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FRISCO, Texas– Dallas Stars CEO Jim Nile today announced the discontinuation of Peter DeBoer as the team’s head coach. DeBoer becomes the 25th head coach in franchise history and the 10th in Dallas Stars history.
“Pete brings a wealth of experience to our dressing room and we’re thrilled to name him our next head coach,” said Nill. “Every team he’s taken on has not only improved immediately, but has been extremely competitive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In his 14 years as head coach, he has led five teams to conference finals and two of them to the Stanley Cup finals. His CV shows the high standards he sets and his ability to get his team to play at that level consistently. We are excited to welcome Pete and his family to Dallas.”
DeBoer, 54, comes to the Stars after serving portions of three seasons as the head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights. DeBoer was hired midway through the 2019-20 season, posting a 15-5-2 record in 22 regular-season games and leading the Golden Knights to the 2020 Western Conference Finals against the Stars. During his time at Vegas, DeBoer hit a record 98-50-12 in 160 regular-season contests with a .650 point percentage. He led Vegas into the postseason in two of his three campaigns with the club, averaging a 22–17 record in 39 postseason games and reaching the semifinals in both the 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“Over the past few seasons, I’ve seen firsthand what the stars are building with a mix of dynamic young players and established leaders,” said DeBoer. “The chance to become the next head coach of this team was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I want to thank you for that Tom Gaglardi and Jim Nill for the chance to help this team work together to bring another Stanley Cup to Dallas.”
A native of Dunnville, Ontario, he owns a record of 513-379-123 in 1,015 games coached in 14 NHL seasons with Vegas, San Jose, New Jersey and Florida. Since joining the league in 2008–09, DeBoer has ranked sixth in wins and second in games coached. In the postseason, DeBoer has led three different franchises to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and reached the Stanley Cup Finals twice, first with New Jersey (2012) and then with San Jose (2016). He owns a record of 68-55 in 123 postseason contests and as of 2008-09 has ranked fifth in playoff wins and playoff games as a coach. During the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, DeBoer became the first coach in league history to win his first five Game 7 appearances and boast a record 6-0 in Game 7 games.
Prior to his Vegas stint, DeBoer served as San Jose head coach for five seasons (2015-19) and had a record of 198-129-34 in 361 regular-season games. He qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in four of his five seasons with the Sharks and helped lead the team to its first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in franchise history in the 2015-16 season. DeBoer spent four seasons (2011-14) as New Jersey banker, averaging a record of 114-93-41 in 248 regular-season contests and reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season with the club in 2011-12. Additionally, he served as Florida head coach for three seasons (2008-11), posting a 103-107-36 mark in 246 regular-season games.
His extensive head coaching career includes 13 seasons behind the bench in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he won the 2003 Memorial Cup championship and two OHL championships (2003, 2008) with Kitchener. DeBoer won OHL Coach of the Year awards with Plymouth in 1999 and 2000 and won the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Coach of the Year award in 2000. He is one of eight coaches in OHL history to reach the 500-win plateau (539). and ranks eighth all-time in OHL wins.
DeBoer has represented Team Canada on the international stage on several occasions, winning gold medals for his country at the 2015 IIHF World Championship and the 2005 World Junior Championship. He has served on the coaching staff of four IIHF World Championships (2010, 2011, 2014, 2015), two World Junior Championships (1998, 2005) and the 2007 Canada-Russia Super Series.
Prior to his coaching career, he was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 12th round (237th overall) of the 1988 NHL Draft and played two seasons of professional hockey with the Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League (IHL).
DeBoer and his wife, Susan, have a daughter, Abigail, and two sons, Jack and Matthew.
