|
Mike Sullivan is in his second season at the helm of the Boston Bruins, after being named the 26th head coach in the team's 80-year history on June 23, 2003. Sullivan began his coaching career when he was named the seventh head coach in Providence Bruins history on July 29, 2002. Under his watch, Providence captured its third division title as the Bruins won the North Division with a 44-20-11-5 record and 104 points last season. They ranked third overall in the AHL in offense with 268 goals and were the only team in the league with six 20-goal scorers. The club also established a new franchise record with a 19-game home unbeaten streak from Dec. 6-Feb. 23 at 16-0-3-0. Sullivan's record behind the Providence bench was 41-17-9-4 through March 20, when he was promoted to Boston as an assistant coach under current Vice President and General Manager Mike O'Connell. Boston went 3-3-3-0 in the nine remaining regular season games before being eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils in five games during the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Sullivan returned to Providence following the NHL playoffs and was behind the bench for the final three games of Providence's four-game series loss to Manitoba in the AHL playoffs.
On August 31st, 2005 Sullivan was named Assistant Coach for the 2006 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team who will be competing at the Olympic Winders Games in Torino, Italy, February 15 - 26th.
Sullivan, a native of Marshfield, Mass., played four seasons of college hockey at Boston University from 1986-87 through 1989-90. The center scored 61 goals and 77 assists for 138 points and 104 penalty minutes in 141 career college games and was captain of the Terriers as a senior. He was drafted by the New York Rangers as their fourth pick, 69th overall, in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, but never signed with the Rangers. He turned professional in 1990, playing the 1990-91 season with San Diego of the International Hockey League under the tutelage of O'Connell. Sullivan signed with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent in August 1991, beginning his 11-year NHL career. He played two-plus seasons with the Sharks before going to Calgary in January 1994, where he played the next three-plus seasons with the Flames. During his time in Calgary, he recorded his best offensive season with nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points over 81 games in 1995-96. He was traded to his hometown Bruins in June 1997 and played one season in Boston, scoring five goals and 13 assists for 18 points and 34 penalty minutes in 77 games during 1997-98. Sullivan was claimed by Nashville in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft, but was traded to Phoenix on June 30, 1998 and played his final four NHL seasons with the Coyotes until his retirement as a player following the 2001-02 season. His career NHL playing totals were 54 goals and 82 assists for 136 points with 203 penalty minutes in 709 games.
Sullivan and his wife, Kate, have three children, daughters Kaitlin and Kiley and son Matthew.
| 