NHL Hall of Famer Paul Coffey
The hockey legend has been able to establish his growing car dealership empire in the Caledon community
By Jon Yaneff

Hockey players are a lot like cars; with both, to be good - speed helps.

Paul Coffey was widely regarded as one of the National Hockey League's best skaters. He was smooth, fast and graceful, which brought high-praise and successes many could only dream of.

The Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman drank from Lord Stanley's mug four times. Three were with the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, and the powerful Edmonton Oilers juggernaut teams of the 1980s (1984, '85 and '87), and the fourth was with "Super" Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins in '91.

Playing with the best hockey names this world has ever seen in his 20-year NHL career, from Gretzky to Lemieux, from Mark Messier to Steve Yzerman, led Coffey to three James Norris trophies (as best defenceman in 1985, '86 and '95), 14 NHL All-Star games, and when he hung up his skates in 2000 he was ninth all-time in career points with 1,531 (396 goals and 1,135 assists). He is now in 12th and is second among defencemen, only behind the legendary Boston Bruin Ray Bourque with 1,579 points.

Now in sporting business terms: Coffey traded his skates and NHL speed for his building car dealership empire (and players to be named later).

Paul Coffey's Bolton Toyota (Albion-Vaughan Road and Highway 50) has emerged as a communityfriendly establishment since opening its doors in 2004. The owner/president of the company has since brought his dealership savvy to the Waterloo region with Paul Coffey Nissan, which is subsequently where he finished his OHA (Ontario Hockey Association, now the OHL - Ontario Hockey League) career with the Kitchener Rangers in 1980. He was drafted in the NHL entry draft for 18-year-olds that same year by the Oilers in the first round - sixth overall.

"Playing in the NHL was always the dream, half the time I thought it was a crazy one," stated Coffey." But, I think as a young person it's important to have a dream, whether it be athletics, emergency services, architecture or even the car business, you have to want to accomplish something and be true to yourself."

The legendary blue-liner was very committed on the ice and though the business of hockey and the dealership world are different vocations, he still shares similar methods from his playing days to his new career.

"A saying we used to use in sports all the time," said Coffey, who lives just north of Caledon. "You're only as strong as your weakest link. That's what I try to do here in Bolton, so no matter who or what your position is within (the business), everything you do is important to the success and image of the store. And that's the philosophy we implemented on the ice, of no matter whether you make that great pass, block that shot, score a goal, or you're just cheerleading on the bench - everything you do is important."

In Bolton, Coffey strives to execute upfront honesty, while holding a lot of integrity and showing most humbly that the customer comes first. Though he did some consulting work with the Phoenix Coyotes (which Gretzky coaches), he never took the reins as an NHL coach. He wrestled with the idea of coaching, but managing his team at the dealership seemed be the comprehensive alternate to fit the maturing-family lifestyle he hoped to convey.

The players to be named later: Coffey had a few friends in the car business, who enjoyed the pleasantries of automotive sales, but the dividing factor in leaving NHL association was being able to subtract the vigorous NHL travellifestyle, and add some normalcy to family life and being able to spend more time with his wife, Stephanie, and his three growing children - daughter, Savannah, age 12, and sons, Blake, 10, and five-year-old Christian.

His Bolton dealership gives him the opportunity to give his children ample attention and advice, while attending all of his kids activities, such as hockey with Blake, and Christian, who is just learning to skate.

"I tell them to work hard, be honest and a good friend," as the 47-year-old father solemnly exemplified during his glory days with the likes of the Great One, who was the poster boy for success and respect.

As to how Coffey perceived Gretzky: "Wayne was a very heady/smart player and for the most part he knew what his teammates on the ice were going to do, before we did. He was a thinking man's player and always seemed to treat everybody around him with respect, whether it was his teammates or opponents.

"I think that's why he was the player that he was," he added.

The Oilers' dynasty didn't just feature No. 99. There was The Moose (Messier), Finnish winger Jari Kurri, goalie Grant Fuhr and Glenn Anderson, all of which are Hockey Hall of Fame members. Most recently Anderson was inducted with another former teammate with the Detroit Red Wings, Igor Larionov, on June 17.

For Coffey, he had his induction ceremony Nov. 8, 2004, with two equally worthy defensive combatants in Bourque and Larry Murphy. The trio all helped revolutionize the position of defence in their own unique styles during the '80s and '90s hockey era.

"I was very honoured and blown away," he says of his induction. "Your first goal is to just make the NHL and after that you're hoping at some point to win a championship, but never in my wildest dreams, or any other players wildest dreams, do you ever think you're going to make that elite group, the Hockey Hall of Fame. It's the pinnacle of all things."

Though Coffey made his way around the league, from Edmonton to Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit, the Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins, he always took pride in anything he did, an attribute that hasn't diminished with his new career. Through his hard work and leadership his 'goal' is to make Paul Coffey's Bolton Toyota a proud part of the Town of Caledon.

Paul's favourites

Favourite NHL city to play in: I enjoyed them all, but I'd have to say Edmonton in Canada and Pittsburgh from the U.S.

Favourite coach: I had a lot of good ones. They were all great coaches, but Glenn Sather for sure, starting out in Edmonton.

Favourite player from any era: My favourite defenceman was Bobby Orr of course. My favourite player growing up was Dave Keon, captain of the Leafs. That being said, every player I had the privilege of playing with and playing against were always my favourite players.

Favourite car: My first car I ever bought, which was a 1963 Corvette, split window. I still have it and it is currently being restored.