Rick Tocchet and Craig Berube, who have shared a close friendship for four decades since their early days as Philadelphia Flyers teammates, will put that bond aside when their teams meet at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. The game marks the 22nd coaching matchup between Tocchet and Berube, with Tocchet currently leading the series 13-8. However, Berube has won both encounters this season.
Both coaches are facing critical moments in their respective seasons. The Philadelphia Flyers, who compete in the National Hockey League (NHL), have won two consecutive games but have struggled recently with a 5-9-3 record over the past 17 games. They are six points behind the Boston Bruins for a playoff spot. The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost three straight and nine of their last twelve games, sitting eight points back from the Bruins.
The Flyers aim to end a five-year playoff drought while Toronto seeks its tenth consecutive postseason appearance. “I don’t put the personal thing in,” said Tocchet. “I just want to win the game. … You don’t want to see your buddy struggle, but you’re also, like, hey, I’ve got to win the game. I can’t worry about my buddy’s situation.”
Tocchet was already established with the Flyers when Berube joined as a rookie in 1986-87; they played together until Berube was traded in 1991 and reunited briefly later in their careers. Their post-playing days saw them frequently discussing hockey strategy and considering future roles as coaches.
Simon Gagne recalled those times: “I remember, at that time, after every game that we played, we were always going back to the Main Street Pub… I remember watching games with them and analyzing the games with them, so that’s telling me a little bit that, OK, maybe one day … so I’m not surprised they’re coaching.”
Tocchet began his coaching career as an assistant with Colorado Avalanche before taking head coach roles across several NHL teams including Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks. He has compiled a record of 313-286-98 over ten seasons and earned the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2023.
Berube started coaching as an assistant for Philadelphia’s AHL affiliate before moving up to become head coach of multiple NHL teams including St. Louis Blues—where he led them to a Stanley Cup victory—and now leads Toronto Maple Leafs with an overall record of 360-240-85.
Flyers president Keith Jones commented on their leadership: “I think they see the game similarly… but I do think that the one common denominator is that they hold themselves accountable as well as the players that are playing for them.”
Their ongoing professional relationship includes sharing strategies and ideas despite being competitors on game nights. “We have some spirited … debates… that’s helped me,” Tocchet said about exchanging ideas with Berube.
One lesson Tocchet took from Berube involved maintaining composure during difficult stretches—a trait highlighted by how Berube handled adversity en route to winning a championship with St. Louis Blues: “I learned a lot from that situation from him… And it’s helped me be calm in certain situations.”
Despite competing interests on Monday night, communication remains open between these longtime friends off ice: “We’ve shared a lot of stuff,” Tocchet said. “We talk certain things… If I have a problem, I’ll call Chief.”
The Philadelphia Flyers continue to offer professional ice hockey entertainment through participation in league competition and community outreach programs such as cancer awareness initiatives.
