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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Sports Desk • Hockey

Craig Berube

Craig Berube is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach known for his physical style as an NHL enforcer and for later becoming a Stanley Cup-winning head coach.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Craig Berube is a Canadian former NHL enforcer and current head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He won the Stanley Cup as interim coach of the St. Louis Blues in 2019.

Playing career

Berube played 1,054 NHL regular-season games between 1986 and 2003, primarily as an enforcer. He suited up for five teams — the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals and New York Islanders — and racked up 3,149 penalty minutes, one of the highest totals in league history.

Coaching career

After retiring, Berube worked his way up through the AHL and NHL coaching ranks. He took over as interim head coach of the St. Louis Blues in 2018 and led the team to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2019. In 2024, he was named head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Style and reputation

Berube was known as a physical, tough player who embraced the enforcer role. His nickname was 'Chief.' That same grit and leadership carried into his coaching career, earning respect across the league.

In short

  • Played 1,054 NHL games over 17 seasons as an enforcer.
  • Led the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup title in 2019 as interim head coach.
  • Named head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024.
  • Accumulated 3,149 penalty minutes, among the highest in NHL history.
Canadian angle

Berube is Canadian, born in Calahoo, Alberta, and is a notable figure in Canadian hockey as both a former NHL player and a Stanley Cup-winning coach.

Quick questions

Who is Craig Berube?
Craig Berube is a Canadian former NHL player and coach best known for his physical playing style and for coaching the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup in 2019.
Did Craig Berube win the Stanley Cup as a coach?
Yes. He coached the St. Louis Blues to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2019.
What is Craig Berube’s connection to the Toronto Maple Leafs?
He was named head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Berube
    Supports: Career span, NHL games played, penalty minutes, playing role, and post-playing coaching career
  2. Hockey-Reference — https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/berubcr01.html
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, height, weight, career totals, and last NHL season
  3. Flyers Alumni — https://flyersalumni.net/craig-berube/
    Supports: Playing position, teams, games played, penalty minutes, and biography details
  4. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-name-craig-berube-head-coach
    Supports: Appointment as Toronto Maple Leafs head coach and prior coaching background
  5. The Hockey Writers — https://thehockeywriters.com/docs/craig-berube/
    Supports: Nickname, coaching roles, and Stanley Cup championship with St. Louis Blues