Gordon M. Dineen (born September 21, 1962) is a Canadian former professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...

defenceman Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the latter a reference to ...

. As of 2019, he is an assistant coach of the

Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans (colloquially known as the Amerks) are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League; the team is an owned and operated affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, ...

. He is a former head coach for the

Toronto Marlies The Toronto Marlies are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a member of the North Division of the Eastern Conference. The Marlies is owned by Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, a c ...

of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the le ...

, and a longtime assistant with several other teams. Although born in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, Dineen spent much of his youth in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, while his father

Bill Dineen William Patrick "Foxy" Dineen (September 18, 1932 – December 10, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and head coach. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks between 1953 a ...

played and coached professionally. He returned to Canada to play

major junior hockey Junior hockey is a level of competitive ice hockey generally for players between 16 and 21 years of age. Junior hockey leagues in the United States and Canada are considered amateur (with some exceptions) and operate within regions of each cou ...

for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He was drafted by the New York Islanders with the forty-second pick in the 1981 draft. His brothers

Kevin Kevin () is the anglicized form of the Irish masculine given name (; mga, Caoimhghín ; sga, Cóemgein ; Latinized as ). It is composed of "dear; noble"; Old Irish and ("birth"; Old Irish ). The variant '' Kevan'' is anglicized from , a ...

and

Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...

were also NHL players.

Playing career

Junior

Dineen was drafted in the fifth round, 54th overall, by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the

Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; french: Ligue de hockey de l'Ontario (LHO)) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overa ...

(OHL) in 1980. In his rookie season with the Greyhounds in 1980–81, Dineen scored four goals and 30 points, as well as 158 penalty minutes, in 68 games. In the playoffs, Dineen had a goal, eight points, and 59 penalty minutes in 19 games as the Greyhounds lost to the

Kitchener Rangers The Kitchener Rangers are a major junior ice hockey team based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. The Rangers have won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL ...

in the final round. Dineen returned to the Greyhounds for the 1981–82 season, in which he saw his offensive numbers improve. In 68 games, Dineen scored nine goals and 54 points, while earning 185 penalty minutes. In the post-season, Dineen had a goal and three points in 13 games

Professional

New York Islanders (1982–1988)

Dineen was selected by the New York Islanders in the second round, 42nd overall, in the

1981 NHL Entry Draft Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...

. Following his junior career, the Islanders assigned Dineen to the

Indianapolis Checkers The Indianapolis Checkers were a minor league professional ice hockey team from Indianapolis, Indiana. The Checkers' home arena was the Fairgrounds Coliseum from 1981 to 1985 and Market Square Arena from 1979 to 1981 and again from 1985 to 1987. Th ...

of the

Central Hockey League The Central Hockey League (CHL) was a North American mid-level minor professional ice hockey league which operated from 1992 until 2014. It was founded by Ray Miron and Bill Levins and later sold to Global Entertainment Corporation, which opera ...

(CHL) for the 1982–83 season. In 73 games with the Checkers, Dineen scored 10 goals and 57 points. Dineen was named the CHL's Most Improved Defenseman and Most Outstanding Defenseman. In 13 playoff games, Dineen had two goals and 12 points, helping the Checkers win the Adams Cup. Dineen also saw limited action with the New York Islanders, playing in two games in the 1982–83 season and did not score any points. Dineen spent more time with the Checkers in 1983–84, as he scored four goals and 17 points in 26 games with Indianapolis. He earned a promotion to the Islanders, in which he played in 43 games, scoring a goal and 12 points. Dineen played in nine playoff games, scoring a goal and two points, as the Islanders lost to the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...

in the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals. In 1984–85, Dineen spent time with the Islanders

(AHL) affiliate, the

Springfield Indians The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existe ...

. In 25 games with Springfield, Dineen had a goal and nine points. He spent a majority of the 1984–85 season with the Islanders, playing in 48 games, scoring a goal and 13 points, as well as earning 89 penalty minutes. In 10 playoff games with New York, Dineen had no points and 26 penalty minutes. Dineen again split the 1985–86 season between Springfield and New York. In 11 games with the Indians, Dineen had two goals and five points. In 57 games with the Islanders in 1985–86, Dineen had a goal and nine points. In three playoff games, he was held with no points. In 1986–87, Dineen remained in the NHL on a full-time basis. In 71 games with the Islanders, Dineen scored four goals and 14 points, while accumulating 110 penalty minutes. In the post-season, Dineen had four assists in seven games. His tenure with the Islanders is perhaps best known for assisting on

Pat LaFontaine Patrick Michael LaFontaine (born February 22, 1965) is an American former ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and spent his entire playing career with the league's New York State-based teams. LaFontaine played for th ...

