Edward Joseph Powers

Edward Joseph Powers (September 11, 1888 – January 17, 1943) was a Canadian professional lacrosse player, professional ice hockey player and coach. Powers was head coach of the Toronto St. Pats of the National Hockey League (NHL) for two seasons and minor professional league coach for 13 seasons, including championship seasons with the Boston Tigers (CAHL) and Syracuse Stars. He was an assistant coach, scout and hockey executive for the Toronto franchise.

Biography Powers was born in Elora, Ontario on September 11, 1888. From the age of 16, Powers played senior lacrosse. He played with Victoria and Nelson in British Columbia. He returned east and started coaching lacrosse. He was coach of the 1926 Mann Cup championship team Weston Westonmen. He coached the Westminster Hockey Club in Boston in 1921-1922 and led them to the US Championship. He also coached the MIT Engineers hockey team during the 1921–22 season.

In fall 1922, the University of Pennsylvania recruited Powers to coach its hockey and lacrosse teams. and during the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals.

He returned to head coaching in the 1942–1943 season for the New Haven Eagles.

Powers' death coincided with the suspension of the Eagles by the AHL. Powers' health was poor but he travelled to a road game with the club on January 16 in Washington. On January 17, 1943 the day of the final game for the Eagles, Powers went out to buy a newspaper, and collapsed of a cerebral hemorrhage in New Haven, Connecticut. He died an hour later. The final game went ahead as scheduled and the Eagles won the game 9–4 over the Providence Reds after a minute of silence for Powers. As scheduled, the team was disbanded by the American Hockey League the next day. At the time of his death, Powers had been considering a coaching job in the Quebec Senior Hockey League offered by T. P. Gorman, who knew him from his youth, playing against him in lacrosse. Coaches Hap Day of the Maple Leafs and Dick Irvin of the Montreal Canadiens both praised Powers as a "fine fellow", "a real gentleman" and "a great hockey player." Powers was interred at Mount Hope Cemetery in Toronto. Powers was also a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs and head of their farm system during his career.

Coaching record NHL Team Year Regular season Postseason G W L T OTL Pts Finish ResultToronto St. Patricks1924–253019110—382nd in NHLLost in NHL Championship (2-5 vs. MTL)Toronto St. Patricks1925–263612213—276th in NHLDid not qualifyNHL Total 6631323—65

Other leagues Team Year Regular season Postseason G W L T OTL Pts Finish Result Boston Tigers 1926–27 32 14 15 3 - 31 Did not qualify Boston Tigers 1927–28 40 21 14 5 - 46 Lost in first round Boston Tigers 1928–29 40 21 11 8 - 50 Won championship Boston Tigers 1929–30 40 17 18 5 - 39 Lost in Final Boston Tigers/Cubs 1930–31 40 14 22 4 - 32 Did not qualify Boston Cubs 1931–32 40 21 16 3 - 45 Lost in Final New Haven Eagles 1932–33 48 16 27 5 - 37 Did not qualify Syracuse Stars 1934–35 44 20 20 4 - 44 Did not qualify Syracuse Stars 1935–36 48 26 19 3 - 55 Lost in playoffs Syracuse Stars 1936–37 48 27 16 5 - 59 Won championship Syracuse Stars 1937–38 48 21 20 7 - 49 Lost in Final Syracuse Stars 1938–39 54 26 19 9 - 61 Lost in first round New Haven Eagles 1942–43 32 9 18 5 - 23 Team folded

College head coaching record