Butch Goring

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Butch Goring

| image = ButchGoring.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Goring with the New York Islanders in the 1980s

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|10|22|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lb = 165

| position = Centre

| shoots = Left

| played_for = Los Angeles Kings
New York Islanders
Boston Bruins

| ntl_team = CAN

| draft = 51st overall

| draft_year = 1969

| draft_team = Los Angeles Kings

| career_start = 1969

| career_end = 1987

}}

Robert Thomas "Butch" Goring{{Cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12752|title=legendsofhockey.net profile of Butch Goring|accessdate=April 14, 2023}} (born October 22, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders and Boston Bruins. A four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Islanders, he has been cited as a key figure of the Islanders dynasty.[https://www.bleacherreport.com/amp/2588817-ranking-the-biggest-hall-of-fame-snubs-in-hockey-history.amp.html Bleacher Report] {{dead link|date=April 2023}}

Since retiring as a player he has served as head coach of both the Bruins and Islanders. He currently serves as the Islanders' television color commentator on MSG Network and select games for TNT alongside lead team and #2 TNT play-by-play announcer Brendan Burke.{{Cite web |last=Best |first=Neil |date=2021-10-13 |title=Brendan Burke is on the road again with the Islanders -- and now Turner Sports |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/media/brendan-burke-nhl-on-tnt-turner-sports-islanders-msg-networks-h85627 |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Newsday |language=en}} In addition, ice-level reporter Darren Pang joins the pair for select games.{{cite press release |url=https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/turner-sports/turner-sports-announces-commentators-2022-stanley-cup-playoffs-presented-geico |title=Turner Sports Announces Commentators for 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Presented by GEICO Coverage, Starting on TNT and TBS, Thursday, May 5 |publisher=Warner Media, LLC |website=pressroom.warnermedia.com |date=May 2, 2022}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-21 |title=Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Announces Commentators for Additional First Round Coverage of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Presented by GEICO |url=https://wbd.com/warner-bros-discovery-sports-announces-commentators-for-additional-first-round-coverage-of-2023-stanley-cup-playoffs-presented-by-geico/ |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Warner Bros. Discovery |language=en}}

Butch Goring worked as a Color commentator for the NHL on TNT from 2022-2023.

Playing career

After finishing his junior career with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), Goring was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the fifth round (51st overall) of the 1969 NHL Entry Draft. He played parts of two seasons for the Kings in 1970 and 1971, bouncing back and forth between Los Angeles and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Kings. He had a very successful season in Springfield in 1971, leading the league in playoff goals, assists and points in helping his team (along with future Hall of Fame goaltender and future Islanders' teammate Billy Smith) win the Calder Cup championship.

The next season Goring was promoted for good to the NHL, and starred for nine seasons for the Los Angeles Kings, developing into one of the most complete players in the league. In the 1975–76 playoff quarterfinal series against the Boston Bruins, Goring scored the overtime game-winning goal in game 2 and game 6. He won both the Bill Masterton Trophy and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1978, becoming the first player to win both trophies the same year.{{cite web |title=Honoured Members Database - Butch Goring |url=http://honouredmembers.sportmanitoba.ca/inductee.php?id=127&criteria_sort=name |website=honouredmembers.sportmanitoba.ca |access-date=January 13, 2020}} Prior to the 1978–79 season he was offered a five-year, $1-million contract by the World Hockey Association's Edmonton Oilers; Goring re-signed with the Kings after they countered with an offer of $1.25-million over the same term.{{cite book |last1=Mole |first1=Rich |title=Edmonton Oilers: Against All Odds |date=2006 |publisher=Heritage House Publishing Co |isbn=978-1-55439-227-8 |page=32 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nc4nl2wA8FYC&q=butch+goring+edmonton+oilers&pg=PA32 |access-date=January 13, 2020}}{{Citation| last =| first =| year =1978| title =Goring Inks Kings' Pact| publisher=The Sacramento Bee| publication-place = web | page=| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/620943564/?terms=Michael%20Droese%20sprinter| access-date = 13 March 2023}}

