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Canada Bill LaForge

Nashville Nighthawks / CHL - 96/97
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Staff Facts
Date of Birth
Sep 02, 1951
Place of Birth
Edmonton, AB, CAN
Age
Nation
Canada
Highlights
1-time WHL Champion 1

Bill LaForge was a successful, but controversial coach. He was known for his tough tactics that saw opponents bruised both physically and mentally. He had three tenets for his teams: pride, hustle and desire (PhD). More than anything else, he wanted a player to play for his team, not for the name on the back of his jersey.

LaForge started coaching with OHL Oshawa Generals, but moved to the WHL after receiving a 50-game suspension for fighting with Peterborough Petes coach Dave Dryden on center ice during a pre-game skate. His success in the juniors landed him behind the bench with the Vancouver Canucks. However, his unorthodox coaching methods and punishing emphasis on physical play was too much for the pros. Canucks' General Manager Harry Neale took over the coaching duties only after 20 games in the season. He then went on to coach the Hamilton Steelhawks and Niagara Falls Thunder in the OHL. The WHL Tri-City Americans hired him as the Director of Player Personnel in 1989, but we was reassigned to scouting duties after the players refused to play under his supervision. LaForge passed away on June 19, 2005.

Family relations
Cousin: Patrick LaForge
Son: Bill LaForge

Team Staff History
S Team League Role on Team Notes
1980-81 Oshawa Generals OHL Head Coach
1981-82 Regina Pats WHL Head Coach
1982-83 Kamloops Junior Oilers WHL Head Coach
1983-84 Kamloops Junior Oilers WHL GM/Head Coach
1984-85 Vancouver Canucks NHL Head Coach Replaced by Harry Neale midseason
Hamilton Steelhawks OHL Head Coach Replaced Dave Draper midseason
1985-86 Hamilton Steelhawks OHL Head Coach
1986-87 Hamilton Steelhawks OHL Head Coach
1987-88 Hamilton Steelhawks OHL Head Coach
1988-89 Niagara Falls Thunder OHL Head Coach
1989-90 Niagara Falls Thunder OHL Head Coach Replaced by George Burnett midseason
Tri-City Americans WHL Dir. of Player Personnel
Tri-City Americans WHL Scout
1991-92 Guelph Storm OHL Head Coach
1992-93 Bismarck Bulls AHA Head Coach
1993-94 Bonnyville Pontiacs AJHL Head Coach
1996-97 Nashville Nighthawks CHL Head Coach Replaced Iain Duncan midseason
Career Highlights
Season
Awards by season
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