Dean Talafous

Dean Charles Talafous (born August 25, 1953) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played 497 regular season games in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1974 and 1981 for the Atlanta Flames, Minnesota North Stars and New York Rangers as a right winger.

Dean Talafous
Born	(1953-08-25) August 25, 1953 (age 71) Duluth, Minnesota, USA
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Atlanta Flames Minnesota North Stars New York Rangers
National team	United States
NHL draft	53rd overall, 1973 Atlanta Flames
WHA draft	13th overall, 1973 Cincinnati Stingers
Playing career	1974–1981
Coaching career
Playing career
1971–1974	Wisconsin
Position(s)	Right wing
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1982–1984	Minnesota (assistant)
1984–1985	St. Paul Vulcans
1985–1989	Minnesota (assistant)
1989–1996	Wisconsin–River Falls
1996–2001	Alaska-Anchorage
Head coaching record
Overall	160-196-40 (.455)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
1996 Edward Jeremiah Award

College

Talafous played for the Wisconsin Badgers where he helped the team win a National Championship in 1973, and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.^[1] Talafous scored the winning goal in the championship game.^[2]

Playing career

Talafous was drafted 53rd overall by the Atlanta Flames in the 1973 NHL Entry Draft. He scored his first NHL goal on December 12, 1974 at Washington in a 2-2 tie. It was the only goal Talafous scored as an Atlanta Flame. Talafous played 18 games for the Flames before being traded to the Minnesota North Stars. In international hockey he played for the United States in the 1976 Canada Cup and 1981 Canada Cup. In 1978 Talafous signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers.

On December 30, 1981, the Rangers traded him with Jere Gillis to the Quebec Nordiques for Robbie Ftorek, however, Talafous decided to retire after learning that the Nordiques would not offer him a contract past the end of the season. The Rangers were then forced to give up Pat Hickey as compensation.^[3][4][5]

Coaching

Juniors

• Head of player development - [ Hudson Crusaders ] MJHL
• Head Coach - St. Paul Vulcans USHL

Head coaching record

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons (NCHA) (1989–1996)
1989–90	Wisconsin–River Falls	13-13-3			NCHA Semifinals
1990–91	Wisconsin–River Falls	6-18-3
1991–92	Wisconsin–River Falls	6-17-1
1992–93	Wisconsin–River Falls	19-13-1			NCAA Runner-Up
1993–94	Wisconsin–River Falls	21-8-4			NCAA Champion
1994–95	Wisconsin–River Falls	19-10-4			NCAA Frozen Four
1995–96	Wisconsin–River Falls	26-5-2			NCAA Frozen Four
Wisconsin–River Falls:		110-84-18
Alaska–Anchorage Seawolves (WCHA) (1996–2001)
1996–97	Alaska–Anchorage	9-23-4	7-21-4	9th	WCHA First Round
1997–98	Alaska–Anchorage	6-25-5	5-19-4	9th	WCHA First Round
1998–99	Alaska–Anchorage	13-18-5	10-13-5	6th	WCHA First Round
1999–00	Alaska–Anchorage	15-18-3	11-14-3	7th	WCHA First Round
2000–01	Alaska–Anchorage	7-24-5	4-20-4	9th	WCHA First Round
Alaska–Anchorage:		50-108-22	37-87-20
Total:		160-196-40
National champion         Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion

^[6]

After hockey

Talafous lives in Hudson, Wisconsin, and founded Total Hockey Training with his wife, Jax, and son, Pete; Talafous retired in 2011 and Pete now runs the organization as Exceed Hockey.^[1] In 2013 Talafous was inducted in the Badger Athletic Hall of Fame.^[1]

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team	1973	[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1968–69	Hastings High School	HS-MN		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Hastings High School	HS-MN		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Hastings High School	HS-MN		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	University of Wisconsin	WCHA		37	10	24	34	42		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	University of Wisconsin	WCHA		40	21	32	53	34		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	University of Wisconsin	WCHA		34	17	29	46	29		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Atlanta Flames	NHL		18	1	4	5	13		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Omaha Knights	CHL		11	3	5	8	10		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		43	8	17	25	6		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		79	18	30	48	18		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		80	22	27	49	10		2	0	0	0	0
1977–78	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		75	13	16	29	25		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	New York Rangers	NHL		68	13	16	29	29		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	New York Rangers	NHL		55	10	20	30	26		5	1	2	3	9
1980–81	New York Rangers	NHL		50	13	17	30	28		14	3	5	8	2
1981–82	New York Rangers	NHL		29	6	7	13	8		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				497	104	154	258	163		21	4	7	11	11

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1973	United States	WC B		7	2	8	10	—
1974	United States	WC B		—	—	—	—	—
1976	United States	CC		5	2	2	4	8
1981	United States	CC		6	3	2	5	0
Canada Cup totals				11	5	4	9	8