Houda gets his name on the Cup

Doug Houda played his first NHL game as a young defenseman way back during the 1985-86 season with the Detroit Red Wings. He was a journeyman who played with seven different NHL teams during his 18-year professional career, including two separate stints with both the Detroit Red Wings and the Buffalo Sabres. Known for his rugged physical play and willingness to drop the gloves, Houda spent the last five years of his career playing mostly in the American Hockey League with an occasional call up to a parent-club when injuries gave him the opportunity to crack an NHL roster.

I remember Doug Houda mostly from his days with the Buffalo Sabres and also from the Hartford Whalers when they waged epic battles against Buffalo. Houda was always one of the tough guys; never hesitating to go toe-to-toe against an opposing enforcer in an effort to stand-up for a teammate, gain momentum for his team, or rectify an injustice done to his goaltender. Doug Houda was a follower of "The Code"; the unspoken code of conduct for fighting in the game of hockey, allowing the players to police themselves and making certain that each player is held responsible for his own actions. During his career, Houda squared-off with the likes of Tie Domi, Rob Ray, Ken Baumgartner, Brad May, Jeff Odgers, Shawn Antoski and many more.

Following Houda's retirement as an active player in 2003, he stepped into the role of assistant coach with the Rochester Americans of the AHL. Houda had already served as the Amerks captain during his final season of professional hockey, and was already the respected leader of the team (he played in 77-games that year with the team at the age of 36 and racked-up 191-penalty minutes). It is clear that the respect that Houda garnered during his playing career immediately carried on into the coaching life afterward. At that late age in his career and playing on a team of teenagers and twentysomethings, it was the perfect decision to bring him onboard as a coach for the team upon his retirement.

Success and recognition for his abilities continued to carry Houda back onto the "big stage" in the NHL only a short time later. In the summer of 2006, Houda was hired as an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins. Since that time time, Boston has been known for possessing one of the most intimidating and effective defenses in the game today. The 2006-07 season would also mark the first season that Bruins' captain, all-star defenseman and eventual Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara would join the team, and the success of the Bruins and their defense would just continue from there. Minus the scoring touch, Houda personified during his playing career the style of play that Chara brings to the table; tough, rugged, no-nonsense hockey. With Chara merely being the biggest name on the Bruins backend, Boston, with help from Houda's coaching, have developed some of the NHL's more highly touted defensemen like Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference, Johnny Boychuk and Adam McQuaid.

Hard-work, determination and overcoming from previous seasons of heartache and failure would pay off this past spring, as the Boston Bruins hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972. Becoming champions is a developmental process, and with their team captain and premier defenseman Chara and assistant coach Houda both arriving at the same time, the Bruins were able to ensure that the key members for growing their defense were all on the same page and that this defense was fostered into becoming the corps needed to win the Stanley Cup. The integral role that Houda played in helping to orchestrate last season's championship run can be seen on the faces of each of the Bruins defensemen, most notably their captain as he received and hoisted the Cup for the first time.

There is no question that the tenacity and leadership that Houda displayed during his career enabled him to become a great teacher of the game for young players and have shown that he has always maintained a desire to win and compete, which he can impart to others. Finally, after many years of playing the game, and at times literally fighting to win and rally his team, and then now after continued success each season with coaching, Doug Houda is able to raise Lord Stanley's Cup himself and have his named inscribed upon hockey's most prestigious trophy where it shall remain forever. After 18-years as a player, 561-games in the NHL (plus 18 more in the playoffs), along with 1104 penalty-minutes, it is nice to see that hard work has more than paid off for Doug Houda. I am certain that he and the Bruins shall have continued success, and that Houda especially will contine to blossom in his coaching career that will likely land him a head coaching job someday in the NHL.