Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness is retiring

Winnipeg Airplanes head coach Rick Bowness Announced his retirement after 38 seasons in the NHL.

Bowness, 69, coached the Jets for two seasons and led the team to a 98-57-9 record during his tenure, including two Stanley Cup playoff appearances.

Bowness has served as a coach for eight different franchises and has been behind the bench in 17 playoff games, including a trip to the Finals as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks in 2011, an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015 and as a Dallas Stars. Head coach in 2020.

Bowness was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, which recognizes the top coach in the NHL.

“The coaches always told me … they always said you know when it's time,” Bowness said Monday. “That's when it hit me: It's time.”

He has coached eight different franchises and has been behind the bench in 17 playoff appearances, including as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks in 2011 and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015. Head coach of the Dallas Stars in 2020.

“When I'm gone, I just want to be remembered,” Bowness told reporters at a news conference in Winnipeg, fighting back tears. “I love the game, I respect the game. I love this league. I respect the league.”

Health issues for himself and his wife, Judy, played a major role in his decision, which came after a five-game losing streak to Colorado. In the end, Bowness did well enough the rest of the season to become a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year for leading the Jets to a franchise-record 52 wins and their second straight postseason appearance. so many seasons at work.

Bowness is one of three head coaches Scotty Bowman and Pat Quinn — serving behind the bench in five different decades. His 2,726 games as an NHL coach are the most in league history.

Watch Monday's press conference:

— With Canadian Press files