FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Jim Playfair



Monday, June 13, 2011Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today the Coyotes have signed Jim Playfair to a multi-year contract to serve as the team’s associate coach. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.“We are very pleased to welcome Jim to the Coyotes organization,” said Maloney. “Jim is a tremendous coach with a wealth of experience and I am confident that he will be a great addition to our coaching staff.”Prior to joining the Coyotes, Playfair spent the last 11 seasons in the Calgary Flames organization as a coach. From 2009-11, he was the Head Coach of the Abbotsford Heat, the Calgary Flames top affiliate in the American Hockey League. In his only season as an NHL Head Coach (2006-07), Playfair led the Flames to an impressive 43-29-10 record and 96 points in the Northwest Division. Prior to that, he was as an assistant coach for three seasons beginning on January 3, 2003.“Jim is an excellent coach and we are thrilled to have him join our staff,” said Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett. “He has great communication skills and we are confident that he will be able to contribute in many areas.”On June 5, 2009, Playfair was named the Head Coach of the Heat, his second stint as a Head Coach in the American Hockey League. Playfair was appointed Head Coach of the Saint John Flames on August 10, 2000 - he spent three seasons in that position. During the 2000-01 season, his first behind the bench in Saint John, Playfair led Saint John to their first American Hockey League Calder Cup championship and was named the Minor League Professional Coach of the Year by The Hockey News. Over the course of his tenure in Saint John, Playfair posted a record of 83 wins 77 regulation losses, 22 ties and 10 overtime losses.Before joining the Flames organization, Playfair was the Head Coach of the Michigan K-Wings of the International Hockey League. He served as an assistant coach with the K-Wings for three seasons before being named head coach on January 25, 2000. His other head coaching experience includes three seasons (1993-96) as bench boss of the Dayton Bombers of the East Coast Hockey League.A native of Fort St. James, British Columbia, Playfair played nine seasons of professional hockey including 21 games in the NHL with Edmonton and Chicago after being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round (20th overall) of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. He captained the Indianapolis Ice (IHL) to the 1990 Turner Cup championship but was forced to retire from playing due to an eye injury suffered during the 1991-92 campaign. As a junior player, Playfair played two seasons with the Portland Winterhawks (WHL) before finishing his junior career as a member of the Calgary Wranglers in 1984. He also played for Portland’s 1983 Memorial Cup Championship team.