Marc Potvin

Marc Potvin (January 29, 1967 – January 13, 2006) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 121 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1990 and 1996. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1990 to 1998, was mainly spent in the minor American Hockey League (AHL). After his playing career Potvin became a coach in the minor leagues, until his suicide in 2006. He was the cousin of Denis Potvin and Jean Potvin.

Playing career Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Potvin, second cousin of Hall of Famer Denis Potvin, was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the ninth round, 169th overall, in the 1986 NHL entry draft. During his career, he played for four different NHL teams: the Red Wings (1990–91 to 1991–92), Los Angeles Kings (1992–93 to 1993–94), Hartford Whalers (1993–94), and Boston Bruins (1994–95 to 1995–96). In 121 NHL games, he scored 3 goals and had 5 assists for 8 points. He also amassed 456 penalty minutes. In 13 NHL playoff games, he scored no goals, had one assist and 50 penalty minutes.

Coaching career For the 1998–99 season, Potvin was the assistant coach for the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League. The next season, he made the jump to head coach for the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL. After only one season there, he became the head coach of the Springfield Falcons of the AHL, where he stayed for two seasons. Part way through the 2003–04 season, he took over the head coach position of the Adirondack IceHawks in the UHL. He would continue coaching the team (renamed the Adirondack Frostbite) in Glens Falls, New York.

Death On January 13, 2006, Potvin was found dead in his hotel room in Kalamazoo, Michigan, hours before the Frostbite were to play the Kalamazoo Wings. On February 10, Kalamazoo police announced that his death had been ruled a suicide. It was discovered that he had hanged himself in his hotel bathroom. He had a wife, a son, and a daughter.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1984–85 Elmira Sugar Kings MWJHL 37 21 22 43 108 — — — — — 1985–86 Stratford Cullitons MWJHL 39 22 43 65 180 — — — — — 1986–87 Bowling Green State University CCHA 43 5 15 20 74 — — — — — 1987–88 Bowling Green State University CCHA 45 15 21 36 80 — — — — — 1988–89 Bowling Green State University CCHA 46 23 12 35 63 — — — — — 1989–90 Bowling Green State University CCHA 40 19 17 36 72 — — — — — 1989–90 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 5 2 1 3 9 4 0 1 1 23 1990–91 Detroit Red Wings NHL 9 0 0 0 55 6 0 0 0 32 1990–91 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 63 9 13 22 365 — — — — — 1991–92 Detroit Red Wings NHL 5 1 0 1 52 1 0 0 0 0 1991–92 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 51 13 16 29 314 19 5 4 9 57 1992–93 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 37 8 12 20 109 — — — — — 1992–93 Los Angeles Kings NHL 20 0 1 1 61 1 0 0 0 0 1993–94 Los Angeles Kings NHL 3 0 0 0 26 — — — — — 1993–94 Hartford Whalers NHL 51 2 3 5 246 — — — — — 1994–95 Boston Bruins NHL 6 0 1 1 4 — — — — — 1994–95 Providence Bruins AHL 21 4 14 18 84 12 2 4 6 25 1995–96 Boston Bruins NHL 27 0 0 0 12 5 0 1 1 18 1995–96 Providence Bruins AHL 48 9 9 18 118 — — — — — 1996–97 Portland Pirates AHL 71 17 15 32 222 5 0 0 0 12 1997–98 Chicago Wolves IHL 81 4 8 12 170 10 0 0 0 22 AHL totals 296 62 80 142 1221 40 7 9 16 117 NHL totals 121 3 5 8 456 13 0 1 1 50