Topic: Peter Laviolette

Peter Laviolette Jr. (born December 7, 1964) is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman and is the current head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was previously the head coach of the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes, the latter whom he led to a Stanley Cup championship in 2006.

As a player, Laviolette spent the majority of his 10-year career playing for various minor league teams. He played twelve games in the NHL for the New York Rangers during the 1988–89 season. Laviolette also played for the United States in the Olympics twice (1988 and 1994). Laviolette played collegiate hockey at Westfield State College, Westfield, Massachusetts.

He began his coaching career as head coach of the ECHL Wheeling Nailers. In one season as coach, he led his team to a 37–24–9 record and a berth in the playoffs, wherein they lost in the third round. He left Wheeling to take over the head coaching job for the Providence Bruins. In 1998–99 he coached the team to a 56–15–4 regular-season record. In the playoffs Providence won the American Hockey League (AHL) Championship with a 15–4 playoff record. Laviolette was named AHL Coach of the Year.