Scott William Arniel (born September 17, 1962) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the head coach for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Previously, he was the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets and associate coach of the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets.

Scott Arniel
Arniel in 2006
Born (1962-09-17) September 17, 1962 (age 62)
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Winnipeg Jets
Buffalo Sabres
Boston Bruins
Current NHL coach Winnipeg Jets
Coached for Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL draft 22nd overall, 1981
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 1981–1999
Coaching career 1995–present

Playing career

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Junior career

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After entering the major junior ranks with the Kingston Canadians of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL) in 1978–79, Arniel switched to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League the next season to join the Cornwall Royals. Arniel played a pivotal role in the club's 1981 Memorial Cup championship with a hat trick in an 8–2 win over the Kitchener Rangers on May 10, 1981.[1]

Professional career

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That off-season, he was selected by the Winnipeg Jets 22nd overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft and immediately began playing for the team, making his NHL debut in 1981–82, appearing in 17 games. He was, however, returned to junior with the Royals, who had been realigned in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), later that season. The reassignment to junior allowed Arniel to play at the 1982 World Junior Championships, helping Team Canada to their first-ever gold medal at the tournament.

In 1982–83, Arniel joined the Jets full-time and recorded 18 points in his rookie season. He went on to play five seasons in his initial stint with the Jets, including a career-high 56-point campaign with the team in 1983–84. He joined the Buffalo Sabres in 1986–87, going on to play four seasons with Buffalo, before returning to the Jets in 1990–91.

After splitting the 1991–92 season between the Boston Bruins and the New Haven Nighthawks and Maine Mariners of the American Hockey League (AHL), Arniel played the remainder of his career in the minor leagues, spending time with the San Diego Gulls, Houston Aeros, Utah Grizzlies and Manitoba Moose of the International Hockey League (IHL). He retired following the 1998–99 season.

Coaching career

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Arniel began his coaching career as an assistant coach in 1995 while still playing for the Houston Aeros of the IHL as a mid-season replacement. After retiring as a player in 1999, he joined the coaching staff of the Manitoba Moose as an assistant. He held that position for three years until 2002 when he was named to the Buffalo Sabres' coaching staff as an assistant.

After four years with the Sabres, Arniel returned to the Moose as their new head coach when he was hired by their parent club, the Vancouver Canucks. Arniel led the team to the league's best regular season record in 2008–09 and a berth in the Calder Cup finals, earning him the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as coach of the year.

Arniel returned to the National Hockey League as a head coach in 2010, when he was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets.[2] Arniel replaced interim coach Claude Noël, who coincidentally was hired as his replacement in Manitoba. After only one and a half seasons behind the Blue Jackets' bench, Arniel was fired in January 2012.[3]

In June 2012, the Canucks rehired Arniel to coach the Chicago Wolves, their new AHL affiliate.[4] In the summer of 2013, Arniel left the Canucks organization, along with head coach Alain Vigneault, to join the New York Rangers.[5] On April 7, 2018, Arniel was fired along with head coach Alain Vigneault and assistant coach Darryl Williams.[6] On August 6, 2018, reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Washington Capitals, hired Arniel as an assistant coach to replace Lane Lambert.[7]

On May 24, 2024, Arniel was named head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, replacing Rick Bowness.[8][9]

Personal life

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Arniel was inducted into the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame on May 2, 2008.[10] Arniel and his wife Lia have two children and make their home in Winnipeg during the off-season.[citation needed]

He has a nephew, Jamie Arniel, who has been drafted into the NHL by the Boston Bruins and played one game for the team during the 2010–11 NHL season.

