Bob Berry was Mario Lemieux‘s very first coach in the National Hockey League. He was hired on June 4, 1984, just five days before Mario was drafted first overall in Montreal. He made his mark as a player in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings as a two-time All-Star in the early '70s. He coached the Kings for three years before being hired to coach the team he grew up following, the Montréal Canadiens, in 1981. After a 3- year stint with the Canadiens, Berry was hired to coach the Penguins by GM Eddie Johnston. In this episode of GDFHT, he talks about his time behind the Penguins bench from 1984 to 1987.
Other highlights include:
-his reflections on growing up in Montreal as a fan of the Canadiens
-Reference to his time as a professional wide receiver in CFL
-Life in LA as a player and coach
-His relationship with former Pens assistant coach Jimmy Roberts
-His coaching style and what is was like to be with the Penguins as
compared to working for the Canadiens.
-His current life in Palm Desert California
-His love of Pittsburgh