Former NHL and USA National Team head coach Ron Wilson is recovering from a stroke. The story was originally reported by Helene Elliott of the LA Times. It’s being reported that he is in rehab and in stable condition currently.
Former Ducks and US national team coach Ron Wilson had a stroke and is in rehab, according to several of his friends.
— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) December 14, 2016
Former NHL Head Coach Ron Wilson Recovering From Stroke
Wilson, who is 61 years old, was a coach in the National Hockey League for 18 seasons. During his time as a head coach he took charge of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He also coached the USA National Team. The last time he coached in the NHL was back in 2012 with the Leafs.
His 648 career wins behind the bench of all the teams he worked with is good for 10th all-time in NHL history wins. He also made the playoffs eight times in his 18 season as a head coach. He made the playoffs in the last four seasons he was with the San Jose Sharks, but failed to ever advance past the Western Conference Finals. His four other postseason appearances came with Washington and Anaheim, with three and one appearances respectively.
Wilson also coached Team USA in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, where the United States won the tournament. Along with that he was also behind the bench for the 2010 Olympics, where the Americans went home with a silver medal.
Wilson did also have a relatively brief NHL playing career, playing in 177 games in the league from 1977-87. He played 64 of those games with one of the teams he coached, the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he had seven goals and 22 points. He played the other 113 games of his playing career in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars, where he had 17 goals and 40 total points. He also played 249 games with HC Davos in Switzerland where he had 26 goals and 93 total points. Wilson was a right-handed defenseman.
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