Fred Creighton

Who is Fred Creighton?

Fred Creighton was a Canadian ice hockey centre and coach. Creighton is best known for his time as an NHL head coach.

Creighton grew up in rural Manitoba. After completing his journey hockey career, he played in a variety of minor leagues between 1951 and 1964. He served as an assistant and later the head coach of the Charlotte Checkers of the Eastern Hockey League. He led the team from behind the bench for two years, guiding the club to two Walker Cup Titles in 1970-1971 and 1971-1972. Creighton then coached the Atlanta Flames from 1975 to 1979, making the playoffs in his final four seasons as coach but losing in the first round of each year's postseason. Creighton was hired as coach of the Boston Bruins in the 1980, but failed to mesh with powerful GM and former coach Harry Sinden, who fired Creighton with 15 days left in the regular season. Creighton was then hired to coach the Springfield Indians, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, a role he held until 1986.

After retirement, Creighton became a franchisee for Little Caesars pizza. He died in 2011 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.