Robert Lowes (born January 21, 1963) is a Canadian
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 ...
executive, and former
ice hockey coach. He has worked as the assistant director of player personnel for the
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Golden Knights compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division ...
since 2016. Lowes led the
Nipawin Hawks
The Nipawin Hawks are a Canadian junior "A" team based in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games at the Centennial Arena, which has a seating capacity of 1,500. The t ...
to the 1990
ANAVET Cup
The ANAVET Cup was an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Canadian Junior Hockey League to the winners of a best-of-seven series between the championship teams of the SJHL and the MJHL. The winner also earned a berth in the Centennial Cup national ...
championship, before being a head coach in the
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hocke ...
(WHL) for 12 seasons with the
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadians, Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. Founded in 1936, the team was for three decades a successful junior team playing principally in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Whe ...
, and the
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1917, the Pats are the world's oldest continuously operating major junior hockey franchise in its original location and using its original name. The ...
. He twice won the
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy The Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the Coach of the Year in the Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is ...
as the WHL Coach of the Year, and twice won the
CHL Coach of the Year Award. Lowes also coached the
Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team
The Canadian men's national under 18 ice hockey team is part of a three-stage Program of Excellence beginning with the Under-17 regional teams and ending with the National Junior Team. The primary objectives of the Under-18 program are to iden ...
, and later became director of amateur scouting for the
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
.
Early life
Lowes was born January 21, 1963, in
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada, after Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, Regina. It is situated near the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway ...
.
Playing career
Lowes played the
centreman position in hockey.
He played three seasons for the
Prince Albert Raiders
The Prince Albert Raiders are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1971 as a member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, the Raiders have been members of the Western Hockey League since 198 ...
in the
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan and one of nine member leagues of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
Open to North American-born players 20 years o ...
(SJHL) from 1979 to 1982, and was the team's captain during the 1981–82 season.
Lowes and his team won both the Hanbidge Cup as SJHL champions, and the
ANAVET Cup
The ANAVET Cup was an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Canadian Junior Hockey League to the winners of a best-of-seven series between the championship teams of the SJHL and the MJHL. The winner also earned a berth in the Centennial Cup national ...
as the Saskatchewan–Manitoba champions all three seasons, lost in the 1980
Abbott Cup
The Abbott Memorial Cup, commonly referred to as the Abbott Cup, was awarded annually from 1919 through 1999 to the Junior "A" ice hockey Champion for Western Canada.
The Cup was named after Captain E.L. (Hick) Abbott who was a noted hockey ...
finals, but won the 1981 and 1982 Abbott Cup, and both the
1981 Centennial Cup
The 1981 Centennial Cup is the 11th Junior "A" 1981 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior A Hockey League.
The Centennial Cup was competed for by the winners of the Abbott Cup, Dudley Hewitt Cup, and the Callaghan Cup.
The tou ...
and the
1982 Centennial Cup.
Lowes was eligible for the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, but was not chosen until a year later, being selected 204th overall by the
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
in the tenth round of the
1982 NHL Entry Draft.
He began the
1982–83 WHL season
The 1982–83 WHL season was the 17th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Fourteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Saskatoon Blades topped the regular season standings to capture their second Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy. In the ...
with Prince Albert, then was traded to the
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1917, the Pats are the world's oldest continuously operating major junior hockey franchise in its original location and using its original name. The ...
later in the season.
Lowes served as captain of the Pats for the 1983–84 WHL season, in which his team lost in the seventh game of the
President's Cup
The Presidents Cup is a series of men's golf matches between a team representing the United States and an International Team representing the rest of the world except Europe as that continent competes against the United States in a similar but ...
final.
In the next year, he took a year off from playing and served as the assistant coach for the Pats in the 1984–85 season.
During the season, he acted as an interim head coach while Bob Strumm served an eight-game suspension.
Lowes was recruited by
Wayne Fleming
Wayne Fleming (July 6, 1950 – March 25, 2013) was a Canadian ice hockey coach. He served as assistant coach in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Islanders and ...
to playing university hockey, and join the
Manitoba Bisons
The Manitoba Bisons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The football team plays at Princess Auto Stadium, the soccer team plays at the outdoor soccer field on campus, track and field te ...
program.
He played parts of four seasons for the Bisons from 1985 to 1989.
He was the team captain for the 1986–87 season,
then became an assistant coach for the 1987–88 season due to an injury.
Lowes said that he learned about the use of statistical analysis, and new perspective on coaching hockey from Fleming.
Lowes graduated from the
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1877, it is the first university of Western Canada. Both by total student enrolment and campus area, the University of ...
in 1989, with a bachelor's degree in recreation.
Playing statistics
Coaching career
Lowes' first position as a head coach was with the
Nipawin Hawks
The Nipawin Hawks are a Canadian junior "A" team based in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. They are members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). They play their home games at the Centennial Arena, which has a seating capacity of 1,500. The t ...
in the SJHL, for the 1989–90 and 1990–91 seasons.
In the 1989–90 season, his team finished second place in the north division, then won the SJHL's Hanbidge Cup in the playoffs.