Awards

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Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1978–79 Kingston Canadians OMJHL 3 0 1 1 0
1979–80 Cornwall Royals OMJHL 61 22 28 50 49 18 6 6 12 24
1980–81 Cornwall Royals OHL 68 52 71 123 102 19 14 19 33 24
1981–82 Cornwall Royals OHL 24 18 26 44 43
1981–82 Winnipeg Jets NHL 17 1 8 9 14 3 0 0 0 0
1982–83 Winnipeg Jets NHL 75 13 5 18 46 2 0 0 0 0
1983–84 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80 21 35 56 68 2 0 0 0 5
1984–85 Winnipeg Jets NHL 79 22 22 44 81 8 1 2 3 9
1985–86 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80 18 25 43 40 3 0 0 0 12
1986–87 Buffalo Sabres NHL 63 11 14 25 59
1987–88 Buffalo Sabres NHL 73 17 23 40 61 6 0 1 1 5
1988–89 Buffalo Sabres NHL 80 18 23 41 46 5 1 0 1 4
1989–90 Buffalo Sabres NHL 79 18 14 32 77 5 1 0 1 4
1990–91 Winnipeg Jets NHL 75 5 17 22 87
1991–92 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 11 3 3 6 10
1991–92 Boston Bruins NHL 29 5 3 8 20
1991–92 Maine Mariners AHL 14 4 4 8 8
1992–93 San Diego Gulls IHL 79 35 48 83 116 14 6 5 11 16
1993–94 San Diego Gulls IHL 79 34 43 77 121 7 6 3 9 24
1994–95 Houston Aeros IHL 72 37 40 77 102 4 1 0 1 10
1995–96 Houston Aeros IHL 64 18 28 46 94
1995–96 Utah Grizzlies IHL 14 3 3 6 29 22 10 7 17 28
1996–97 Manitoba Moose IHL 73 23 27 50 67
1997–98 Manitoba Moose IHL 79 28 42 70 84 3 1 0 1 10
1998–99 Manitoba Moose IHL 70 16 35 51 82 5 1 2 3 0
NHL totals 730 149 189 338 599 34 3 3 6 39
IHL totals 530 194 266 460 695 55 25 17 42 88

International

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Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1981 Canada WJC 5 3 1 4 4
1982 Canada WJC 7 5 6 11 4
Junior totals 12 8 7 15 8

Head coaching record

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Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L OTL Pts Finish Result
CBJ 2010–11 82 34 35 13 81 4th in Central Missed playoffs
CBJ 2011–12 41 11 25 5 (27) (fired)
Total 123 45 60 18      
Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L OTL Pts Finish Result
MTB 2006–07 80 45 23 12 102 1st in North Lost in second round
MTB 2007–08 80 46 27 7 99 3rd in North Lost in first round
MTB 2008–09 80 50 23 7 107 1st in North Lost in Calder Cup Finals
MTB 2009–10 80 40 33 7 87 4th in North Lost in first round
CHI 2012–13 76 37 30 9 83 4th in Midwest Did not qualify
Total 396 218 136 42     4 playoff appearances

References

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  1. ^ "Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame". www.kdshf.ca. Archived from the original on August 27, 2011.
  2. ^ "Scott Arniel to be named Blue Jackets' head coach". The Sports Network. June 7, 2010.
  3. ^ "Blue Jackets Fire Coach Arniel". The Sports Network. January 9, 2012.
  4. ^ "Canucks hire Arniel for AHL coaching job". NHL.com. June 26, 2012.
  5. ^ "Report: Scott Arniel expected to join Rangers coaching staff". NBC Sports.
  6. ^ "Rangers GM Jeff Gorton also fires Scott Arniel and Darryl Williams, looking for 'fresh' coach after Alain Vigneault". NY Daily News. April 9, 2018.
  7. ^ "Capitals hire Arniel, Cashman as assistant coaches". Globe and Mail. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  8. ^ "Scott Arniel appointed Winnipeg Jets head coach". NHL.com. May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  9. ^ "Arniel hired as coach of Jets, replaces retired Bowness". NHL.com. May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Kingston Whig-Standard, May 3, 2008.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets
2010–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head coach of the Winnipeg Jets
2024–present
Incumbent