| Joe Crozier | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Crozier in 1973 | |||
| Born |
February 19, 1929 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | ||
| Died |
October 11, 2022 (aged 93) Williamsville, New York, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Playing career | 1949–1961 | ||
Joseph Richard Crozier (February 19, 1929 – October 11, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and head coach who played and coached primarily in the minor leagues. After playing the better part of 12 seasons in the minor leagues with the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Senior Hockey League, which included a five-game stint in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Crozier retired in 1961 and became a head coach for 22 years, beginning in 1963. He had also previously been a player-coach for the Aces in 1957–58.
As a head coach in several leagues, Crozier was a three-time Calder Cup champion with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League, a two-time Lester Patrick Cup championship with the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League, and a Memorial Cup champion with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. During his coaching career, he also made brief appearances in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres for 2+1⁄2 seasons and the Maple Leafs from the end of 1979–80 to the first half of 1980–81.
In 1985, Crozier was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame for his efforts, then once again in 2007 as part of a team induction of the Memorial Cup-runners-up 1948–49 Brandon Wheat Kings.[1] Crozier was the father of the professional hockey player, Greg Crozier.
- ^ "Crozier inducted to Manitoba Hall of Fame". Buffalo Sabres. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2008.