Al Arbour was born on January 1, 1932, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He grew up with a passion for hockey and began playing the sport at a young age. Arbour honed his skills as a defenseman playing for various amateur teams before catching the attention of professional scouts.
In 1953, Arbour began his professional hockey career, playing as a defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings. Throughout his career, he also suited up for the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St. Louis Blues. Arbour was known for his strong defensive play and leadership on the ice.
After retiring as a player, Arbour transitioned into coaching. He became the head coach of the New York Islanders in 1973 and went on to lead the team to four consecutive Stanley Cup Championships from 1980 to 1983. Arbour's coaching style emphasized discipline, hard work, and teamwork, which helped the Islanders become a dominant force in the NHL.
Arbour's success as a coach was recognized with the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year in 1979. In 1996, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in honor of his contributions to the sport.
At the time of his death, Al Arbour was second only to Scotty Bowman in the number of wins and games coached in NHL history. His impact on the game of hockey and the players he coached was immense, with many considering him one of the greatest coaches of all time.
Outside of hockey, Arbour enjoyed spending time with his family. He eventually moved to Sarasota, Florida, where he lived out his retirement years. Arbour was beloved by fans and admired by players for his dedication to the sport and his ability to bring out the best in those he coached.
Al Arbour's legacy lives on in the NHL and the hockey community as a whole. His name is synonymous with success, hard work, and leadership, making him a true legend of the game.