Kompon becomes fourth Redmen grad to coach in Stanley Cup finals
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(PHOTO OF KINGS COACH JAMIE KOMPON BY BERNARD BRAULT)
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PHOENIX, Ariz. -- When the Los Angeles Kings eliminated Phoenix 4-3 in overtime Tuesday, it paved the way for a fourth former ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ hockey player to coach in the Stanley Cup finals.
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Kings assistant coach Jamie Kompon, a 45-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ont., follows in the footsteps of other Redmen hockey greats, Mike Babcock and the legendary Patrick brothers -- Frank and Lester.
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Babcock, who patrolled the Redmen blueline from 1983 to 1987, reached the Cup final three times, with Anaheim (2003) and Detroit (2008 & 2009), capturing the elusive trophy in 2008.
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Lester Patrick, who played at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ from 1900 to 1905, coached the New York Rangers to Stanley Cup titles in both 1928 and 1933, in addition to his inaugural Cup win with Victoria in 1925. He was the losing coach in 1926, 1929, 1932 and 1937. He also won the Cup three times as a player.
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Frank Patrick, who played at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ from 1904 to 1907, won the Cup as a player-coach with the Vancouver Millionaires in 1915. He also coached in three Cup finals (1918, 1921, 1922) but lost each time.
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Kompon is in his sixth season with the Kings and was named to the club’s coaching staff on July 10, 2006.Ìý He also held the title of director of amateur development.
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Prior to joining Los Angeles, Kompon worked for nine seasons with the St. Louis Blues organization where he served as an assistant coach, a video coordinator and a strength and conditioning coach. In the spring of 2006 he was on the coaching staff of Team Canada at the IIHF world championships in Latvia where he handled video duties.
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Prior to joining the Blues, Kompon was an assistant coach with the Baltimore Bandits of the American Hockey League for the 1996-97 season and he also served as co-head coach (with Martin Raymond) at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ in 1994-95 after being employed there as an assistant coach for three seasons.
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Kompon played four seasons as a defenceman at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ (1985-89), serving as team captain in his senior year before graduating with a degree in physical education. He also played two seasons of pro hockey, including stints in the East Coast Hockey League and in the German Elite League.
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SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Athletics & Recreation
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