's series-winning goal in the fourth overtime in the

1987 Stanley Cup playoffs The 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs, the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) began on April 8, after the conclusion of the 1986–87 NHL season. It concluded on May 31, with the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Philadelphia Flyers to ...

opening round against the

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, a ...

, known today as "The Easter Epic." Dineen began the 1987–88 season with the Islanders, where in 57 games, Dineen scored four goals and 16 points. His career with the Islanders came to an end on March 7, 1988, as Dineen was traded to 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 ...

for Chris Pryor and a seventh round draft pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.

Minnesota North Stars (1988)

His first game with the North Stars was on March 9, 1988, and was held without a point in a 6–2 loss to the

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...

. On April 3, Dineen scored his first goal with the North Stars, against Mike Vernon of the

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...

, in a 4–1 loss. Dineen began the 1988–89 season with the North Stars, earning an assist in two games. The North Stars assigned Dineen to the

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 ...

of the International Hockey League (IHL) for 25 games with two goals and eight points. On December 17, 1988, the North Stars traded Dineen and Scott Bjugstad to the

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...

for

Ville Siren ''Ville'' or "town", but its meaning in the Middle Ages was "farm" (from Gallo-Romance VILLA < Latin ''

villa rustica

'') and ...

and Steve Gotaas.

Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–1992)

Dineen made his debut with the

on December 23, 1988, earning no points in a 2–2 tie against the New Jersey Devils. On December 31, Dineen earned his first point as a Penguin, an assist on a goal by

Mario Lemieux Mario Lemieux (; ; born October 5, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played parts of 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins between 1984 and 2006, and he assumed ownership of the f ...

in an 8–6 victory. On February 14, Dineen scored his first goal with Pittsburgh against Jacques Cloutier of the

and added an assist in a 7–3 win. With the Penguins in 1988–89, Dineen played in 38 games, scoring a goal and three points. In the playoffs, Dineen added two assists in 11 games. In 1989–90, Dineen played in 69 games with the Penguins, scoring a goal and eight points, while earning a career-high 125 penalty minutes. Dineen played most of the

1990–91 Year 199 ( CXCIX) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was sometimes known as year 952 '' Ab urbe condita''. The denomination 199 for this year has been used since t ...

with the

Muskegon Lumberjacks The Muskegon Lumberjacks are a Tier I junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League. They play in Muskegon, Michigan, at Mercy Health Arena. The Lumberjacks replaced the International Hockey League franchi ...

of the IHL, where Dineen scored one goal and 15 points in 40 games. In five playoff games with Muskegon, Dineen had two assists. In nine games with Pittsburgh during the

season, Dineen had no points. The 1991–92 season was mostly spent in Muskegon. In 79 games with the Lumberjacks, Dineen had eight goals and 45 points. In the post-season, Dineen scored two goals and six points in 14 games, as Muskegon lost to the

Kansas City Blades The Kansas City Blades were a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League (IHL) from 1990 until 2001, when the league folded. The Blades were based in Kansas City, Missouri, at Kemper Arena. Team history Russ and Diane Pa ...

in the

Turner Cup The Turner Cup was the championship trophy of the International Hockey League from 1945 to 2001 and the renamed United Hockey League from 2007 to 2010. The Cup was named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professi ...

finals. Dineen also appeared in one game with the Penguins during 1991–92, getting no points. Following the season, Dineen was granted free agency.

Ottawa Senators (1992–1994)

Dineen signed with the expansion

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...

on August 31, 1992. The Senators assigned Dineen to the

San Diego Gulls The San Diego Gulls are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) that began play in the 2015–16 season. Based in San Diego, California, and affiliated with the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks, the Gulls play th ...

of the IHL to begin the

1992–93 Year 199 ( CXCIX) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was sometimes known as year 952 '' Ab urbe condita''. The denomination 199 for this year has been used since t ...

season. With the Gulls, Dineen had six goals and 29 points in 41 games, earning a promotion to the Senators. Dineen played in his first game with Ottawa on January 21, 1993, where he was held without a point in a 7–2 loss to the

. On February 8, Dineen earned his first two points with the Senators, both assists, in a 4–2 win over the

. On February 25, Dineen scored his first goal with the Senators against

Tom Barrasso Thomas Patrick Barrasso (born March 31, 1965) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 18 seasons. He began his time in the NHL with the Buffalo ...

of the

and added an assist in a 2–1 win. In 32 games with Ottawa, Dineen had two goals and six points. In 1993–94, Dineen returned to the Senators. With 17 games remaining in the season, the Senators named Dineen captain of the club for the rest of the year. Overall, in a career high 77 games, Dineen did not score a goal, but had 21 assists. After the season, Dineen became a free agent.

