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| The Devils have have made the playoffs in all but two of Lamoriello's 20 seasons as GM. (Paul Bereswill/HHOF) |
Born October 21, 1942, Lou Lamoriello was revered for his sporting acumen long before he joined the National Hockey League.
Even as a boy, Lou Lamoriello was close to hockey. His father owned a restaurant in Providence, and the local Providence Reds, an American Hockey League team, converged on the eatery after most home games. Young Lou got to know the players well, including the team's goaltender, Johnny Bower.
Lamoriello attended Providence College and captained both the hockey and baseball teams while there. He discovered his calling when, upon graduation, he stayed on at the college as an assistant coach of the men's hockey and baseball teams. Four years later, he was named head coach of the hockey team at his alma mater, and served in that role until 1987. Beginning in 1982, he also served as the school's athletic director.
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| Lamoriello has been with the New Jersey Devils since 1987.(Paul Bereswill/HHOF) |
A born organizer, Lou served as a member of the Big East Conference Television Committee and NCAA Professional Sports Committee and was one of the founders of the Hockey East Association, serving as Commissioner from 1983 to 1987. In fact, Lou did such a wonderful job that beginning in 1989, teams winning Hockey East's championship are awarded the Lamoriello Cup.
In April 1987, Lamoriello was hired as President of the New Jersey Devils and, shortly afterwards, appointed himself General Manager, a position he has held ever since, making him the longest serving General Manager with a single franchise in the National Hockey League.
His successes abound. In his first season as General Manager, the Devils recorded their first winning season in the history of the franchise, which dated back to their inaugural season as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974-75 and a later incarnation as the Colorado Rockies in 1976-77. The Devils reached the Wales Conference final that spring. Since then, the Devils have reached the post-season in all but two seasons. They have won the Prince of Wales Trophy as Eastern Conference champions in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003, and captured the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000 and 2003.
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| Lamoriello is the architect of three Stanley Cup Championship teams. (1995, 2000 & 2003).(Scott Veber/HHOF) |
In overseeing the organization, Lamoriello can add another championship to his impressive hockey resume. In 1995, the Albany River Rats, New Jersey's AHL partner, won the Calder Cup championship.
On two occasions, Lou has assumed the role of Head Coach of the Devils — once from December 19, 2005 through the 2006 playoffs, then again from April 2, 2007 through the 2007 playoffs.
In 1996, Lamoriello served as General Manager for Team USA at the World Cup of Hockey. He was also General Manager of Team USA at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.
Lamoriello's accomplishments have earned him a number of prestigious awards, including induction into the Providence College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982, recipient of the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1992, winner of the 2000 Unico National Vince Lombardi Award for Professional Sports Achievement, he received an Honourary Doctorate Degree from Providence College in 2001, was inducted into the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in May 2003 and was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame and the LaSalle Academy (Rhode Island) Hall of Fame in 2004.
A veteran member of the NHL Board of Governor's Executive Committee and a member of the General Managers' Steering Committee, Lou played an integral role in negotiating the settlement of the 2004-05 NHL Lock-Out.
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