The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that former Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators head coach Craig Hartsburg has joined the National Hockey League club’s coaching staff as associate coach under Head Coach Todd Richards.

Hartsburg, who spent last season as associate coach of the Calgary Flames, brings over two decades of coaching experience to the Blue Jackets, including serving as the head coach of the Blackhawks from 1995-98, Ducks from 1998-2001 and Senators in 2008-09. He led his clubs to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in three of his five full seasons as a head coach and also served as an assistant coach with the Minnesota North Stars (1989-90) and Philadelphia Flyers (1990-94, 2002-04).

“Craig Hartsburg has been a successful head coach at every level of hockey including the NHL, has been an assistant or associate coach in the League and was an All-Star as a player, so I feel very fortunate to add a coach and person of his caliber to our staff,” said Richards. “He will be a valuable resource for me, our staff and players, and I am very happy to welcome him to the Columbus Blue Jackets.”

Hartsburg served as the head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips (75-54-16 from 2009-11), Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (181-117-42 from 2001-02, 2004-08) and OHL’s Guelph Storm (47-14-5 in 1994-95). As head coach, he led Team Canada to consecutive gold medals at the 2007 and 2008 World Junior Hockey Championships and was an assistant coach when Canada won gold at the 2006 WJC tournament.

A defenseman, Hartsburg was the first pick, sixth overall, of the Minnesota North Stars in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play 10 seasons with the club, registering 98 goals and 315 assists for 413 points with 818 penalty minutes in 570 games from 1979-89. He helped the North Stars advance to the 1981 Stanley Cup Final and appeared in the 1980, 1982 and 1983 All-Star Games. He played junior hockey with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 1975-78 and made his professional debut with the World Hockey Association’s Birmingham Bulls in 1978-89. He also represented Canada at the 1978 World Junior Championships, the 1981 and 1987 Canada Cup Tournaments and was the top defenseman at the 1987 World Championships.

Hartsburg was born on June 29, 1959 in Stratford, Ontario. He and his wife, Peggy, are the parents of son, Chris and daughter, Katie, and grandparents to Colin and Blake.

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