New York Islanders (1994–1995)

On July 26, 1994, Dineen returned to the New York Islanders, as a free agent. Due to the

1994–95 NHL lockout The 1994–95 NHL lockout was a lockout that came after a year of National Hockey League (NHL) hockey that was played without a collective bargaining agreement. The lockout was a subject of dispute as the players sought collective bargaining an ...

, Dineen spent a majority of the season with the Islanders IHL affiliate, the

Denver Grizzlies Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

, where he was named captain of the team. In 68 games with Denver, Dineen scored five goals and 32 points. In 17 playoff games, Dineen had a goal and seven points, as Denver won the

. Dineen did play in nine games with the Islanders during 1994–95, earning no points.

International Hockey League (1995–2000)

With the arrival of

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The Avalanche play thei ...

for the 1995–96 season, the Grizzlies relocated to Utah as the

Utah Grizzlies The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play their home games at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. Franchise history The current Utah Grizzlies franchise started in 1981 as the Nashville South Star ...

. Dineen remained captain of the club. In the 1995–96 season, Dineen scored a goal and 18 points in 82 games. In the playoffs, Dineen earned three assists in 22 games, as the Grizzlies once again won the

. In 1996–97, Dineen appeared in 81 games, scoring five goals and 34 points. In seven post-season games, he earned three points. Dineen played in all 82 games for the Grizzlies in the 1997–98 season, scoring three goals and 37 points for the club. In four playoff games, Dineen had two assists. Dineen continued to be productive during the 1998–99 season with Utah as in 77 games, he had five goals and 27 points. In the 1999–2000 season, Dineen became a player-coach with the Grizzlies. In 50 games, he had 18 points, all assists. On March 16, 2000, Dineen was traded to the

Chicago Wolves The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League and are the top minor-league affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the C ...

. In 17 games, he had a goal and three points. In the post-season, Dineen had five assists in 16 games, helping Chicago win the

. Following the season, Dineen announced his retirement from playing. His number 2 is the only number retired by the Grizzlies.

Coaching career

Dineen's was named as a player-coach during his final season with the

in 1999 until he was traded to the

in March 2000. After retiring from playing, Dineen was named an assistant coach with the

Louisville Panthers The Louisville Panthers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Louisville, Kentucky. Their home venue was Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The mascot was a light brown "panther" named Paws. They were a ...

of the

(AHL) in 2000–01. Louisville was the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers. Dineen worked under head coach Joe Paterson. The next season, he was named head coach and general manager of the Macon Whoopee of the

East Coast Hockey League The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The E ...

(ECHL) for the 2001–02 season. Under Dineen, the Whoopee finished with a 29–31–12 record, earning 70 points, and did not make the post-season. Following the season, the Whoopee relocated to Lexington, Kentucky, to become the

Lexington Men O' War The Lexington Men O' War were a minor league professional ice hockey team and member of the ECHL. The name Man o' War is from a thoroughbred race horse that was bred in Lexington, and also the name of a highly traveled road in Lexington. The ...

and he was not retained by the club. In 2002, Dineen became the head coach and general manager of the ECHL's

Richmond Renegades The Richmond Renegades were an ECHL ice hockey team in Richmond, Virginia that played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1990 until 2003. The Renegades played at the Richmond Coliseum, which they marketed in later years as ''the Freezer''. T ...

