Jack Capuano is a former professional ice hockey player and coach. He was born on August 7, 1966, in Cranston, Rhode Island. Capuano began his hockey career as a defenseman for the University of Maine Black Bears in 1984. He played for the team until 1987, during which time he helped them win the NCAA Division I championship in 1987.
After college, Capuano played for several minor league teams, including the Knoxville Cherokees, the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds, and the Hampton Roads Admirals. He also played briefly in the International Hockey League for the San Diego Gulls.
In 1991, Capuano retired from playing and began his coaching career. He started as an assistant coach for the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). He then moved on to become the head coach of the Pee Dee Pride, also of the ECHL, in 1997. Capuano led the team to the Kelly Cup championship in 1999.
In 2000, Capuano became an assistant coach for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was promoted to head coach in 2005 and led the team to the playoffs in each of his three seasons as head coach.
In 2010, Capuano was named an assistant coach for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was promoted to interim head coach in November 2010 after the team fired Scott Gordon. Capuano led the Islanders to a 26-29-10 record for the remainder of the season.
Capuano was named the permanent head coach of the Islanders in April 2011. He led the team to the playoffs in three of his first four seasons as head coach, including a trip to the second round in 2016. Capuano was fired by the Islanders in January 2017 after the team got off to a slow start to the season.
In addition to his coaching career, Capuano has also been involved in USA Hockey. He served as an assistant coach for the United States men's national team at the 2011 IIHF World Championship and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Overall, Capuano had a successful career as both a player and coach in the world of ice hockey. He is known for his strong leadership skills and ability to motivate his players.
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