BIRTHPLACE: South Boston, Mass.

BORN: July 9, 1943

DIED: May 10, 2002

TEAMS/ASSOCIATIONS: Boston College, U.S. National Team, U.S. Olympic Team, Boston Bruins, Hartford Whalers, New Jersey Devils, Albany River Rats

As a player and coach, John Cunniff made many outstanding contributions to the game of hockey in the United States.  Cunniff was a two-time All-American Forward at Boston College in 1965 and 1966.  In addition, he was a two-time All-East Team selection in 1964 and 1965, as well as a three-time All-New England Team pick in 1964, 1965 and 1966.  Cunniff was also named MVP of the Beanpot Tournament in both 1964 and 1965.  In international competition, Cunniff was a member of the 1967 U.S. Men’s National Team and the 1968 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, which competed in Grenoble, France.

Cunniff’s involvement with professional hockey included coaching positions with the Boston Bruins, Hartford Whalers, and 13 seasons with the New Jersey Devils — where, in 1990 and 1991, he guided the team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Later, as coach of the Albany River Rats, Cunniff led his team to four consecutive AHL Calder Cup Playoffs appearances and two conference finals in 1997 and 1998.

Cunniff’s extensive experience with USA Hockey includes serving as associate coach during the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway; assistant coach for the 1998 U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team in Nagano, Japan; and assistant coach for the 2002 U.S, Olympic Men’s Team in Salt Lake City, Utah.  He also served as an assistant coach on four U.S, National teams in 1982, 1991, 1992, as well as at the 1993 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men’s World Championships.  Additionally, he was an assistant on two U.S. National Junior Teams in 1992 and 1993, and was an assistant for the U.S. team that captured the World Cup of Hockey Championship in 1996.

Among his many coaching honors and accolades, Cunniff was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997; in 1998 he was given the Walter Yaciuk Award for his contributions to USA Hockey’s coaching education program; and in 2002 he received the USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award.

Cunniff, who tragically passed away on May 9, 2002, had four children: Christopher, Patrice, Paula and David, as well as seven grandchildren.