Denver Magazine / Denver Magazine September 2009 / On Goal

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On Goal

As Joe Sacco begins his tenure as the fifth head coach in Avalanche history, we check in on his playing and coaching careers, and the state of the Avs today.

When the Colorado Avalanche fired head coach Tony Granato, and five others, in early June, Patrick Roy was the marquis name that came to everyone’s mind to replace him. The NHL has a long history of former players coming back to coach their old teams, and in fact, the latest iteration of the front office is peppered with former Avs such as Eric Lacroix and Craig Billington. But the Roy thing was a wash, and the team turned to its American Hockey League affiliate the Lake Erie Monsters and head coach Joe Sacco.

Sacco grew up in Medford, MA and played 111 games for Boston University before being drafted in the fourth round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1987. At the time, 20 years ago, hockey could truly be said to have been dominated by Canadian players. But as an American, Sacco expresses no regrets about the start of his professional career. “I still have great memories of the day I got drafted,” he says. “No matter which team or city drafts you, you are very excited and proud to have been selected.”

The young right-winger also played on the U.S. team that came in fourth at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France and he played for Team USA in six World Championships, winning a bronze medal in 1996. “USA Hockey has grown tremendously over the last 20 years,” Sacco says. “With the work they’re doing with the NTDP [National Team Development Program], the next generation of Americans are more prepared to be hockey professionals than ever.”

Sacco went on to a 13-year professional career, at different points hitting the ice for Toronto, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, the New York Islanders, the Washington Capitals, and the Philadelphia Flyers. His overall record was 94 goals and 119 assists.

He soon joined the Avalanche organization, coaching the Albany River Rats and the Lowell Lock Monsters before Lake Erie. Certainly, there will be some level of adjustment in stepping up to the NHL. “At this level, you are dealing with the best hockey players in the world,” Sacco says. “That being said, some very good professionals make a living playing in the AHL, and it is regarded as an outstanding development environment for future NHL players. The Avalanche is a good example of that.”

And he understands he has a lot to live up to. “I’ve had the chance to work with Tony over the last four seasons,” he says. “I’ve always had great respect for him and what he was trying to accomplish. I know last season was difficult for him, but his overall record as an NHL head coach is very good.”

So how does a young coach with a young team approach the 2009 – 2010 season, coming off its worst finish since the Nordiques moved to Colorado? “As we have said before, there are no shortcuts to get the Avalanche back to where it was for many years,” says Sacco. “We have a great nucleus of young players as well as some outstanding prospects ready to begin their professional careers. It will be up to us to guide them in the right direction in order for this franchise to reach our goals.”

Sacco is looking forward to getting back on the ice and hitting those targets. “There will be many challenges, but I feel ready for it,” he says. “The hockey fans in this market have been accustomed to watching great hockey teams. It is my goal to get the Avalanche back to that level as soon as possible.”