Don Lever - Head Coach

Don Lever became the sixth Head Coach in Hamilton Bulldogs history on July 28th, 2005, and enters his fourth season with the club and sixth campaign as a head coach in the American Hockey League. In his first two years with the Bulldogs, the 56-year-old native of South Porcupine, Ontario posted an overall regular-season record of 78-69-3-10 (.528). Two seasons ago, Lever led Hamilton to a 16-6 post-season record and a Calder Cup Championship, the first in the 11-year history of the franchise. Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Lever was an assistant coach in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues for two seasons (2002-2004), helping the club to a record of 80 wins, 54 losses, 22 ties and 8 overtime losses (.579). Lever also spent 12 seasons in the Buffalo Sabres organization, beginning his coaching career as a Sabres assistant in 1987-1988. He then served as Head Coach of the AHL's Rochester Americans from 1990-1992, before returning to Buffalo as an assistant for the 1992-1993 campaign. Registering a league-best 45-26-9 regular-season record in his first campaign with Rochester in 1990-1991, Lever won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as AHL Coach of the Year. Lever also played for Rochester for two seasons (1985-87), winning the Calder Cup in the role of player-coach in his final pro season. Lever played his junior hockey for the Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA). After scoring 126 points in 63 games for the Flyers, he was selected third overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. Lever was traded to Atlanta in February of 1980 after eight seasons with the Canucks, and moved with the Flames to Calgary that summer. He was dealt to Colorado in 1981, and again was a part of a franchise shift, as the Rockies became the New Jersey Devils in 1982. The Sabres acquired his rights from the Devils on September 9, 1985 and he spent two seasons as a player in Buffalo's organization. Lever was twice named an NHL captain, serving as the Vancouver Canucks' captain from 1977-1980 before becoming the first-ever New Jersey Devils' captain from 1982-1984. He also represented Colorado at the 1982 NHL All-Star Game. In 1,020 NHL games, he accumulated 313 goals, 367 assists, 680 points and 593 penalty minutes.
Lever, a 52-year-old native of South Porcupine, Ontario, was the St. Louis Blues’ assistant coach for two seasons (2002-04). While Lever was in St. Louis, the Blues earned a record of 80 wins, 54 losses, 22 ties and 8 overtime losses (.579).

Prior to joining St. Louis in 2002, Lever spent 12 seasons in the Buffalo Sabres organization. Lever began his coaching career as a Sabres assistant in the 1987-88 season. He then served as head coach of the Rochester Americans from 1990-92, before returning to Buffalo as an assistant for the 1992-93 season. In 1990-91, Lever’s first season as coach of the Amerks, he won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award, as AHL Coach of the Year, after Rochester went to the Calder Cup Final following a league-best 45-26-9 regular season record. Lever also played for Rochester for two seasons (1985-87), winning the Calder Cup in the role of player-coach in his final pro season.

Lever played his junior hockey for the Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA). After scoring 126 points in 63 games for the Flyers, he was selected third overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. Lever was traded to Atlanta in February 1980 after eight seasons with the Canucks, and moved with the Flames to Calgary that summer. He was dealt to Colorado in 1981, and again was a part of a franchise shift, as the Rockies became the New Jersey Devils in 1982. The Sabres acquired his rights from the Devils on September 9, 1985 and he spent two seasons as a player in Buffalo’s organization. In 1,020 NHL games, he accumulated 313 goals, 367 assists, 680 points and 593 penalty minutes.