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Ken Hitchcock (born December 17, 1951 in Edmonton, Alberta) also known as "Hitch" is an NHL hockey coach and pro scout, and current head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Hitchcock began his coaching career during the 1984-85 season where he was coach of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League. Hitchcock spent six seasons with the Blazers, leading them to two WHL championship victories in 1985-86 and 1989-90. During his tenure with the Blazers, Hitchcock accumulated a 291–115–15 record and never had a losing season. He also named the Top Coach in all of Canadian Major Junior Hockey in 1990.

In 1990, Hitchcock left the WHL and joined the Philadelphia Flyers as an assistant coach. Hitchcock spent three seasons with the Flyers organization before leaving to helm the Dallas Stars' IHL franchise, the Kalamazoo Wings, for the 1993-94 season.

In the middle of his third season with the team (then renamed the Michigan K-Wings), he was offered the head coaching position with the Dallas Stars and on January 8, 1996, he was named head coach, replacing Bob Gainey, who remained with the Stars as general manager. In his first full season with the Stars, he led the team to a first-place finish in the Central Division and a playoff berth. In his second full season with the Stars, Hitchcock again led the Stars to the playoffs, losing in the Conference Finals to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. Also during the 1997-98 season, Hitchcock was named to his first of three consecutive NHL All-Star Game teams as coach.

During the 1998-99 NHL season, Hitchcock led the Stars to a regular season record of 51–19–12 (0.695 winning percentage), a team best. In the playoffs, Hitchcock led the team to a Stanley Cup victory over the Buffalo Sabres, the team's first. The next season, Hitchcock again led the team to the Stanley Cup finals, only to lose to the New Jersey Devils.

In the 2000-01 season, Hitchcock again led the Stars to the playoffs, but exited early. Midway through the following season, after getting off to a mediocre 23–21–6 start and in the midst of strife between the players and management, Hitchcock was fired as head coach.

Hitchcock was quickly picked up in the off-season by his old team, the Philadelphia Flyers, who had just fired their coach, Bill Barber, after an early exit from the playoffs. Hitchcock brought much-needed discipline and direction to the Flyers and led them to a 45–24–13 record in his first season, losing in the Conference Semi-finals.

In Hitchcock's second season with the Flyers, the Flyers finished first in the division with a 40–21–15 record and advanced to the Conference Finals, eventually losing against the eventual champion Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.

In his spare time Hitchcock is a history buff and participates in American Civil War re-enactments.

From Philadelphia to Columbus

The 2006–07 NHL season would see the Flyers get off to a horrible 1–6–1 start over their first eight games. It was their worst start in 15 years. After a 9–1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, management promised there would be some major changes to the organization. On October 22, 2006, the Flyers fired Hitchcock and General Manager Bobby Clarke stepped down.^[1]

On November 1, 2006, the Flyers assigned Ken Hitchcock to be a pro scout for the club. On November 22, 2006, Hitchcock and the Columbus Blue Jackets agreed to a three-year contract to become their new head coach. He coached his first game for the Blue Jackets on November 24 against his former team, the Philadelphia Flyers, a game the team lost, 3–2.^[2]

On July 9, 2008, the Blue Jackets announced they signed Hitchcock to a three-year extension to remain as head coach.^[3]

Coaching Record

Team	Year	Regular Season							Post Season
Team	Year	G	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Finish	Result
DAL	1995–96	43	15	23	5	—	(66)	6^th in Central	Missed Playoffs
DAL	1996–97	82	48	26	8	—	104	1^st in Central	Lost in First Round
DAL	1997–98	82	49	22	11	—	109	1^st in Central	Lost in Conf. Finals
DAL	1998–99	82	51	19	12	—	114	1^st in Pacific	Won Stanley Cup
DAL	1999–00	82	43	23	10	6	102	1^st in Pacific	Lost in Cup Finals
DAL	2000–01	82	48	24	8	2	106	1^st in Pacific	Lost in Second Round
DAL	2001–02	50	23	17	6	4	(90)	4^th in Pacific	(fired)
PHI	2002–03	82	45	20	13	4	107	2^nd in Atlantic	Lost in Second Round
PHI	2003–04	82	40	21	15	6	101	1^st in Atlantic	Lost in Conf. Finals
PHI	2005–06	82	45	26	—	11	101	2^nd in Atlantic	Lost in First Round
PHI	2006–07	8	1	6	—	1	(56)	5^th in Atlantic	(fired)
CBJ	2006–07	62	28	29	—	5	(73)	4^th in Central	Missed Playoffs
CBJ	2007–08	82	34	36	—	12	80	4^th in Central	Missed Playoffs
Total		901	470	292	88	51

External links

Ken Hitchcock career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database

[1] Flyers GM Clarke resigns; coach Hitchcock fired

[2] Blue Jackets hire Hitchcock as coach

[3] Hitchcock signs three-year extension as Blue Jackets' coach

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 On [[November 1]], 2006, the Flyers assigned Ken Hitchcock to be a pro scout for the club. On [[November 22]], 2006, Hitchcock and the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] agreed to a three-year contract to become their new head coach. He coached his first game for the Blue Jackets on [[November 24]] against his former team, the [[Philadelphia Flyers]], a game the team lost, 3–2.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2672815&type=story Blue Jackets hire Hitchcock as coach]</ref>
-On [[July 9]], [[2008]], the Blue Jackets announced they signed Hitchcock signed a three-year extension as head coach.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3479602 Hitchcock signs three-year extension as Blue Jackets' coach]</ref>
+On [[July 9]], [[2008]], the Blue Jackets announced they signed Hitchcock to a three-year extension to remain as head coach.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3479602 Hitchcock signs three-year extension as Blue Jackets' coach]</ref>
 ===Coaching Record===