Randy Cunneyworth

Randy William Cunneyworth (born May 10, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, former AHL head coach, NHL head coach and assistant coach, as well as a pro scout, and player development coach spanning nearly 40 years.

Cunneyworth recently served as a player development coach with the Buffalo Sabres organization.

He played professionally in the National Hockey League (NHL) and American Hockey League (AHL) in a twenty-year career; his coaching résumé includes a brief stint as interim head coach of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens.

He had long stints as both a player and coach of the AHL's Rochester Americans.

Cunneyworth was born in Etobicoke, Ontario, but grew up in Mississauga, Ontario.

As a youth, Cunneyworth played in the 1974 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Mississauga.

Cunneyworth played one season of Midget hockey for the Mississauga Reps of the former Metro Toronto Hockey League (GTHL).

A 10th-round selection (129th overall) in the 1978 OHL Midget Draft, Cunneyworth suited up for his first year of junior hockey with the Dixie Beehives of the former OPJHL (now OJHL).

As a 17-year-old rookie, Cunneyworth scored 17 goals and 14 assists in 41 games.

After a strong showing with Dixie, Cunneyworth began his major junior hockey career with the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League in the 1979–80 season, where in 63 games, he scored 16 goals and 41 points, helping the club into the playoffs.

In 11 playoff games, Cunneyworth recorded an assist.

Following the season, Cunneyworth was chosen in the eighth round, 167th overall, by general manager Scotty Bowman of the Buffalo Sabres in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft.

He returned to the Ottawa 67's for the 1980–81 season and led his team in scoring with 54 goals and 128 points in 67 games, as well as leading with 240 penalty minutes.

In the playoffs, Cunneyworth appeared in 15 games, scoring five goals and 13 points.

Cunneyworth appeared in one game with the AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans in the 1980–81 season, where he earned an assist.

He was called up to the Sabres from Ottawa on March 1, 1981 by Sabres GM Scotty Bowman and played in his first NHL game vs the Boston Bruins in Boston 1980–81, where he was held off the scoresheet.

He rejoined the Sabres for the post-season along with other prospects following the end of the OHA playoffs, but did not play in any games.

Cunneyworth suffered a serious eye injury (a Barry Melrose high stick) during a September 1981 preseason game at Toronto, and missed the remainder of the preseason.

Cunneyworth began the season with Buffalo.

During the 1981–82 season, he appeared in 20 games, scoring two goals and six points.

He played primarily on the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railroad) line with young teammates Steve Patrick and Lindy Ruff.

This nickname was given to the trio by then-Sabres assistant coach Nick Polano.

Cunneyworth earned his first NHL assist on October 7, 1981 against the Washington Capitals.

He spent the rest of the 1981–82 season with the Rochester Americans, playing in 57 games, scoring 12 goals and 27 points.

Cunneyworth spent the playoffs with Rochester, scoring four goals in nine games, as the Americans lost to the Binghamton Whalers in the South Division finals.

Cunneyworth spent the entire 1982–83 season with the Mike Keenan-coached Rochester Americans.

He appeared in 78 games scoring 23 goals and 56 points.

In 16 playoff games, Cunneyworth had four goals and eight points, helping the Americans win the 1983 Calder Cup Championship defeating the Maine Mariners.

Cunneyworth spent another full season in the American Hockey League in the 1983–84 season with Rochester, scoring 18 goals and 35 points in 65 games, and once again helping the Americans reach the playoffs.

In 17 post-season games, Cunneyworth scored five goals and 10 points, as Rochester lost to the Maine Mariners in the 1984 Calder Cup finals.

During the 1984-85 Buffalo Sabres preseason, Cunneyworth scored 3 goals and had an assist in 4 exhibition games.

He was also among the leading scorers in inter-squad scrimmages but failed to secure a roster spot.

The 1984–85 season would be Cunneyworth's third full season with the Americans playing in 72 games for Rochester, scoring 30 goals and 68 points to finish third in team scoring.

In five playoff games, Cunneyworth had two goals and three points, as the Americans fell to the Baltimore Skipjacks in the first round of the playoffs.

Cunneyworth and teammate Ted Nolan began using local Rochester businessman Steve Bartlett as their representative/agent.

Although offered a contract, Cunneyworth elected not to re-sign with the Sabres organization, although the team held his rights.

Cunneyworth was granted permission by Sabres GM Scotty Bowman to attend the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp/preseason roster.

On October 4, 1985, following the pre-season tryout, Bowman traded Cunneyworth and Mike Moller to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Pat Hughes.

He scored his first NHL goal against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on 11-11-81 in New York against goalie Steve Weeks.

Cunneyworth was reassigned to the Sabres affiliate in Rochester in late November.