, leading the team to a 35–31–6 record and 76 points. The club failed to make the playoffs and folded at the end of the season. Dineen was then hired by the Phoenix Coyotes as an assistant coach for their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons of the AHL, for the 2003–04 season. The next season, the Coyotes changed their AHL affiliation to Utah Grizzlies, which had since joined the AHL after the IHL dissolved, and Dineen was retained by the organization as an assistant coach under Pat Conacher in the 2004–05 season. The Grizzlies suspended operations in 2005 and Dineen was moved to the Coyotes' new AHL affiliate, the

San Antonio Rampage The San Antonio Rampage were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. The Rampage was primarily owned by Spurs Sports & Entertainment throughout the team's existence. In 2020, the franchise was sold ...

in the same role from 2005 to 2007. The Coyotes released the entire Rampage coaching staff the end of the season. Dineen was hired by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2007–08 season to join the coaching staff of their affiliate, the Portland Pirates, where he worked under head coach and younger brother

Kevin Dineen Kevin William Dineen (born October 28, 1963) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. , Dineen is the head coach of the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League (AHL). Dineen previously served as the head coach for the Fl ...

. Following the season, the Ducks affiliated with the

Iowa Chops The Iowa Stars, later known as the Iowa Chops, were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The club was based in Des Moines, Iowa at the Wells Fargo Arena. History The Stars were founded by Howard Baldwin, of Hockey Holdi ...

. The Ducks named him head coach of the Chops for the 2008–09 season, his first AHL head coaching job. The Chops finished the season with a 33–33–4–10 record, earning 80 points, and missed the playoffs. After the season, the Ducks dropped the Chops as their affiliate, leading to the team having their franchise revoked and the team suspended. The Ducks did not have an AHL affiliate for the 2009–10 season and Dineen was not retained by the Ducks. In 2009–10, Dineen was hired as an assistant coach with the

, the AHL affiliate of the

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...

. He remained with the Marlies as an assistant under head coach

Dallas Eakins Dallas Franklin Eakins (''né'' Yoder; February 27, 1967) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously served as the head coach of the ...

from 2009 to 2013 and under

Steve Spott Steve Spott (born May 18, 1968 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian ice hockey coach who is an assistant coach for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously was an assistant coach for the Vegas Golden Knights. He previous ...

in 2013–14. Dineen was promoted to head coach of the Marlies for the 2014–15 season, earning a record of 40–27–9–0 for 89 points, finishing second in the North Division. In the post-season, the Marlies lost to the

Grand Rapids Griffins The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and play home games at Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey Leag ...

in the first round. The Maple Leafs then hired

Sheldon Keefe Sheldon Keefe (born September 17, 1980) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. His younger brother Adam Keefe is the head coach of Elite Ice H ...

as head coach of the Marlies for the 2015–16 season, deemed and up and coming coach, and Dineen was moved back to the assistant coaching position. Following the 2016–17 season, Dineen was not retained by the Marlies. Dineen then joined the

of the AHL as an assistant to head coach Chris Taylor in 2017. Days before the start of the

2019–20 AHL season The 2019–20 AHL season was the 84th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began October 4, 2019, and was officially cancelled on May 11, 2020. The 2020 Calder Cup playoffs, which was also cancelled, would have followed the con ...

, Taylor was called up to the Americans' NHL parent team, the

, and Dineen was named the Americans' interim head coach. After Taylor returned from Buffalo, Dineen went back to his role as assistant coach.

Awards

*1982–83:

Bobby Orr Trophy The Bobby Orr Trophy is awarded annually to the champion of the Eastern conference playoffs in the Ontario Hockey League. It was first awarded in 1999. The winning team competes for the J. Ross Robertson Cup in the OHL finals versus the Wayne Gret ...

*1982–83: Bob Gassoff Trophy

Career statistics

Head coaching statistics

References

External links

*
Hockey Draft Central
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dineen, Gord 1962 births Canadian ice hockey defencemen Chicago Wolves (IHL) players Denver Grizzlies players Ice hockey people from Ontario Indianapolis Checkers (CHL) players Kalamazoo Wings (1974–2000) players Living people Minnesota North Stars players Muskegon Lumberjacks players New York Islanders draft picks New York Islanders players Ottawa Senators players Sportspeople from Seattle Pittsburgh Penguins players San Diego Gulls (IHL) players Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds players Springfield Indians players Stanley Cup champions Utah Grizzlies (IHL) players Toronto Marlies coaches Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Canadian ice hockey coaches

Playing career

Junior

Professional

New York Islanders (1982–1988)

Minnesota North Stars (1988)

Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–1992)

Ottawa Senators (1992–1994)

New York Islanders (1994–1995)

International Hockey League (1995–2000)

Coaching career

Awards

Career statistics

Head coaching statistics

See also

References

External links