In the 1980 season, Goring was traded in March to the New York Islanders in exchange for Billy Harris and Dave Lewis, and was widely regarded as being the "final piece of the puzzle".{{cite web |last1=Fischler |first1=Stan |title=Maven's Memories: The Butch Goring Trade |url=https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/mavens-memories-the-butch-goring-trade/c-305093280 |website=NHL.com |access-date=March 10, 2020 |date=February 22, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Kreiser |first1=John |title=March 10: Goring traded to Islanders |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/this-date-in-nhl-history-march-10/c-287502730 |website=NHL.com |access-date=March 10, 2020 |date=March 9, 2020}} That season, he scored 19 points in 21 playoff games to help the Islanders to the first of four consecutive Stanley Cups. The next season (1980–81), he improved upon his previous playoff run, scoring 10 goals and 10 assists in 20 playoff games, and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff most valuable player, as the Islanders won their second Cup. Goring played 78 games and did not receive a single penalty, but did not win the Lady Byng Trophy that year.{{cite web |last1=Ippolito |first1=Casey |title=Top 5: Most gentlemanly Lady Byng winners |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/top-5-most-gentlemanly-lady-byng-winners |website=TheHockeyNews |access-date=January 13, 2020 |date=April 27, 2014}}

Goring's final NHL season was 1984-85. After his release by the Islanders, he played effectively for half a season with the Boston Bruins, before retiring and becoming the Bruins' head coach for a season and a half.{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1985-05-07 |title=Former King Butch Goring Named Coach of the Boston Bruins |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-07-sp-11281-story.html |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Waterman |first=Frederick |date=May 6, 1985 |title=Butch Goring, who helped the New York Islanders to... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/05/06/Butch-Goring-who-helped-the-New-York-Islanders-to/8090484200000/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=UPI |language=en}} After he was fired as the Bruins' coach in 1986–87,{{Cite web |date=November 8, 1986 |title=Goring calls his firing 'premature' - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/11/08/Goring-calls-his-firing-premature/4868531810000/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=UPI |language=en}} he played briefly for the Nova Scotia Oilers of the AHL before retiring for good.{{Cite web |date=November 28, 1986 |title=Butch Goring, fired as Boston Bruins coach earlier this... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/11/28/Butch-Goring-fired-as-Boston-Bruins-coach-earlier-this/2231533538000/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=UPI |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Finn |first=Robin |date=December 4, 1986 |title=PLAYERS; Goring Tries Comeback |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/04/sports/players-goring-tries-comeback.html |access-date=February 12, 2024 |website=New York Times}}

Goring retired having played 1107 games, with 375 goals and 513 assists for 888 points. He recorded only 102 penalty minutes, the lowest total in NHL history for a player appearing in more than a thousand games. He was a very effective penalty-killer throughout his career as he finished in the top ten for short-handed goals nine seasons in his career amassing a career total of 40 short-handed goals, the fifth most of all-time.

Legacy

Goring was most recognizable on the ice for the Sven Tumba-endorsed Spaps brand helmet that he had worn since childhood and continued to wear throughout his entire professional career.{{cite web |last1=Vecsey |first1=George |title=Sports of The Times; Venerable Helmet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/03/sports/sports-of-the-times-venerable-helmet.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=13 January 2020 |date=3 January 1981}} He also developed a reputation for perhaps the poorest fashion sense in the league. In the 1970s, on a road trip with the Kings, a burglar broke into his hotel room and stole everything that belonged to his roommate but left all of Goring's clothes hanging in the closet untouched.{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Chris |title=Butch Goring: 'Seed' of Kings Finds His New Job Suits Him |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-22-sp-12424-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=13 January 2020 |date=22 October 1985}}

