Jay Woodcroft
Woodcroft with the San Jose Sharks in 2012
Born (1976-08-11) August 11, 1976
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for
Coached for Edmonton Oilers
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2000–2005
Coaching career 2005–present

Jay Woodcroft (born August 11, 1976) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player.

Early life

Woodcroft was a child actor at an early age, appearing in the 1979 pilot episode of The Littlest Hobo when he was under two years old. He also played Bobby Moore in the 1986 film Separate Vacations.[1][2]

Playing career

After completing four seasons at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Woodcroft played four seasons of minor league ice hockey in the United States, and one in the German Oberliga.

Coaching career

Woodcroft was hired as a video coach for the Detroit Red Wings in 2005; he won the Stanley Cup in 2008 as Detroit's video coach.[3] Later that year, he joined the San Jose Sharks as an assistant coach under head coach Todd McLellan.[4]

In April 2015, the Sharks announced that they had agreed to part ways with head coach McLellan, assistant coaches Jim Johnson and Woodcroft, as well as video coordinator Brett Heimlich. Two months later, the Edmonton Oilers appointed Woodcroft and Johnson as assistant coaches, rejoining newly appointed head coach McLellan in Edmonton.

On April 27, 2018, Woodcroft was appointed the head coach of the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.[5][6] Under his guidance, the Condors had a 105–71–21 record during the regular season and captured the Pacific Division playoff championship during the 2020–21 season. Bakersfield also captured the Pacific Division regular season title in 2019.[7]

On February 10, 2022, the Oilers announced they fired Dave Tippett from the team, and named Woodcroft interim head coach.[8] Following a successful run to the Western Conference Finals, on June 21, Edmonton signed Woodcroft to an extension to remain as team's head coach.[9]

On November 12, 2023, the Oilers fired Woodcroft after the team started out 3–9–1. He was replaced as head coach by Kris Knoblauch, who had been the head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.[10]

Head coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GWLOTLPtsFinishWLWin%Result
EDM2021–22 382693(55)2nd in Pacific88.500Lost in Conference Finals (COL)
EDM2022–23 82502391092nd in Pacific66.500Lost in Second Round (VGK)
EDM2023–24 13391(7)(fired)————
Total133794113  1414.5002 playoff appearances

References

  1. ↑ Tychkowski, Robert (September 28, 2022). "Jay Woodcroft — From The Littlest Hobo to the Edmonton Oilers". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  2. ↑ "From acting to the NHL: Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft opens up about young career". CityNews. September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  3. ↑ Kennedy, Ryan (February 10, 2022). "What Do The Oilers Have in Jay Woodcroft?". The Hockey News. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  4. ↑ Savage, Brendan (July 24, 2008). "Former Flint General Jay Woodcroft gets NHL coaching job". mlive. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  5. ↑ "RELEASE: Oilers name Woodcroft Bakersfield head coach". EdmontonOilers.com. April 27, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Edmonton Oilers part ways with assistant coaches". CBC News. April 27, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Coaches & Management". www.nhl.com. Edmonton Oilers, LLC and the NHL. February 27, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Jay Woodcroft takes over as Oilers head coach, replacing Dave Tippett". www.sportsnet.ca. Rogers Digital Media. February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Oilers ink coach Jay Woodcroft to three-year deal". The Hockey News. June 21, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Woodcroft fired as Oilers coach, replaced by Knoblauch". NHL.com. November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
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