The Hawks played the
Portage Terriers
The Portage Terriers are a Canadian junior "A" ice hockey team from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. They are members of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
History
The Portage Terriers were foun ...
, champions of Manitoba for the
ANAVET Cup
The ANAVET Cup was an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Canadian Junior Hockey League to the winners of a best-of-seven series between the championship teams of the SJHL and the MJHL. The winner also earned a berth in the Centennial Cup national ...
, winning the series four games to two.
Lowes' team advanced to the national championship, and placed third at the
1990 Centennial Cup. In the 1990–91 season, Nipawin placed second place in the north division, and reached the second round of the playoffs.
Lowes returned to the
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hocke ...
(WHL) in the
1991–92 WHL season
The 1991–92 WHL season was the 26th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The season featured fifteen teams and a 72-game regular season. The Kamloops Blazers won their fifth Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions, and ...
, as an assistant coach for the
Seattle Thunderbirds
The Seattle Thunderbirds are a major junior ice hockey team based in the city of Kent, Washington. They are part of the U.S. Division of the Western Conference in the Western Hockey League. Founded in 1971 as the Vancouver Nats, the team arrive ...
.
Brandon Wheat Kings
Lowes was named head coach of the
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadians, Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. Founded in 1936, the team was for three decades a successful junior team playing principally in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Whe ...
on July 7, 1992.
He coached the Wheat Kings until 2001, and has the second most wins as a head coach in franchise history as of 2018.
During nine seasons as head coach, Lowes won 370 games in the regular season, three first-place finishes in the east division, reached the
President's Cup
The Presidents Cup is a series of men's golf matches between a team representing the United States and an International Team representing the rest of the world except Europe as that continent competes against the United States in a similar but ...
three times and winning it in 1996.
His Wheat Kings team appeared in the
1995 Memorial Cup
The 1995 Memorial Cup occurred May 13–21 at the Riverside Coliseum in Kamloops, British Columbia. It was the 77th annual Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup () is the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), a consortium ...
in
Kamloops
Kamloops ( ) is a city in south-central British Columbia, Canada, at the confluence of the North Thompson River, North and South Thompson Rivers, which join to become the Thompson River in Kamloops, and east of Kamloops Lake. The city is the ad ...
, and the
1996 Memorial Cup
The 1996 Memorial Cup occurred May 11–19 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario. It was the 78th annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL ...
in
Peterborough
Peterborough ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in the City of Peterborough district in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England. The city is north of London, on the River Nene. A ...
, placing third both times.
Lowes was named a co-coach along with
Ted Nolan
Theodore John Nolan (born April 7, 1958) is an Indigenous Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played as a left winger in the National Hockey League (NHL) and served as the head coach for the Buffalo Sabres and the Latvi ...
, of the combined WHL and
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; ) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League, alongside the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The league is for players ag ...
team in the
1993 CHL All–Star Challenge.
Notable players coached by Lowes on the Wheat Kings include,
Johnathan Aitken
Johnathan James Aitken (born May 24, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Playing career
Aitken was drafted 8th overall in ...
,
Milan Bartovic
Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nearly 1.4 million, while i ...
,
Sven Butenschoen,
Ryan Craig,
Chris Dingman
Christopher Robert Dingman (born July 6, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Playing care ...
,
Eric Fehr
Eric Fehr (born September 7, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He most recently played under contract with Ak Bars Kazan in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was drafted in the first round, 18th overall, by the Wa ...
,
Burke Henry,
Mark Kolesar,
Justin Kurtz
Justin Kurtz (born January 14, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 27 games for the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks.https://www.nhl.com/player/justin-kurtz-8462111
Playing career
Kurtz was drafted ...
,
Kirby Law,
Mike Leclerc,
Mike Maneluk
Mike Maneluk (born October 1, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger.
Playing career
Maneluk played three seasons for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League and one for the Canadian National Team befo ...
,
Rob McVicar,
Marty Murray
Marty Murray (born February 16, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings. He is ...
,
Wade Redden
Wade Redden (born June 12, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and a development coach of the Ottawa Senators, with whom he spent the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL), which lasted from 1996 to 201 ...
,
Peter Schaefer,
Jordin Tootoo
Jordin John Kudluk Tootoo (; born February 2, 1983) is a Canadian former professional hockey player, who played for the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks. Of Inuit, Ukrainian and English descent, h ...
, and
Nolan Yonkman.
Regina Pats
Lowes began a three-year tenure as head coach of the
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1917, the Pats are the world's oldest continuously operating major junior hockey franchise in its original location and using its original name. The ...
on August 7, 2001.
During the
2001–02 WHL season
The 2001–02 WHL season was the 36th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The league expanded to nineteen teams with the addition of the Vancouver Giants. The Red Deer Rebels won their second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy f ...
, he won his 400th game in the WHL, accomplishing it quicker than any other coach, in only 10 seasons.
He was an associate coach for the
Home Hardware Top Prospects Game on January 31, 2002.
Lowes led Regina to a second-place finish in the east division, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs.
