John Gruden is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a forward in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams. He was born on August 4, 1967, in Virginia, Minnesota, and began his hockey career in the early 1980s.
Gruden played junior hockey for the North Iowa Huskies and the Dubuque Fighting Saints before being drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Bruins in the 1989-90 season and played for them for two seasons before being traded to the Ottawa Senators.
Gruden played for the Senators for two seasons before being traded to the Washington Capitals, where he played for one season. He then played for the Tampa Bay Lightning for two seasons before being traded to the New York Rangers.
Gruden played for the Rangers for one season before being traded to the Boston Bruins, where he played for one season before being traded back to the Ottawa Senators. He played for the Senators for one season before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he played for one season before retiring from professional hockey.
Throughout his NHL career, Gruden played in a total of 92 games, scoring 10 goals and 12 assists for a total of 22 points. He also played in several minor leagues, including the American Hockey League (AHL) and the International Hockey League (IHL).
After retiring from professional hockey, Gruden became a coach and has coached several teams in the minor leagues, including the Muskegon Fury, the Flint Generals, and the Orlando Solar Bears. He also coached the United States National Under-18 Team and the United States National Junior Team.
In 2018, Gruden was hired as the head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In his first season as head coach, he led the Bulldogs to the OHL championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup tournament.
Overall, John Gruden had a successful hockey career as a player and has continued to have success as a coach. He is known for his dedication to the sport and his ability to motivate and inspire his players.
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