Edward Emmett Courtenay (born February 2, 1968) is a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

former professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

right winger In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. ...

and

head coach A head coach, senior coach, or manager is a professional responsible for training and developing athletes within a sports team. This role often has a higher public profile and salary than other coaching positions. In some sports, such as associat ...

Professional career

As a youth, Courtenay played in the 1980 and 1981

Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament The Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament () is an annual minor ice hockey event in Quebec City. The tournament was founded in 1960 to coincide with the Quebec Winter Carnival, and give an opportunity for international competition to p ...

s with a

minor ice hockey Minor ice hockey or minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body c ...

team from Verdun. Following Courtenay's

junior hockey Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from t ...

career with

Laval Titan The Laval Titan was one of the names used by a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) franchise that played in Laval, Quebec, Canada, between 1971 and 1998. History The Rosemont National began in the 1969–70 QM ...

and

Granby Bisons The Granby Bisons were a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Granby, Quebec, and played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The team was founded in 1981 after they moved from Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, where they had previously been k ...

in the

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; , LHJMQ), formerly the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The league includes teams in Quebec ...

(QMJHL) he was signed by the

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

as a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

on 1 October 1989. Minnesota assigned Courtenay to play with

Kalamazoo Wings The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Western Conference, Central Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Event Center. They are the affiliate ...

in the International Hockey League (IHL) where he spent his first three professional seasons. Courtenay was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the 1991 Dispersal Draft when the NHL expanded to include San Jose. During the 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons Courtenay played 44 NHL games for San Jose. Courtenay spent the next four seasons playing for the

Kansas City Blades The Kansas City Blades were a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League (1945–2001), International Hockey League (IHL) from 1990 until 2001, when the league folded. The Blades were based in Kansas City, Missouri, at Kempe ...

, the

Chicago Wolves The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team based in Rosemont, Illinois. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena ...

, the

Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen is the name of four minor league hockey clubs: *Peoria Rivermen (IHL), named as such 1984–1996, formerly the Peoria Prancers 1982–1984 *Peoria Rivermen (ECHL), 1996–2005 *Peoria Rivermen (AHL), 2005–2013 *Peoria Rivermen (SP ...

and the

San Francisco Spiders The San Francisco Spiders were a professional ice hockey team based in Daly City, California. They were members of the South Division of the former International Hockey League (IHL). Playing at the Cow Palace, the Spiders competed for one season, ...

in the IHL; the

Reno Renegades The Reno Renegades were a short-lived American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Reno, Nevada. The team was a founding member of the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL). History The Renegades began play in the 1995–96 season in th ...

in the

West Coast Hockey League The West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the Western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Id ...

(WCHL); and the

Jacksonville Lizard Kings The Jacksonville Lizard Kings were a professional ice hockey team based in Jacksonville, Florida. Formerly known as the Louisville Icehawks, they played in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) from 1995–2000. They played their home games in the ...

and the

South Carolina Stingrays The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston ...

in the

East Coast Hockey League The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a minor professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams across the United States and Canada. Competitively, it is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The ...

(ECHL) before joining the

Sheffield Steelers The Sheffield Steelers are a professional ice hockey team located in Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Utilita Arena. They are currently a member of the Elite Ice Hockey League. The club's main (tit ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

to play in the

Ice Hockey Superleague The British Ice Hockey Superleague (BISL, also known as the Sekonda Ice Hockey Superleague from 1998 to 1999 for sponsorship reasons) was a professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom between 1996 and 2003. Devised in 1995, it replaced ...

