Steve Coates

Stephen John Coates (born July 27, 1950) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player. He is currently the radio color commentator for the Philadelphia Flyers on 97.5 The Fanatic, after spending 14 seasons with the Flyers television team.

Coates played five games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings during the 1976–77 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1973 to 1980, was spent in the minor leagues.

Playing career Coates' professional hockey career began when he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1973 as a free agent after four seasons with the Michigan Tech Huskies. After playing in four seasons in the Flyers' minor league system, he was dealt to the Detroit Red Wings along with Terry Murray, Bob Ritchie, and Dave Kelly in exchange for Rick Lapointe and Mike Korney during the 1976–77 season. In five games for the Red Wings that season, he scored one goal for his only NHL point. He spent the next three years playing in the Central Hockey League (CHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL) before retiring.

Broadcasting career Coates started his broadcasting career with the Flyers in 1980 as a radio color commentator, and switched over to television in 1999. He spent the next 14 seasons on television as a color commentator and between-the-benches reporter for the Flyers before moving back to radio at the start of the 2014–15 season.

"Coatesy's Corner"

From 1999 to 2011, Coates was the host of a short segment that aired during the first intermission of local Flyers television broadcasts, filmed prior to the game. These segments included interviews, explanations of NHL rules, analysis of current NHL events, and sometimes skits with Flyers players for comedic purposes. During the 2010–11 season, Coatesy's Corner began to air less and less and was eventually officially retired by the end of the season.

Personal life

Coates currently resides in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1966–67 Markham Waxers MetJBHL — — — — — — — — — — 1967–68 Markham Waxers MetJBHL — — — — — — — — — — 1968–69 Markham Waxers MetJBHL — — — — — — — — — — 1969–70 Michigan Tech WCHA 3 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1970–71 Michigan Tech WCHA 33 7 9 16 46 — — — — — 1971–72 Michigan Tech WCHA 30 7 9 16 36 — — — — — 1972–73 Michigan Tech WCHA 34 11 11 22 28 — — — — — 1972–73 Calumet-Houghton Chiefs USHL 4 5 6 11 7 — — — — — 1973–74 Des Moines Capitols IHL 72 31 39 70 167 10 6 3 9 35 1974–75 Richmond Robins AHL 50 7 7 14 168 7 3 0 3 7 1975–76 Richmond Robins AHL 69 25 19 44 141 — — — — — 1976–77 Springfield Indians AHL 57 17 23 40 122 — — — — — 1976–77 Detroit Red Wings NHL 5 1 0 1 24 — — — — — 1977–78 Kansas City Red Wings CHL 63 14 20 34 83 — — — — — 1977–78 Maine Mariners AHL 15 3 2 5 11 6 0 2 2 8 1978–79 Philadelphia Firebirds AHL 74 15 25 40 107 — — — — — 1979–80 Syracuse Firebirds AHL 67 10 23 33 95 — — — — — AHL totals 332 77 99 176 644 13 3 2 5 15 NHL totals 5 1 0 1 24 — — — — —