Al Tuer

Thomas Allan Tuer (born July 17th, 1963) is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Al was drafted by the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings in the 9th round 186th overall of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.

Tuer played for the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, and Hartford Whalers in the NHL, as well as 7 different clubs in the American and International Hockey League's.

Following his retirement, Tuer went on to coach, general manage, and scout for various hockey clubs. He currently scouts for the NHL's Calgary Flames.

Playing career

Tuer played with the Regina Pats from 1981–83. Al recorded the a record 486 penalty minutes in the 1981–82 season. This is the current Pats record.

Tuer played his first NHL hockey games as a member of the Los Angeles Kings in the 1985–86 season. He recorded a total of 19 fights during the 1985–86 season, 10th most among all NHL skaters that year.

Coaching, Managing, and Scouting Career

The year following his retirement Al took the posts of head coach and general manager of the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors. He stayed with the Warriors from 1993–98. During Tuer's time with in Moose Jaw, the club achieved a record of 79 points in the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons.

With the Warriors, Tuer coached players which would go on to play in the NHL, most notably 2002 Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Smyth and 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup winner Pavel Kubina.

Soon after Tuer's departure from Moose Jaw he became a scout for the NHL's Central Scouting Service, which led him to his current position as a scout for the NHL's Calgary Flames.

Notes

Al's father, Graham, was Assistant General Manger and Director of Player Personnel for the WHL's Regina Pats during the 90's. Graham currently scouts for the WHL's Kelowna Rockets. Graham recently had his name raised into the rafters at the Agridome in Regina, in honor outstanding service to the Regina Pats.

External links

* [http://flames.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=tea_hockey_ops Flames.com]
* [http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1981/81186.html Hockey Draft Central]
* [http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=14581 Legends of Hockey]