Gregg Pilling

Gregg Pilling (born September 25, 1943) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach.

He then played two seasons in the Alberta Senior Hockey League, one each with Medicine Hat Blades, followed by the Drumheller Miners.

He scored 25 goals, 63 points, and earned 142 penalty minutes, for the regular season Walker Cup champions.

He briefly spent time coaching in Switzerland, then returned to play with the St. Petersburg Suns for the 1971–72 season.

[12][13][14][15][16] Pilling began his full-time coaching career at age 28, when offered a one-year contract with the Roanoke Valley Rebels for the 1972–73 season.

The team's roster that season included eleven French Canadians,[18] and a young Mike Keenan.

[22] Pilling was named the coach and general manager of Philadelphia's expansion team in the North American Hockey League.

[26] His team faced the seventh place Long Island Cougars in the first round of the playoffs, but were upset in four games.

[29] Pilling won his second playoffs championship as a coach, as Philadelphia captured the Lockhart Cup in six games over the Beauce Jaros.

He resigned on June 2, 1978,[36] and was the preferred choice to become head coach of the Indianapolis Racers, but a contract was not finalized due to NHL–WHA merger talks.

[37] Pilling was named the new coach and general manager of the Regina Pats, receiving a one-year contract in June.

[39] The season did not go as planned for Pilling, as the Pats struggled near the bottom of the standings, and his frustrations manifested into numerous ejections.

[42] When the 1978–79 WHL season was completed, Regina won 18 games, earned 43 points, and finished second last in the league, out of the playoffs.

Pilling was named coach of Sherwood Park Crusaders in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, when Dennis Smith resigned.

Coach Gregg Pilling in the middle of the front row, with the 1976–77 Philadelphia Firebirds team photo, and the 1976 Lockhart Cup.
Coach Gregg Pilling in the middle of the front row, with the 1976–77 Philadelphia Firebirds, and the 1976 Lockhart Cup