Former Islanders' teammate Mike Bossy stated on a 2010 episode of Off the Record with Michael Landsberg that Goring is quite likely the originator of the NHL's tradition of growing a beard in the Stanley Cup playoffs, commonly called a "playoff beard".{{cite web |last1=Perry |first1=Thomas |title=Rock tee up Goring |url=http://www.timminspress.com/2017/07/13/rock-tee-up-goring |website=Timmins Daily Press |access-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714032429/http://www.timminspress.com/2017/07/13/rock-tee-up-goring |archive-date=14 July 2017 |date=14 July 2017}} Other former Islanders, including Dave Lewis and Clark Gillies, point to the tradition starting in the mid-1970s, before Goring's time with the team,{{cite web |last1=McGourty |first1=John |title=Devils resumed Islanders' playoff beard tradition |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/devils-resumed-islanders-playoff-beard-tradition/c-503386 |website=NHL.com |access-date=13 January 2020 |date=25 October 2009}} although Goring certainly participated in the tradition once he joined the Islanders.{{cite web |last1=Caldwell |first1=Dave |title=The legend and twisted origin of playoff beards |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/19452424/2017-stanley-cup-real-story-playoff-beards |website=ESPN.com |access-date=13 January 2020 |language=en |date=24 May 2017}}

Goring's No. 91 was retired by the Islanders on February 29, 2020, ahead of a game against the Boston Bruins.{{cite web |title=Tonelli and Goring 'Honored' and 'Humbled' by Number Retirement |url=https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/tonelli-and-goring-honored-and-humbled-by-number-retirement/c-312756536 |website=NHL.com |date=December 18, 2019 |access-date=13 January 2020}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | Team

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

1965–66

| Winnipeg Rangers

| MJHL

| 3

| 0

| 3

| 0

| 1

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1966–67

| Winnipeg Rangers

| MJHL

| 51

| 35

| 31

| 66

| 2

| 8

| 2

| 6

| 8

| 0

1967–68

| Hull Nationals

| Que-Sr.

| 40

| 16

| 41

| 57

| 4

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1967–68

| Winnipeg Jets

| MJHL

| —

| 1

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 0

1967–68

| St. Boniface Mohawks

| AC

| —

| 12

| 5

| 6

| 11

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1968–69

| Winnipeg Jets

| WCHL

| 39

| 42

| 33

| 75

| 0

| —

1968–69

| Dauphin Kings

| MC

| —

| 12

| 8

| 16

| 5

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1968–69

| Regina Pats

| MC

| —

| 2

| 3

| 5

| 0

1969–70

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 59

| 13

| 23

| 36

| 8

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1969–70

| Springfield Kings

| AHL

| 19

| 13

| 7

| 20

| 0

| —

1970–71

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 19

| 2

| 5

| 7

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1970–71

| Springfield Kings

| AHL

| 40

| 23

| 32

| 55

| 4

| 12

| 11

| 14

| 25

| 0

1971–72

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 74

| 21

| 29

| 50

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1972–73

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 67

| 28

| 31

| 59

| 2

| —

1973–74

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 70

| 28

| 33

| 61

| 2

| 5

| 0

| 1

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1974–75

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 60

| 27

| 33

| 60

| 6

| 3

| 0

1975–76

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 80

| 33

| 40

| 73

| 8

| 9

| 2

| 3

| 5

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1976–77

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 78

| 30

| 55

| 85

| 6

| 9

| 7

| 5

| 12

| 0

1977–78

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 80

| 37

| 36

| 73

| 2

| 0

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1978–79

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 80

| 36

| 51

| 87

| 16

| 2

| 0

1979–80

| Los Angeles Kings

| NHL

| 69

| 20

| 48

| 68

| 12

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1979–80

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 12

| 6

| 5

| 11

| 2

| 21

| 7

| 12

| 19

| 2

1980–81

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 78

| 23

| 37

| 60

| 0

| 18

| 10

| 20

| 6

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1981–82

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 67

| 15

| 17

| 32

| 10

| 19

| 6

| 5

| 11

| 12

1982–83

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 75

| 19

| 20

| 39

| 8

| 20

| 4

| 8

| 12

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1983–84

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 71

| 22

| 24

| 46

| 8

| 21

| 1

| 5

| 6

| 2

1984–85

| New York Islanders

| NHL

| 29

| 2

| 5

| 7

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1984–85

| Boston Bruins

| NHL

| 39

| 13

| 21

| 34

| 6

| 5

| 1

| 2

| 0

1986–87

| Nova Scotia Oilers

| AHL

| 10

| 3

| 5

| 8

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 1,107

! 375

! 513

! 888

! 102

! 134

! 38

! 50

! 88

! 32

=International=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:50em"

