IMAGE INFORMATION
EditJoseph Richard "Joe" Crozier - Born February 19, 1929 in Winnipeg, Manitoba - Died October 11, 2022 in Williamsville, New York was a Canadian ice Hockey defenceman, coach and general manager.
- Turnbull Memorial Trophy / Turnbull Cup Champion 1949 with Brandon Wheat Kings.
- Abbott Memorial Cup /Abbott Cup Champion 1949 with Brandon Wheat Kings.
Memorial Cup finalist 1949.
- Alexander Cup Champion 1952 with Quebec Aces / As de Quebec.
- Edinburgh Trophy Champion 1957 with Quebec Aces / As de Quebec.
- Thomas O'Connell Memorial Trophy Champion 1957 with Quebec Aces / As de Quebec.
- Calder Cup Champion 1965, 1966, 1968 with Rochester Americans (coach).
Calder Cup finalist 1960, 1967.
- Lester Patrick Cup Champion 1969 with Vancouver Canucks (coach).
Crozier was fired by the Canucks the next season for insubordination 60 games into the season. The Canucks without Crozier won the 1970 Lester Patrick Cup.
After helping his junior team, the Brandon Wheat Kings to the 1949 Memorial Cup final, losing in 6 games, Crozier turned pro the next season with the San Francisco Shamrocks of the Pacific Coast Hockey League / PCHL.
Crozier then joined the Vancouver Canucks of the PCHL for the 1950-51 season, playing 46 games before he jumped leagues to the United States Hockey League, finishing the season with Denver Falcons.
Crozier then joined the Quebec Aces for the 1951-52 season, starting a long relationship with the Colisée de Québec and Quebec City.
Crozier played 8 seasons for the As de Quebec / Quebec Aces. He was a solid defenceman and smart player, becoming a Alternate Captain, then Captain, guiding the Quebec Aces when they won the Thomas O'Connell Memorial Trophy and Edinburgh Trophy Championships in 1957.
Crozier played just 5 games in the NHL for Toronto Maple Leafs, making his NHL debut on March 12, 1960 vs New York Rangers at Maple Leafs Gardens in a 4-1 Rangers win. Over the next 8 days, Crozier played in Madison Square Garden (1 assist), Montreal Forum .... where he got a 2 minute penalty for smothering the puck, and also 1 assist in the game. He finished off his 5 game NHL stint at Detroit Olympia on March 20, 1960, picking up 1 assist in a 3-2 Toronto win.
Crozier finished his playing career with Rochester Americans and a trip to the 1960 Calder Cup finals, losing in 5 games.
Crozier then turned to coaching full time, as he had been a player/coach for Quebec Aces, Spokane Comets and Rochester Americans.
Crozier coached Rochester for 5 straight seasons, winning the Calder Cup 3 times as coach.
Crozier then coached the WHL Vancouver Canucks, winning the Lester Patrick Cup in 1969 and was well on his way to winning it again in 1970, when disagreements with ownership resulted in his firing for insubordination in late February, 1970.
Crozier then coached the Cincinnati Swords for 41 games during the 1971-72 season, when he became the NHL Buffalo Sabres coach for the remainder of the season and another 2 full seasons.
Crozier then coached the WHA Vancouver Blazers (1974-75) and Calgary Cowboys until 1977.
Joe Crozier was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.
NOTE
Crozier is the only head coach in AHL history to guide his club to four straight Calder Cup finals appearances (Rochester Americans).
