Sheldon Keefe is a former professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL). Keefe began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he played from 1998 to 2000. During his time with the Greyhounds, Keefe was a prolific scorer, recording 121 goals and 291 points in just 125 games.
In 1999, Keefe was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft. He played in the Lightning's minor league system for several years before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 2003. Keefe played in the Canucks' minor league system for two seasons before retiring from professional hockey in 2005.
After retiring from playing, Keefe began his coaching career. He started as an assistant coach with the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Junior A Hockey League (CJHL) in 2006. In 2012, Keefe was hired as the head coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, the same team he played for in the OHL. Keefe led the Greyhounds to a successful season in his first year as head coach, and he was named the OHL Coach of the Year.
In 2015, Keefe was hired as the head coach of the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Keefe had a successful tenure with the Marlies, leading the team to a Calder Cup championship in 2018. Keefe's success with the Marlies caught the attention of the Maple Leafs, and in 2019 he was hired as the team's head coach.
Since taking over as head coach of the Maple Leafs, Keefe has led the team to several successful seasons. In his first full season as head coach, the Maple Leafs finished first in the North Division and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Keefe has been praised for his ability to develop young players and his innovative coaching style.
Overall, Sheldon Keefe has had a successful career in hockey, both as a player and a coach. He was a prolific scorer in the OHL and played in the NHL's minor league system for several years. As a coach, Keefe has had success at both the junior and professional levels, and he is considered one of the top young coaches in the NHL today.
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