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

1981

| Canada

| CC

| 7

| 3

| 2

| 5

| 4

Coaching career

Goring served two stints as an NHL head coach. He coached the Bruins in the 1985–86 season and the early part of the following campaign; he also coached the New York Islanders in the 1999–2000 season{{Cite web |date=1999-05-01 |title=Grizzlies head man Goring hired to coach struggling Islanders Grizz lose the only coach in their Utah history |url=https://www.deseret.com/1999/5/1/19443986/grizzlies-head-man-goring-hired-to-coach-struggling-islanders-br-grizz-lose-the-only-coach-in-their |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=El-Bashir |first=Tarik |date=1999-05-01 |title=HOCKEY; Isles Turn to Goring to Bring Back Glory |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/01/sports/hockey-isles-turn-to-goring-to-bring-back-glory.html |access-date=2023-11-11 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=1999-05-01 |title=ISLANDERS NAME GORING COACH |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/05/01/islanders-name-goring-coach/ |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}} and most of the following season – he was fired by the Islanders on March 4, 2001.{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=2001-03-05 |title=Islanders Fire Goring as Coach |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-mar-05-sp-33712-story.html |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He also served as the head coach for several minor league teams, including the Spokane Chiefs Capital District Islanders, Las Vegas Thunder, Denver Grizzlies, Utah Grizzlies, and Anchorage Aces, winning two championships. In 2002–2003 he took over the Krefeld Penguins of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga and led them to their first championship since 1952. In 2004–2005, he was the coach of the DEG Metro Stars hockey team in Germany.

=Coaching record=

rowspan="2"\|Team	rowspan="2"\|Year	colspan="7"\|Regular season	colspan="4"\|Postseason
class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
G	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Finish	W	L	Win%	Result
BOS	1985–86 \| 80 \|\| 37 \|\| 31 \|\| 12 \|\| — \|\| 86 \|\| 3rd in Adams \|\| 0 \|\| 3 \|\| {{winpct\|0\|3}} \|\| Lost in Division Semifinals
BOS	1986–87 \| 13 \|\| 5 \|\| 7 \|\| 1 \|\| — \|\| (11) \|\| (fired) \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| —
NYI	1999–2000 \| 82 \|\| 24 \|\| 48 \|\| 9 \|\| 1 \|\| 58 \|\| 5th in Atlantic \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| Missed playoffs
NYI	2000–01 \| 65 \|\| 17 \|\| 40 \|\| 5 \|\| 3 \|\| (52) \|\| (fired) \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| —
colspan="2"\|Total	240	83	126	27	4	193		0	3	{{winpct\|0\|3}}	1 playoff appearance

Career achievements

MJHL Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship Award winner (1967)
Turnbull Cup (MJHL championship) (1969)
Calder Cup (AHL championship) (1971)
Bill Masterton Trophy winner (1978)
Lady Byng Trophy winner (1978)
Played in NHL All-Star Game (1980)
Conn Smythe Trophy winner (1981)
Stanley Cup champion (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983)
Played in the Canada Cup Tournament for Team Canada (1981)
Named Manitoba's Athlete of the Year (1981)
IHL Coach of Year (1995 and 1996)
Turner Cup (IHL) Championships (1995 and 1996)
The last active player that had played during the 1960s{{cite web|url=http://www.sentex.net/~ajy/hockey/longcareer.html |title=Lengths of Hockey Players' Careers Through the Ages |publisher=Sentex.net |access-date=2012-10-01}}
Inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1992
"Honoured Member" of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
Jersey number 91 retired by the New York Islanders organization (2020)