(ISL) in 1997. Courtenay played for Sheffield for three seasons before signing for the

Ayr Scottish Eagles The Ayr Scottish Eagles were a professional Scottish ice hockey club, from Ayr, Scotland. They were formed in 1996 and played their home games at the Centrum Arena. The team competed in the Ice Hockey Superleague and the club's main (title) s ...

for the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons, also in the ISL. Courtenay returned to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

when he was signed as a free agent by the

Verdun Dragons The Verdun Dragons were a hockey team based in Verdun, Quebec. The team was part of the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey. The Dragons played at the Verdun Auditorium. They won the Futura Cup against the Saint-Georges Garaga in 2003–2004. Init ...

of the

Quebec Semi-Pro Hockey League Quebec is Canada's largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, New Brunswick to the southeast and a coastal border ...

(QSPHL) on 12 July 2002 for the 2002–03 season. Courtenay returned to the South Carolina Stingrays for the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons before he returned to

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

as a player/coach with the

Belfast Giants The Belfast Giants (known officially as the Stena Line Belfast Giants due to sponsorship) are a professional ice hockey team based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. They compete in the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League, Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). T ...

in 2005. He guided the team to

Elite Ice Hockey League The Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL), sometimes referred to internationally as the British Elite League, is an ice hockey league in the United Kingdom. Formed in 2003 following the demise of the Ice Hockey Superleague, it is the highest level ...

(EIHL) league success in 2006. Courtenay's tenure as head coach ended after the 2007/08 season and he was succeeded by Steve Thornton.

Coaching career

Courtenay played for the EIHL club

Newcastle Vipers From 2002 to 2011 the Newcastle Vipers were an ice hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolita ...

, after being persuaded to come out of retirement by head coach Rob Wilson, and joined on 6 August 2009 to the

Manchester Phoenix Manchester Phoenix were a semi professional ice hockey team from Greater Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group ''Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey'' to bring top-level ice hockey back to M ...

as an assistant coach.

Retirement from ice hockey

As of March 2010 after returning home to South Carolina for a family visit, Courtenay applied for a job outside of ice hockey with soft drinks giant Pepsi in the Carolinas area. His application was successful, meaning he would not be returning to the Phoenix; he is now considered retired. On July 21, 2011, it was revealed Courtenay is being considered for the coaching vacancy for the

, along with Stingrays assistant

Spencer Carbery Spencer Carbery (born November 9, 1981) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the head coach for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Carbe ...

and Colgate University assistant coach

Brad Dexter Brad Dexter (born Boris Michel Soso; April 9, 1917 – December 12, 2002) was an American actor and film producer. He is known for tough-guy and western roles, including the 1960 film '' The Magnificent Seven'' (1960), and producing several fi ...

Awards

* ECHL

Most Valuable Player In team sports, a most valuable player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particular competition, or ...

1996–97. * Named to the ISL

All Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...

first team in 1998, 1999 and 2000. * Sekonda Face to Watch for October 1999. * Sekonda Superleague Player of the Year 1999–00. * British Ice Hockey Writers' Association Player of the Year Trophy 1999–00. * Named to the ISL All Star second team in 2002. * Named to the EIHL All Star first team in 2006.

Records

* ECHL leading point scorer for 1996–97. (shared with Mike Ross) * ECHL most power play goals for 1996–97. * ISL most goals for 1997–98. * ISL most power play goals for 1997–98. * ISL leading point scorer for 1999–00.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Footnotes

References

A to Z Encyclopaedia of Ice Hockey

Ice Hockey Journalists UK

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Courtenay, Ed 1968 births Anglophone Quebec people Ayr Scottish Eagles players Belfast Giants players Canadian ice hockey coaches Canadian ice hockey right wingers Chicago Wolves (IHL) players Granby Bisons players Ice hockey people from Montreal Ice Hockey Superleague players Jacksonville Lizard Kings players Kalamazoo Wings (1974–2000) players Kansas City Blades players Laval Titan players Living people Manchester Phoenix players People from Verdun, Quebec Peoria Rivermen (IHL) players Reno Renegades players San Francisco Spiders players San Jose Sharks players Sheffield Steelers players South Carolina Stingrays players Undrafted National Hockey League players Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in England Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Scotland Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Northern Ireland Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States 20th-century Canadian sportsmen