Paul Mara

Paul Richard Mara (born September 7, 1979) is an American former professional ice hockey defenceman, who most recently served as the Assistant Coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL). He previously served as the head coach of the Boston Pride in the now defunct Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) . Additionally, he served temporarily as an Assistant to Player Development for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2023-24 season .

He was selected 7th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1997 NHL entry draft

After playing two seasons of high school hockey in Massachusetts for Belmont Hill School Paul Mara joined the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League for the 1996–97 season. As part of a three-team trade with the Windsor Spitfires, Mara was traded to the Plymouth Whalers on December 16, 1997. In reflecting on his move from high school to Junior hockey Mara said, "It was the best decision of my life, to go up to Sudbury."

Professional Mara was drafted in the first round, 7th overall, in the 1997 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He spent two seasons between the Lightning and their IHL affiliate team the Detroit Vipers before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2001. He played 81 games with the Coyotes in 2003–04. During the 2004 NHL lockout, Mara joined the Hannover Scorpions of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

After the lockout, Paul Mara scored a career-high 47 points that year. On June 26, 2006, he was traded by the Coyotes to the Boston Bruins for fellow defenseman Nick Boynton.

On September 16, 2010, Mara signed with the Anaheim Ducks for one year at $750,000. After appearing in 33 games with the Ducks to start the 2010–11 season, on February 16, 2011, Mara was traded by the Ducks to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2012 fifth-round draft pick. He took a brief break from hockey during the 2011–12 season.

On September 26, 2012, Mara signed a one-year contract with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL.

On January 9, 2013, Mara signed with the Houston Aeros after the team became short on defensemen due to a combination of injuries and the end of the NHL lockout.

Coaching career Mara was the assistant coach of the 2018 Olympic United States women's national ice hockey team. On May 30, 2018, Mara was named head coach of the PHF's (formerly NWHL) Boston Pride. He is currently the head coach with the most wins in PHF history, and one of only two coaches to win more than 30 games. Mara became the first coach in PHF history to win 50 games in November 2022.

Mara served temporarily as an Assistant to Player Development for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2023-24 season .

Personal life Mara was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and despite his birthplace, he is of no relation to the family of Wellington Mara, who were known for their ownership of the NFL's New York Giants. Mara was raised in Belmont, Massachusetts.

His older brother, Rob Mara, was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in eleventh round of the 1994 NHL entry draft.

International play Mara was a member of the 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99 United States World Junior Championship teams. He also played for the United States at the 2004 World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic and won the bronze medal.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1997 United States WJC 6 0 0 0 0 1998 United States WJC 5th 7 1 1 2 6 1999 United States WJC 8th 6 1 4 5 22 2004 United States WC 9 1 2 3 8 Junior totals 19 2 5 7 28 Senior totals 9 1 2 3 8