In the
2002–03 WHL season
The 2002–03 WHL season was the 37th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Nineteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Kelowna Rockets won both the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the league's best regular season team and the Preside ...
, Lowes was suspended three games by the league, due to multiple fights in a game on March 15.
Regina finished the season fourth place in the east division, and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
In the
2003–04 WHL season
The 2003–04 WHL season was the 38th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Twenty teams completed a 72-game season. The defending champion Kelowna Rockets won their second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular sea ...
, Regina repeated the fourth place finish, and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
National team
Lowes was an assistant coach for the
Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team
The Canadian men's national under 18 ice hockey team is part of a three-stage Program of Excellence beginning with the Under-17 regional teams and ending with the National Junior Team. The primary objectives of the Under-18 program are to iden ...
at the
1993 Pacific Cup tournament in
Yokohama
is the List of cities in Japan, second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous Municipalities of Japan, municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a popu ...
, where Canada placed third.
He returned as an assistant coach for the under-18 team at the
2002 IIHF World U18 Championships
The 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships were held in Piešťany and Trnava, Slovakia. The championships began on April 11, 2002, and finished on April 21, 2002. Games were played at Zimny Stadion in Piešťany and Zimny Stadion in Trnava. The US te ...
in
Slovakia
Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...
, where Canada placed sixth.
He was named head coach of the under-18 team for the
2003 U-18 Junior World Cup
The 2003 U-18 Junior World Cup was an under-18 international ice hockey tournament held in Břeclav, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia from August 11–16, 2003. The United States captured their first gold medal at the tournament, defeatin ...
in Slovakia, with
Dave Cameron and
Pascal Vincent
Pascal Vincent (born September 22, 1971) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who currently serves as the head coach for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL). He is a two-time recipient of the Louis A. R. ...
as assistants.
Canada had won seven consecutive gold medals at the event, but placed fourth in 2003.
Coaching record
Career statistics as a head coach with the Nipawin Hawks (1989–1991),
and in the Western Hockey League (1992–2004).
Executive career
Lowes began his scouting career with the Brandon Wheat Kings as the chief scout from 2005 to 2007.
He worked part-time as an amateur scout for the
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
starting in 2006, then was hired full-time in 2008.
He was promoted to director of amateur scouting in August 2014, and was responsible for the scouting staff of Ottawa in preparation for each
NHL Entry Draft.
Notable players drafted by Ottawa during his tenure as chief scout include
Logan Brown
Logan Mathers Brown (born March 5, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selec ...
,
Thomas Chabot
Thomas Chabot ( ; born January 30, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Chabot was drafted in the first round (18th overall) by the Senators in ...
,
Jared Cowen
Jared Nelson Cowen (born January 25, 1991) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Cowen was drafted in the first round, ninth overall, by the Senators in the 2 ...
,
Nick Foligno
Nicholas Foligno (; born October 31, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey left winger and captain for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 28th overall by the Ottawa Senators dur ...
,
Gabriel Gagne,
Erik Karlsson
Erik Sven Gunnar Karlsson (; born 31 May 1990) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Karlsson was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, by the Ottawa Senators at th ...
,
Curtis Lazar
Curtis Lazar (born February 2, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round (17th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft ...
,
Robin Lehner
Robin Lehner (born 24 July 1991) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey goaltender most recently under contract with the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Panda", he previously played in the NHL for the O ...
,
Jakob Silfverberg,
Mark Stone
Mark Stone (born May 13, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger and captain of the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round, 178th overall, of the 201 ...
,
Colin White, and
Mika Zibanejad
Mika Zibanejad (; born 18 April 1993) is a Swedish professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and Captain (ice hockey)#Alternate captains, alternate captain for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Sweden men' ...
.
Lowes was hired by the
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Golden Knights compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division ...
September 30, 2016,
to be the assistant director of player personnel under
Vaughn Karpan.
Lowes and Karpan has both previously been part of the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Manitoba Bisons.
Lowes is one of five former Wheat Kings alumni to become executives for Vegas, including Karpan,
Kelly McCrimmon,
Mike Kelly, and his former player Ryan Craig.
Lowes later won the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
with Vegas in
2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
.
Honours and awards
Lowes received the
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy The Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the Coach of the Year in the Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is ...
as the WHL Coach of the Year, in the 1995–96, and 2001–02 seasons.
He was also given the
CHL Coach of the Year Award in the same seasons, becoming the first multiple winner of the award.
Lowes was inducted into the Manitoba Bisons Hockey Hall of Fame on January 31, 2018.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowes, Bob
1963 births
Living people
20th-century Canadian sportsmen
Brandon Wheat Kings coaches
Businesspeople from Saskatchewan
Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Canadian ice hockey centres
Canadian ice hockey coaches
Canadian sports executives and administrators
Ice hockey people from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Manitoba Bisons ice hockey players
Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey players
New York Rangers draft picks
Ottawa Senators executives
Prince Albert Raiders players
Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) players
Regina Pats coaches
Regina Pats players
Seattle Thunderbirds coaches
Vegas Golden Knights executives