Larry Mavety, longtime junior hockey executive, dies at 78
KINGSTON, Ontario (AP) - Larry Mavety, a longtime junior hockey executive who once coached former NHL star Doug Gilmour, has died. He was 78.
The Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League on Friday confirmed his death on Twitter.
'œWhat stands out in my mind is how he took care of his players,'ť OHL Commissioner David Branch said in a statement.
After playing in the minor pro ranks, Mavety entered coaching with the Belleville Bulls in 1979. He guided the Bulls to the national Tier II junior A final in 1981 before the team jumped to the OHL in 1982.
Gilmour, a center who spent 20 seasons in the NHL with seven teams, played for Mavety at Belleville.
'œThe hockey world has lost a great man,'ť Gilmour wrote on Twitter. 'œMav was my coach, my GM and a friend. ... Thanks for giving me a chance.'ť
Mavety remained with the Bulls through 1988 before joining the then-Kingston Raiders. He returned to Belleville in 1990 and then went back to Kingston as general manager and coach in 1997. He would later hire Gilmour as coach; Gilmour replaced him as GM in 2011.
Mavety had a small role in the classic sports movie 'œSlap Shot'ť, a 1977 comedy about a feisty minor league hockey team.