AHL). After 65 games he was promoted to assistant coach with the parent club, theFlorida Panthers. In 2004, he served 27 games as interim head coach, replacingRick Dudley. He finished with a 10–12–4–1 record before being replaced byJacques Martin. During the2005–06 NHL season, Torchetti was hired byDave Taylor as interim head coach of theLos Angeles Kings. With a chance to clinch a playoff spot, he had a 5–7 record in the team's final 12 games and was not retained by the Kings, instead being replaced byMarc Crawford.
In 2006, he was hired by theMoncton Wildcats to replaceTed Nolan as head coach and director of hockey operations. He coached the team to a 39–25–0–4 record and a third-placed finish in theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League's Eastern Division. The Wildcats were eliminated in the first round by theHalifax Mooseheads.
Torchetti was hired as an associate coach for theChicago Blackhawks on May 16, 2007, and won his firstStanley Cup in 2010.[1][2]
On July 8, 2010, it was announced that Torchetti has been hired by theAtlanta Thrashers as the associate head coach underCraig Ramsay.[3]
On July 5, 2011, he was announced as the new head coach of theHouston Aeros in the AHL,[4] replacingMike Yeo.
On June 24, 2013, he was introduced as the new head coach of theKontinental Hockey League'sCSKA Moscow.[5][6]
On November 12, 2014, he was announced as the head coach of theIowa Wild. He replacedKurt Kleinendorst, who had started the season with a 2–10 record. This marked a return to a franchise he led in Houston. On February 13, 2016, Torchetti he was promoted to the interim head coach of the NHL'sMinnesota Wild.[7]
On June 9, 2016, Torchetti was named an assistant coach for theDetroit Red Wings.[8]
On January 15, 2019, Torchetti was announced to return as the head coach and director of hockey operations for theMoncton Wildcats.[9] On December 14, 2019, the Wildcats announced that Torchetti was fired, a decision made due to "internal reasons."[10]
Torchetti joined thePhiladelphia Flyers' coaching staff as an assistant on January 25, 2022.[11]
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| First Team All-Star | 1987–88 |
| Most points | 1987–88 |
| Most goals scored | 1987–88 |
| Most assists | 1987–88 |
| Most Valuable Player | 1987–88 |
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Regular season champion | 1984–85, 1985–86 |
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Riley Cup winner | 1988–89 |
| Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Finish | Result | ||
| FLA | 2003–04 | 27 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 1 | (75) | 4th in Southeast | Missed playoffs |
| LAK | 2005–06 | 12 | 5 | 7 | – | 0 | (89) | 4th in Pacific | Missed playoffs |
| MIN | 2015–16 | 27 | 15 | 11 | – | 1 | 31 (87) | 5th in Central | Lost infirst round vsDAL 2-4 |
| Total | 66 | 30 | 30 | 4 | 2 | ||||
| Preceded by | Head coach of the Florida Panthers (interim) 2003–04 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Head coach of the Los Angeles Kings (interim) 2006 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Head coach of the Minnesota Wild (interim) 2016 | Succeeded by |