Michael Yeo (born July 31, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. Yeo is currently an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is the former head coach of the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues, as well as interim head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL.[1] Yeo grew up in North Bay, Ontario. He has also been an assistant coach for the Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, and head coach of the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros.[2]
| Mike Yeo | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Yeo in 2012 | |||
| Born |
July 31, 1973 Scarborough, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
Houston Aeros WBS Penguins | ||
| Coached for |
Houston Aeros Minnesota Wild St. Louis Blues Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| Playing career | 1994–2000 | ||
| Coaching career | 2000–present | ||
Career
editYeo spent five seasons with the Houston Aeros while they were members of the International Hockey League (IHL). In 1998–99, he captained the team to the Turner Cup Championship.
In 1999, Yeo was signed as a minor league veteran by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the top affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the onset of their inaugural season, in what would eventually become the first of eleven years of service with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. After a serious knee injury ended his playing career after just 19 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Yeo accepted an offer to remain with the team by becoming an assistant to head coach Glenn Patrick, a position he continued to hold when Michel Therrien replaced Patrick in 2003.[3] Yeo was promoted along with Therrien in 2005 to the Pittsburgh Penguins as Therrien's assistant after the firing of Eddie Olczyk and his coaching staff.[4] With his primary responsibilities focused towards special teams, Yeo aided Therrien in laying the groundwork for the Penguins rebuild towards future successes, ending the franchise's six-year playoff absence in the 2006–07 season, and leading the Penguins to their second-highest points total in franchise history in 2007–08. Continuing to work as an assistant under Therrien's successor, Dan Bylsma, Yeo began to have health issues with his blood pressure and in one game "felt lightheaded and dizzy and had chest pain... [his] blood pressure was really high" although he persevered and helped the team to a Stanley Cup victory in 2009.[5]
On June 16, 2010, Yeo left the Penguins to take up the vacant head coach position at the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL), at that time the top AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, replacing Kevin Constantine. The season prior to Yeo's hiring, the Aeros finished in last place in the West Division with low expectations. However, the Aeros added several offensive players such as Robbie Earl, Patrick O'Sullivan and Jed Ortmeyer. Under Yeo, the revitalized roster improved massively, reaching the AHL Calder Cup Finals in Yeo's first year behind the bench.[6]
Yeo was announced as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild on June 17, 2011. The Wild under Yeo won their first game 4–2 at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Wild started the season 15–7–3, but failed to secure a winning record through each of the final five months of the season. The 2011–12 season marked a down-year for Yeo, as his team ranked last in number of goals scored in the NHL with a meagre 177 compared to the NHL average of 240. The team also did not make the playoffs, came third last in power play percentage, and were known for streaky play. The Wild tended to lose games in streaks, losing 32 out of 36 games in groups of two or more games. The team lost eight straight in December and seven straight in February effectively removing the Wild from playoff contention.[7]
During the 2012–13 season, Yeo accused the San Jose Sharks players of embellishing penalties, and had to call Todd McLellan to apologize.[8][9]
Early in the 2013–14 season, there were rumours that Yeo would lose his job. However, in the second half of the season, the Wild were able to make the playoffs for the second straight year. The Wild defeated the heavily favored Colorado Avalanche in seven games before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round. On May 31, 2014, Yeo was given a three-year contract extension with the Minnesota Wild.
During the 2014–15 season, there were again rumours that Yeo would lose his job. However, a mid-season trade for goalie Devan Dubnyk saved not only his job, but also the team's season. The team had a record of 18–19–5 prior to the trade and finished the season with a record of 46–28–8. The Wild qualified for the playoffs with a win at Chicago on April 7, 2015. They were then eliminated by Chicago in the playoffs for the third consecutive season, losing in four games and scoring only 7 goals the entire series.
With the hirings of Jeff Blashill by Detroit and John Hynes by New Jersey during the summer of 2015, Yeo was no longer the youngest head coach in the NHL, a title he had held for his first four seasons.[10]
On February 13, 2016, Yeo was fired as head coach of the Minnesota Wild, after losing 13 of his last 14 games as head coach.[11]
On June 13, 2016, he was named as the eventual successor to Ken Hitchcock as coach of the St. Louis Blues. He served as an assistant coach during the 2016–17 season and was to assume the head coach position beginning in the 2017–18 season.[1]
On February 1, 2017, Yeo was named as the head coach of the Blues after Ken Hitchcock was fired.[12] Yeo led a remarkable turn-around for the Blues in the second half of the season, going 22–8–2 and reaching the playoffs, where he defeated his former club Minnesota in the 1st round before bowing out to eventual Stanley Cup finalists Nashville Predators.
