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Date of Birth: 1945
Place of Birth: St. John’s NL
Inducted: 2008 (Athlete-Builder Category)

Ed O’Brien used a fine hockey-playing career as a stepping-stone to a mammoth, knowledgeable and very successful coaching performance that covered 18 years at just about every level of competition and it continues. His reputation as a coach is such that he’s been able to qualify for world competitions as well as working in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

His hockey coaching endeavors are built on a solid foundation. Earning an advanced level one coaching certificate, he owns extensive experience within minor hockey with nine provincial midget AAA titles to his credit as well as two Atlantic championships and a national bronze medal. He coached two Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Winter Games clubs and the Amherst Ramblers in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.

He was coach and assistant coach with Team Atlantic in World Under-17 championships and acted as director of operations for the Atlantic squad at another world event. His great coaching experience and successes earned him a spot on the coaching staff of the St. John’s Fog Devils of the QMJHL for their three-season existence. Overall, his coaching was exceptional and was responsible for improving the ability of thousands of young hockey players.
Between 1997 and 2003, he filled a variety of roles designed to improve overall hockey skills at the provincial level and especially in St. John’s and Conception Bay South areas.

After a rewarding time in St. John’s Minor Hockey, he was a standout high school performer for St. Bon’s junior and senior school teams between 1958 and 1961, with a scoring title to his credit in 1958. From 1961 to 1964 he played St. John’s junior and senior hockey with St. Bon’s, earning a berth with St. John’s Capitals in provincial senior competition during the same period.