Craig Berube's journey in professional hockey is a testament to his enduring presence in the sport. Born on December 17, 1965, in Calahoo, Alberta, Canada, Berube began his professional career in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a player known for his toughness and grit. He entered the league undrafted, signing with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1986. Berube quickly established himself as an enforcer, a role that defined much of his playing career.
Throughout his time in the NHL, Berube played for several teams, including the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders. His playing style was characterized by physicality and a willingness to stand up for his teammates, often engaging in fights to protect them. Over his career, Berube played in over 1,000 NHL games, amassing more than 3,000 penalty minutes, which places him among the top in league history for penalty minutes.
Berube's tenure with the Philadelphia Flyers was particularly noteworthy. He had multiple stints with the team, first from 1986 to 1991 and then again from 1998 to 2000. During his time with the Flyers, he became a fan favorite for his hard-nosed style of play and his role as a protector on the ice. His contributions to the team were not limited to his physical play; he also provided leadership and experience to the locker room.
After retiring as a player in 2004, Berube transitioned into coaching, bringing his extensive knowledge of the game to a new role. He began his coaching career with the Philadelphia Phantoms, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Flyers, where he served as an assistant coach. His coaching abilities were soon recognized, and he was promoted to head coach of the Phantoms in 2006.
Berube's coaching career continued to progress as he returned to the NHL as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2008. In 2013, he was named the head coach of the Flyers, a position he held until 2015. Under his leadership, the Flyers made the playoffs in the 2013-2014 season, although they were eliminated in the first round.
In 2017, Berube joined the St. Louis Blues organization as an associate coach. His opportunity to lead the team came in November 2018 when he was named interim head coach after the dismissal of Mike Yeo. At the time, the Blues were struggling, sitting at the bottom of the league standings. However, under Berube's guidance, the team experienced a remarkable turnaround. The Blues went on to win the Stanley Cup in 2019, the first in the franchise's history. Berube's leadership and ability to galvanize the team were widely credited as factors in their championship run. Following this success, he was named the permanent head coach of the Blues.
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