Wikipedia

Butch Goring

Butch Goring
Goring in 2018
Born (1949-10-22) October 22, 1949 (age 76)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Los Angeles Kings
New York Islanders
Boston Bruins
National team  Canada
NHL draft 51st overall, 1969
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 1969–1987

Robert Thomas "Butch" Goring[1] (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.[2]

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 play-by-play announcer Brendan Burke.[3] In addition, ice-level reporter Darren Pang joins the pair for select games.[4][5]

Early life

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Goring was born on October 22, 1949, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada[6] to parents Bob and Audree.[7] He was raised in St. Boniface, Winnipeg alongside his twin sister and two brothers. Goring is of Scottish and British descent through his parents. His father Bob was a welder for the Canadian National Railway.[8] Growing up, Goring was a fan of the Detroit Red Wings and wore the jersey number 9 in honour of Gordie Howe.[7]

Playing career

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Junior

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Growing up in Winnipeg, Goring played junior ice hockey with the Winnipeg Rangers and Winnipeg Jets of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL).[6] In his rookie season with the Rangers, Goring scored 66 points and received the 1967 Lorne "Windy" Lyndon Memorial trophy as the MJHL's most sportsmanlike player. He also had a one game trial with Canada's National hockey team against the Manitoba Senior League All-Stars.[9] The following season, Goring played on the Hull Nationals in the Quebec Provincial Senior Hockey League with future NHLer Bob Berry.[10] He finished the 1968–69 leading the team in scoring before being recruited to join the WCHL's Winnipeg Jets. While it was rumoured that the Jets offered Goring a car in exchange for his signing, team owner Benny Hatskin denied it.[11] By December, Goring ranked third in league scoring with 33 points and second in goals.[12] He left the team in February 1969 to join the Dauphin Kings of the MJHL due to his unhappiness with the team's operations.[13] After finishing his junior career, Goring was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the fifth round (51st overall) of the 1969 NHL amateur draft.[14]

Professional career

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Los Angeles Kings organization (1969–1980)

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Following the draft, Goring was assigned to the Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Kings, for the 1969–70 season.[15] Goring found immediate success in the AHL while playing alongside Mike Corrigan and Randy Miller, and the trio combined to become Springfield's highest scoring line.[16] As a result of his early success, Goring was considered an early candidate for the Rookie of the Year.[17] By the end of November, Goring had scored 13 goals and seven assists through 19 games.[16] Due to the Los Angeles Kings' offensive struggles, Goring and Corrigan were recalled to the NHL level on November 26[18] and placed on a line with veteran Eddie Shack.[19] While on this line, Goring scored his first NHL goal on November 30 against the Detroit Red Wings.[20][21] Goring continued to play alongside Shack through the remainer of the season, although Corrigan was eventually replaced by Ross Lonsberry.[14]

Goring with the 1971 Calder Cup.

Goring returned to the Kings' training camp ahead of the 1970-71 season but struggled to keep up with his teammates.[22] He also arrived at camp eight pounds underweight and complained of feeling lathargic. Following a series of tests, Goring was admitted to Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital with mononucleosis and mild hepatitis.[23] In November, Goring was reassigned to the Springfield Kings and moved in with the team's physician while he rebuilt his strength.[22] Upon returning to Springfield's lineup, Goring scored eight goals and 15 assists before being recalled to the NHL level in early January as a replacement for an injured player.[24] He scored two goals and five assists through 19 games but was reassigned to Springfield once Bob Pulford returned to the lineup.[25] Goring finished the 1970–71 season with the Springfield Kings and scored the game-winning goal to help them qualify for the 1971 Calder Cup playoffs.[26] During the final round, Goring tied Jean-Guy Gendron's record for most points in the playoffs after recording a hat-trick in Game 3.[27] He finished the Calder Cup playoffs with a record-setting 11 goals and 25 points to lead the Kings to the Calder Cup championship.[28]

As he was fully recovered from mononucleosis, Goring returned to the Los Angeles Kings for the 1971–72 NHL season.[29] However, he was often sidelined in favour of team veterans by new head coach Fred Glover. At the end of November, Glover put Goring on a line between Lucien Grenier and Mike Corrigan and the team won two of their next three games.[30] Goring had previously played alongside Corrigan in Springfield.[31] As the three continued to play together through December, they earned the monikor of the "Light Brigade" because their heaviest member weighed 175 pounds.[32] Grenier was later replaced by Bob Berry and the three became the Kings' top scoring line.[33] On February 5, 1972, Goring set a franchise record by scoring two goals and four assists in the Kings' 8–1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.[34][35] Through the final 11 games in February, Goring's line combined for 15 goals and 23 assists.[36] Goring scored his first NHL hat-trick in the Kings' final game of the season on April 1 against the California Golden Seals to finish the season with 21 goals.[37]

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.[38] Prior to the 1978–79 season, he was offered a five-year, $1-million contract by the World Hockey Association's Edmonton Oilers.[39] However, Goring re-signed with the Kings after they countered with an offer of $1.25-million over the same term.[40][41]

New York Islanders (1980–1985)

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Goring with the Islanders in the 1980s.

