The Dallas Stars announced Tuesday that Pete DeBoer has been hired as the team’s coach heading into the 2022-23 season.
“Pete brings a wealth of experience to our dressing room, and we’re thrilled to name him our next head coach,” Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nil said in a press release. “Every team that he has taken over has not only shown immediate improvement but has been ultra-competitive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.”
Pete DeBoer has taken five teams to the Conference Finals and two of those to the Stanley Cup Finals in his 14 years as a head coach in the NHL.
“We’re excited to welcome Pete and his family to Dallas,” Nil finished.
DeBoer becomes the 25th head coach in the team’s 56-year history and the 10th since the Stars moved from Minnesota to Dallas in 1993.
DeBoer’s previous coaching stops included five seasons in San Jose, four in New Jersey, three in Florida, and three in upstart Las Vegas, a Dallas rival. He was hired by the Golden Knights midway through the 2019-20 season and posted a 15-5-2 record in 22 regular-season games while leading the team to the 2020 Western Conference Final against the Stars.
DeBoer had a 98-50-12 record in 160 regular-season games with Vegas, with a .650 points percentage. He led the Golden Knights to the playoffs in two of three seasons, posting a 22-17 record in 39 postseason games with the team, reaching the semifinal round in both the ’20 and ’21 playoffs.
“Over the last few seasons, I have seen firsthand what the Stars are building with a mix of dynamic young players and established leaders,” said DeBoer. “The chance to become this team’s next head coach was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. I would like to thank Tom Gaglardi and Jim Nill for the chance to help guide this team as we work together to bring another Stanley Cup to Dallas.”
He replaces former Stars coach Rick Bowness who retired following the 2021-22 hockey season, The Dallas Express reported.
DeBoer is a Dunnville, Ontario native with a coaching record of 513-379-123 in 1,015 NHL games over 14 seasons. He ranks sixth in League wins and second in games coached since his coaching debut in 2008-09.
DeBoer has led three different franchises to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and twice reached the Stanley Cup Final, first with the Devils (2012) and then with the Sharks (2016). He has a 68-55 record in 123 postseason games since 2008-09 and ranks fifth in playoff wins and games coached.
DeBoer became the first coach in league history to win his first five Game 7 appearances during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he has a 6-0 record in Game 7 games, according to the Stars.
Before coming to the NHL, DeBoer coached 13 seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he won the 2003 Memorial Cup and two OHL championships (2003, 2008) with Kitchener.
DeBoer won the OHL Coach of the Year award with Plymouth in 1999 and 2000 and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Coach of the Year award in 2000. He is one of only eight OHL coaches to reach the 500-win plateau (539), and he ranks eighth all-time in OHL wins.
DeBoer has played for Team Canada several times, winning gold medals for his country at the 2015 IIHF World Championship and the 2005 World Junior Championship. He was an assistant coach at four IIHF World Championships (2010, 2011, 2014, and 2015), two World Junior Championships (1998, 2005), and the 2007 Canada-Russia Super Series.
Before his coaching career, he was drafted in the 12th round (237th overall) of the 1988 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs and played two seasons of professional hockey with the Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League (IHL).
According to the Stars, DeBoer and his wife Susan have one daughter, Abigail, and two sons, Jack and Matthew.
