Steve Coates

Steve Coates
Born	July 2, 1950 Toronto, ON, CAN
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	172 lb (78 kg; 12 st 4 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	NHL Detroit Red Wings AHL Richmond Robins Springfield Indians Maine Mariners Philadelphia Firebirds Syracuse Firebirds USHL Calumet-Houghton Chiefs IHL Des Moines Capitols CHL Kansas City Red Wings
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1973–1980

Stephen John Coates (born July 2, 1950) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently the radio color commentator for the Philadelphia Flyers on 97.5 The Fanatic, after spending 14 seasons with the Flyers television team.

Coates played five NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings during the 1976–77 season during a career mostly spent in the minors.

Playing career

Coates' professional hockey career began when he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1973 as a free agent after four seasons with the Michigan Tech Huskies. After playing in four seasons in the Flyers' minor league system, he was dealt to the Detroit Red Wings along with Terry Murray, Bob Ritchie, and Dave Kelly in exchange for Rick Lapointe and Mike Korney during the 1976–77 season. In five games for the Red Wings that season, he scored one goal for his only NHL point. He spent the next three years playing in the Central Hockey League (CHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL) before retiring.

Broadcasting career

Coates started his broadcasting career with the Flyers in 1980 as a radio color commentator, and switched over to television in 1999. He spent the next 14 seasons on television as a color commentator and between-the-benches reporter for the Flyers before moving back to radio at the start of the 2014–15 season.^[1]

"Coatesy's Corner"

From 1999 to 2011, Coates was the host of a short segment that aired during the first intermission of local Flyers television broadcasts, filmed prior to the game. These segments included interviews, explanations of NHL rules, analysis of current NHL events, and sometimes skits with Flyers players for comedic purposes. During the 2010–11 season, Coatesy's Corner began to air less and less and was eventually officially retired by the end of the season.

Personal Life

Coates currently resides in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.^[2]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1969–70	Michigan Tech Huskies	WCHA		3	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Michigan Tech Huskies	WCHA		33	7	9	16	46		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Michigan Tech Huskies	WCHA		30	7	9	16	36		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Michigan Tech Huskies	WCHA		34	11	11	22	28		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Calumet-Houghton Chiefs	USHL		4	5	6	11	7		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Des Moines Capitols	IHL		72	31	39	70	167		10	6	3	9	35
1974–75	Richmond Robins	AHL		50	7	7	14	168		7	3	0	3	7
1975–76	Richmond Robins	AHL		69	25	19	44	141		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Springfield Indians	AHL		57	17	23	40	122		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		5	1	0	1	24		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Kansas City Red Wings	CHL		63	14	20	34	83		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Maine Mariners	AHL		15	3	2	5	11		6	0	2	2	8
1978–79	Philadelphia Firebirds	AHL		74	15	25	40	107		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Syracuse Firebirds	AHL		67	10	23	33	95		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				5	1	0	1	24		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				332	77	99	176	644		13	3	2	5	15

References

1. Randy Miller (2014-09-22). "Flyers analyst Steve Coates admits having ego, but embracing move from TV to radio". nj.com. Retrieved 2014-11-24.
2. Lulgjuraj, Susan. "Egg Harbor Township's Steve Coates in Flyers' corner as their voice on radio, TV", The Press of Atlantic City, June 3, 2010. Accessed March 12, 2011. "When loyal fans think about the Flyers, the Egg Harbor Township resident often comes to mind. The 59-year-old has broadcast Flyers games on radio and television for the last 30 years."

External links

• Steve Coates's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Steve Coates's biography at Legends of Hockey