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".[42][43] 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.[44] Goring played 78 games and did not receive a single penalty, but did not win the Lady Byng Trophy that year.[45]

Final years (1985–1987)

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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.[46][47] After he was fired as the Bruins' coach in 1986–87,[48] he played briefly for the Nova Scotia Oilers of the AHL before retiring for good.[49][50]

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

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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.[51]

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".[52] 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,[53] although Goring certainly participated in the tradition once he joined the Islanders.[54]

Goring's No. 91 was retired by the Islanders on February 29, 2020, ahead of a game against the Boston Bruins.[55]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Team   Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1965–66 Winnipeg Rangers MJHL 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 1 0
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 — — — — —
1967–68 Winnipeg Jets MJHL — — — — — 1 2 1 3 0
1967–68 St. Boniface Mohawks AC — — — — — 12 5 6 11 2
1968–69 Winnipeg Jets WCHL 39 42 33 75 0 — — — — —
1968–69 Dauphin Kings MC — — — — — 12 8 8 16 5
1968–69 Regina Pats MC — — — — — 2 2 3 5 0
1969–70 Los Angeles Kings NHL 59 13 23 36 8 — — — — —
1969–70 Springfield Kings AHL 19 13 7 20 0 — — — — —
1970–71 Los Angeles Kings NHL 19 2 5 7 2 — — — — —
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 — — — — —
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 1 0
1974–75 Los Angeles Kings NHL 60 27 33 60 6 3 0 0 0 0
1975–76 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80 33 40 73 8 9 2 3 5 4
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 2 0 0 0 2
1978–79 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80 36 51 87 16 2 0 0 0 0
1979–80 Los Angeles Kings NHL 69 20 48 68 12 — — — — —
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 10 20 6
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
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 — — — — —
1984–85 Boston Bruins NHL 39 13 21 34 6 5 1 1 2 0
1986–87 Nova Scotia Oilers AHL 10 3 5 8 2 — — — — —
NHL totals 1,107 375 513 888 102 134 38 50 88 32

International

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Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1981 Canada CC 7 3 2 5 4

Coaching career

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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;[48] he also coached the New York Islanders in the 1999–2000 season[56][57][58] and most of the following season – he was fired by the Islanders on March 4, 2001.[59] He also served as the head coach for several minor league teams, including the Spokane Chiefs Capital District Islanders, Las Vegas Thunder, Denver Grizzlies,[56] Utah Grizzlies, and Anchorage Aces, winning two championships. In 2002–2003, after a short stint as head coach of the Frankfurt Lions of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga where he replaced Doug Bradley, he took over the Krefeld Penguins 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

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Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L T OTL Pts Finish W L Win% Result
BOS 1985–86 80 37 31 12 — 86 3rd in Adams 0 3 .000 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) — — — —
Total 240 83 126 27 4 193 0 3 .000 1 playoff appearance