On November 19, 2018, the Blues fired Yeo and replaced him with Craig Berube who then coached the Blues to their first Stanley Cup Championship.[13][14]
On May 6, 2019, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that Yeo would assume an assistant coaching position under Alain Vigneault.[15] On December 6, 2021, Yeo was named the interim head coach of the Flyers following the firing of Vigneault.[16][17] Yeo was then fired by Philadelphia on May 3, 2022, after the conclusion of the 2021–22 season.[18]
On July 1, 2022, Yeo was hired as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks under Bruce Boudreau. On May 28, 2024, the Canucks and Yeo released a press statement that had mutually parted ways. [19]
Yeo was hired on June 4, 2024 as an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators.[20]
Personal life
editYeo and his wife Tanya have a daughter, Braeden and a son, Kyler.[21] He attended Widdifield Secondary School.[22]
Despite having a surname that is commonly associated with Asian culture, Yeo is not of Asian descent. He has stated that his surname was shortened from Yeomen by an early ancestor.[23]
Career player statistics
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1990–91 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 58 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 73 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 1991–92 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 43 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 60 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1992–93 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 24 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 1993–94 | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 65 | 34 | 32 | 66 | 53 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 4 | ||
| 1994–95 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 63 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 100 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1995–96 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 69 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 113 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1996–97 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 56 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 105 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 1997–98 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 72 | 20 | 21 | 41 | 128 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 57 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 100 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 19 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| OHL totals | 190 | 54 | 47 | 101 | 233 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 16 | ||||
| IHL totals | 317 | 55 | 72 | 127 | 511 | 25 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 15 | ||||
| AHL totals | 19 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | ||||
NHL coaching record
edit| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | OTL | Pts | Finish | W | L | W% | Result | ||
| MIN | 2011–12 | 82 | 35 | 36 | 11 | 81 | 4th in Northwest | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| MIN | 2012–13† | 48 | 26 | 19 | 3 | 55 | 2nd in Northwest | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost in first round (CHI) |
| MIN | 2013–14 | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | 4th in Central | 6 | 7 | .462 | Lost in second round (CHI) |
| MIN | 2014–15 | 82 | 46 | 28 | 8 | 100 | 4th in Central | 4 | 6 | .400 | Lost in second round (CHI) |
| MIN | 2015–16 | 55 | 23 | 22 | 10 | (56) | (fired) | — | — | — | — |
| MIN total | 349 | 173 | 132 | 44 | 390 | 11 | 17 | .393 | |||
| STL | 2016–17 | 32 | 22 | 8 | 2 | (46) | 3rd in Central | 6 | 5 | .545 | Lost in second round (NSH) |
| STL | 2017–18 | 82 | 44 | 32 | 6 | 94 | 5th in Central | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| STL | 2018–19 | 19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | (17) | (fired) | — | — | — | — |
| STL total | 133 | 73 | 49 | 11 | 157 | 6 | 5 | .545 | |||
| PHI | 2021–22 | 60 | 17 | 36 | 7 | (41) | 8th in Metropolitan | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
| PHI total | 60 | 17 | 36 | 7 | 41 | — | — | — | |||
| Total | 542 | 263 | 217 | 62 | 547 | 17 | 22 | .436 | |||
Notes:
- † Lockout-shortened season
References
edit- ^ a b Russo, Michael (June 13, 2016). "Mike Yeo will be St. Louis Blues head coach, but not until 2017-18 season". StarTribune.com. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ^ Graff, Chad (May 14, 2014). "Minnesota Wild: New deal coming for coach Mike Yeo". twincities.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ "PENGUINS NAME MIKE YEO PLAYER-ASSISTANT COACH". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. January 24, 2000. Archived from the original on April 12, 2000. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ Molinari, Dave (March 13, 2006). "Q&A with Mike Yeo". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ "Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo is rigidly true to his core values". October 7, 2011.
- ^ "WBS Penguins". Archived from the original on August 13, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ "2011-12 Minnesota Wild Schedule and Results - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com.
- ^ "NHL: Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo issues apology to Sharks". December 14, 2013.
- ^ "Wild land winger Setoguchi in trade with Sharks". ESPN.com. June 25, 2011.
- ^ Russo, Michael. "Russo: Wild updates on the eve of free agency". startribune.com. Star Tribune. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
- ^ "Minnesota Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo Relieved Of Coaching Duties". February 13, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
- ^ Pinkert, Chris (February 1, 2017). "Hitchcock relieved of duties, Yeo becomes head coach". NHL.com. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- ^ "Yeo relieved of duties, Berube named interim head coach". NHL.com. November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
- ^ "Yeo replaced by Berube as St. Louis Blues head coach". stltoday.com. St.Louis Post Dispatch. November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Flyers finalize 2019-20 Coaching Staff". NHL.com. May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- ^ Apody, Jamie (December 6, 2021). "Flyers fire head coach Alain Vigneault following 8 straight losses". 6abc Philadelphia. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ "Flyers relieve Alain Vigneault, Michel Therrien of duties". NHL.com. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Gulitti, Tom (May 3, 2022). "Yeo fired as coach of Flyers, was 17-36-7 after replacing Vigneault". NHL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Canucks round out coaching staff by hiring Mike Yeo, promoting Trent Cull | Offside". dailyhive.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Ottawa Senators (June 8, 2024). "Senators Round Out Coaching Staff" (Press release). Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Pinkert, Chris (March 9, 2017). "Yeo cheers on son in state tournament". NHL.com. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ Turl, Jeff (February 13, 2016). "North Bay's NHL coach fired". baytoday.com. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
Yeo attended Widdifield Secondary School and played for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL.
- ^ "Wild coach Mike Yeo talks, Bob Sansevere listens: 'I got a lot of Yay-Os growing up'". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. October 17, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database