Tom Webster was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach who had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on October 4, 1948, in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada. Webster began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) with the Kitchener Rangers in 1965. He played for the Rangers for three seasons and was a key player in their Memorial Cup championship win in 1968.
In 1969, Webster was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the second round of the NHL Amateur Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Bruins in the 1969-70 season and played for them for three seasons. Webster was then traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1972, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the California Golden Seals in 1974. He played for the Seals for one season before being traded to the New York Rangers in 1975.
Webster played for the Rangers for two seasons before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1977. He played for the Penguins for one season before being traded back to the Red Wings in 1978. Webster played for the Red Wings for one more season before retiring as a player in 1980.
After retiring as a player, Webster became a coach. He began his coaching career in the minor leagues before being hired as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Kings in 1984. Webster was promoted to head coach of the Kings in 1987 and led them to the playoffs in his first season as head coach. He coached the Kings for three seasons before being fired in 1990.
Webster then became the head coach of the New York Rangers for the 1990-91 season. He coached the Rangers for one season before being fired. Webster then became the head coach of the Los Angeles Blades of the International Hockey League (IHL) for the 1991-92 season.
Webster's coaching career was cut short due to health issues. He suffered a stroke in 1993 and was forced to retire from coaching. Webster passed away on April 10, 2020, at the age of 71.
Throughout his career, Webster was known for his toughness and his ability to score goals. He scored 210 goals and 394 points in 774 NHL games. As a coach, Webster was known for his ability to motivate his players and get the best out of them. He was a respected figure in the hockey world and will be remembered for his contributions to the sport.
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