“Thanks for everything Coach!!” –  Fans react as Jets head coach Rick Bowness RETIRES after 38 years in NHL

Jack Adams Award finalist Rick Bowness, retires from the NHL after 38 years coaching ice hockey players; his last career days being with the Winnipeg Jets.

“Thanks for everything Coach!!” –  Fans react as Jets head coach Rick Bowness RETIRES after 38 years in NHL

Rick Bowness [Image Credit: theScore]

Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness retired from the NHL on Monday after enjoying a successful career of over 38 years of coaching career on the ice. The announcement came after the Colorado Avalanche wiped the Jets from the 2024 playoff series in a 6-3 fashion.

His final game came to a closure at Canada Life Centre in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round on 30 April. He leaves the Jets after improving the team with 15 points from last season, acquiring a record of 52-24-6 to a 2nd finish in the Central Division.

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Rick Bowness also became the Jack Adams Award finalist for the first time. The award is given to the National Hockey League coach of the year. He along with Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette, and Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet were the favorites for the award nomination.

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His coaching career began with the Jets as an assistant during the 1984-85 season after playing 173 NHL games with the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Blues, and Jets. Apart from the Winnipeg Jets, he also coached several NHL teams like – Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, NY Islanders, Dallas Stars, and Phoenix Coyotes.

NHL world reacts to Rick Bowness retirement

Rick Bowness has been an enormous force for the Winnipeg Jets’ success, and also for the team going into Stanley Cup playoffs a couple of times. Working with eight different franchises, Bowness enjoyed behind the bench appearance for 17 times in the playoff series.

Rick Bowness [Image Credit: Sportsnet]
Rick Bowness [Image Credit: Sportsnet]

Furthermore, it is reported that his 2,726 games as an NHL coach are the highest by anyone in the league. Fans congratulated the 69-year-old on social media platforms and wished him the best of luck for a new chapter in life. One X user noted, “Thanks for everything Coach!! Enjoy retirement!”

The Jets will have to find a full-time coach before the 2024-25 regular season games begin. Currently, they are one of the three NHL teams to not have a full-time coach after Bowness’s retirement.

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