Career achievements

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Weaver, Dan (May 28, 1987). "Goring's goal: turning claimers into champions". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Fischler, Stan (February 28, 2020). "Maven's Memories: In Appreciation of Butch Goring". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  3. ^ Best, Neil (October 13, 2021). "Brendan Burke is on the road again with the Islanders -- and now Turner Sports". Newsday. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  4. ^ "Turner Sports Announces Commentators for 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Presented by GEICO Coverage, Starting on TNT and TBS, Thursday, May 5". pressroom.warnermedia.com (Press release). Warner Media, LLC. May 2, 2022.
  5. ^ "Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Announces Commentators for Additional First Round Coverage of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Presented by GEICO". Warner Bros. Discovery. April 21, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Butch Goring". Elite Prospects. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  7. ^ a b ""...It's every father's dream'". Winnipeg Sun. May 13, 1984. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ McCormick, Gene (November 20, 1969). "A Father's Dream". The Morning Union. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "MJHL Sportsman Goes To Goring". The Brandon Sun. April 7, 1967. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Butch Goring Leads Senior Loop Scorers". The Ottawa Journal. November 17, 1967. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Oil Kings to test Jets, Butch Goring". Edmonton Journal. October 4, 1968. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Clarke moves up on injured mate". The Calgary Albertan. December 4, 1968. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Bombers Pad Big Lead, Butch Goring Quits Jets". Calgary Herald. February 10, 1969. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b Hafner, Dan (March 26, 1970). "Kings Happy They Picked Butch Goring". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Speciality units giving Laycoe some problems". The Hamilton Spectator. October 9, 1969. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b "Can Kings Solve Their No. 1 Jinx?". The Daily Breeze. November 29, 1969. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ McCormick, Gene (November 4, 1969). "Goring Stands Tall as Rookie Making Good for Kings". The Morning Union. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Parent Kings Recall Goring And Corrigan". The Morning Union. November 27, 1969. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ McCormick, Gene (December 4, 1969). "Notes and Quotes". The Morning Union. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Kings Collide With Oakland In TV Contest". Anaheim Bulletin. December 1, 1969. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Hafner, Dan (December 20, 1969). "Aggressive Goring Puts New Spark in Kings". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b Pompei, Sam (November 3, 1970). "The Road Back For Butch Goring". The Republican. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  23. ^ "Kings' Goring Out With Two Illnesses". The Los Angeles Times. October 17, 1970. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "LA Recalls Goring, Injuries Riddle Kings' Defense". The Republican. January 5, 1971. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Kings Face Revitalized North Stars". Press-Telegram. February 24, 1971. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  26. ^ McCormick, Gene (April 7, 1971). "Goring's Overtime Goal Saves Kings, 4-3". The Morning Union. Retrieved January 14, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Osgood, Dick (April 28, 1971). "Game-Winning Puck Prize to Butch". The Morning Union. Retrieved January 14, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Goring Leads Kings to 1st Calder Title". The Patriot-News. Retrieved January 14, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Hafner, Dan (October 8, 1971). "Kings Open With New Goalie, Revamped Defense at Oakland". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Pompei, Sam (December 20, 1971). "Goring Finally 'Makes' LA Kings". The Republican. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Rausch, Gary (December 12, 1971). "A memorable day– Kings win". Independent. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Kings warm up to edge Blues". News-Pilot. December 23, 1971. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Pompei, Sam (February 8, 1972). "Are LA Kings, Goring for Real?". The Republican. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Hafner, Dan (February 6, 1972). "Goring Gets 6 Points, Sets Club Mark as Kings Rip Penguins, 8–1". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Baker, Hugh (February 6, 1972). "Goring Spearheads Kings". The Daily Breeze. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Familiar Goalie Return". The Daily Breeze. March 1, 1972. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Braham, Mike (April 2, 1972). "Goring Tucks Seals in Hat". The Daily Breeze. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Merry, Don (June 13, 1978). "Kings' Goring Wins Second NHL Good Conduct Award". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Butch Goring a new Oiler?". Edmonton Journal. April 23, 1978. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  40. ^ Mole, Rich (2006). Edmonton Oilers: Against All Odds. Heritage House Publishing Co. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-55439-227-8. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  41. ^ "Goring Inks Kings' Pact". The Sacramento Bee. August 31, 1978. Retrieved December 28, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  42. ^ Fischler, Stan (February 22, 2019). "Maven's Memories: The Butch Goring Trade". NHL.com. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  43. ^ Kreiser, John (March 9, 2020). "March 10: Goring traded to Islanders". NHL.com. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  44. ^ "Butch Goring wins Conn Smyth Trophy as MVP". The Ottawa Citizen. May 22, 1981. Retrieved January 15, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  45. ^ Ippolito, Casey (April 27, 2014). "Top 5: Most gentlemanly Lady Byng winners". TheHockeyNews. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  46. ^ "Former King Butch Goring Named Coach of the Boston Bruins". Los Angeles Times. May 7, 1985. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  47. ^ Waterman, Frederick (May 6, 1985). "Butch Goring, who helped the New York Islanders to... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  48. ^ a b "Goring calls his firing premature". UPI. November 8, 1986. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  49. ^ "Butch Goring, fired as Boston Bruins coach earlier this... - UPI Archives". UPI. November 28, 1986. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  50. ^ Finn, Robin (December 4, 1986). "Players; Goring Tries Comeback". New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  51. ^ Vecsey, George (January 3, 1981). "Sports of The Times; Venerable Helmet". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  52. ^ Perry, Thomas (July 14, 2017). "Rock tee up Goring". Timmins Daily Press. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  53. ^ McGourty, John (October 25, 2009). "Devils resumed Islanders' playoff beard tradition". NHL.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  54. ^ Caldwell, Dave (May 24, 2017). "The legend and twisted origin of playoff beards". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  55. ^ "Tonelli and Goring 'Honored' and 'Humbled' by Number Retirement". NHL.com. December 18, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  56. ^ a b "Grizzlies head man Goring hired to coach struggling Islanders Grizz lose the only coach in their Utah history". Deseret News. May 1, 1999. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  57. ^ El-Bashir, Tarik (May 1, 1999). "HOCKEY; Isles Turn to Goring to Bring Back Glory". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  58. ^ "Islanders Name Goring Coach". Chicago Tribune. May 1, 1999. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  59. ^ "Islanders Fire Goring as Coach". Los Angeles Times. March 5, 2001. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  60. ^ "Lengths of Hockey Players' Careers Through the Ages". Sentex.net. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
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