Davis Payne is a former professional ice hockey player and coach. He began his career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Spokane Chiefs and later played for the International Hockey League (IHL) with the San Diego Gulls and the Peoria Rivermen. Payne also played briefly in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators.
After retiring as a player, Payne began his coaching career in the minor leagues. He served as an assistant coach for the Peoria Rivermen and the Alaska Aces before being promoted to head coach of the Rivermen in 2005. Payne led the Rivermen to the playoffs in each of his three seasons as head coach and was named the AHL Coach of the Year in 2008.
In 2009, Payne was hired as an assistant coach for the NHL's St. Louis Blues. He was promoted to head coach midway through the 2009-2010 season and led the Blues to the playoffs in his first full season as head coach. Payne was fired by the Blues in November 2011 after a slow start to the season.
After leaving the Blues, Payne served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Kings and the Buffalo Sabres. He also coached in the KHL with Dinamo Riga and in the German DEL with the EHC Red Bull München.
Overall, Payne had a successful coaching career in both the minor leagues and the NHL. He was known for his ability to develop young players and his attention to detail on the defensive side of the game. While his tenure as head coach of the Blues was short-lived, he left a lasting impact on the organization and helped lay the foundation for their future success.
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