Wayne Fleming dies, was 'tremendous coach, wonderful man'
Wayne Fleming dies: Fleming spent 14 seasons in the NHL as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Wayne Fleming looks on during practice for the team's first round NHL playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Tampa, Fla, in 2011. Fleming, a longtime NHL assistant coach died Monday, March 25, 2013, in Calgary, Alberta, Hockey Canada said. He was 62.
Chris O'Meara/AP/File
TORONTO
Longtime NHL assistant coach Wayne Fleming has died. He was 62.
Hockey Canada said Fleming died Monday in Calgary, Alberta, after a battle with brain cancer.
"Hockey Canada has lost a great friend, and the hockey world has lost not only a tremendous coach, but a wonderful man," said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. "We send our condolences toWayne's wife, Carolyn, their four children and the rest of the Fleming family."
Fleming spent 14 seasons in the NHL as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning. He also coached internationally, including stints as head coach of Leksand in Sweden, EV Landshut in Germany and Avangard Omsk in Russia.
"Thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Fleming family," Lightning star Steven Stamkos tweeted. "Waynewas a great coach and even better man."
Fleming was part of three Olympic coaching staffs for Canada, winning a silver medal in Albertville in 1992 and a gold medal in Salt Lake City in 2002. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native also spent nine years as head coach of the University of Manitoba.