The American Hockey League
has announced that former Phantom John Stevens is
a member of the 2012 AHL Hall of Fame Class to be
honored during festivities at the AHL All-Star Classic
in Atlantic City in January.
Stevens was with the Philadelphia Phantoms as a
player and coach for 10 seasons from 1996 through
2006 and was a part of two Calder Cup Championship
teams there; as a player in 1998 and as Head Coach
in 2005.
Stevens is one of only 16 men in AHL history to
win Calder Cup Championships as a player and head
coach. 2010 AHL Hall of Fame inductee John Paddock
who was interim Head Coach of the Phantoms in 2010-11
and also Philadelphia Phantoms Head Coach in 2008-09
is also in that group.
Also honored by the AHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee
in the 2012 class are Joe Crozier, Jack Gordon and
Zellio Toppazzini.
A tough defensive defenseman, John Stevens was regarded
as one of the top blueliners in the AHL during his
playing days, and when injury forced him off the
ice he found success as a coach as well.
A native of Campbellton, N.B., Stevens was drafted
by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1984 and made his
professional debut with the Hershey Bears at the
age of 18. His first four pro seasons were split
between Hershey and Philadelphia, and he was a member
of the Bears’ 1988 Calder Cup championship
team
After signing with the Hartford Whalers in 1990,
Stevens spent most of the next six seasons in Springfield,
where he captained the Indians to a Calder Cup title
in 1991. Three years later, Stevens was named the
first captain of the Springfield Falcons and scored
the first goal in Falcons history - one of just
21 goals he would score in his entire AHL career.
He was also selected to be one of the playing captains
for the 1996 AHL All-Star Classic, held at his first
professional home: Hersheypark Arena.
Stevens returned to the Flyers organization in
1996 for the beginning of an extended stay with
the Phantoms. He was again turned to for leadership
on a new club as he was given the captain’s
“C” for the first-year Philadelphia
club. The Phantoms finished with the best record
in the AHL in their inaugural season, and a year
later won the 1998 Calder Cup title.
An eye injury ended Stevens’ playing career
in December 1998, but he remained with the club
as an assistant coach under Bill Barber. Stevens
was promoted to the head coaching position in 2000
and spent six seasons at the helm, winning another
Calder Cup in 2005. He was promoted to the Flyers
in 2006, first as an assistant coach and then as
head coach, and is now in his second season as an
assistant with the Los Angeles Kings.
Stevens has participated in more than 1,400 regular-season
AHL games as a player, assistant coach and head
coach. His 834 games played are currently ninth-most
by a defenseman in league history, and he also ranks
15th all-time with 102 Calder Cup Playoff games
played.
Congratulations John. Thanks for all you have done
with the Phantoms.
|
