Each June since departing as coach of the Portland Pirates in 2011, Kevin Dineen has brought his family back to Cape Elizabeth for a visit.
This year, however, the Dineens may have missed their window of opportunity.
He was tied up by work responsibilities — as an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, who won the Stanley Cup on June 15. It was the first time Dineen, 51, has ever been part of a Stanley Cup champion. In 18 seasons as an NHL player with Hartford, Philadelphia, Carolina, Ottawa and Columbus, his teams had never advanced beyond the conference finals.
“The whole two-month span and what went into it for us to get there was really amazing,” Dineen said by phone Tuesday from his family camp in the Lake George region of New York.
“It was thrilling. It was exciting. It was exhausting. Just an amazing couple of months.”
Dineen was in his first season as an assistant coach in Chicago. He was reunited with his longtime friend, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville. They were Hartford Whaler teammates from 1984 to 1990 and roomed together on trips.
“We’ve known each a long time,” said Dineen, who said he will remain behind Chicago’s bench for the 2015-16 season. “That certainly makes it special to win it with a good friend.”
Since leaving Maine following six seasons with the Pirates, Dineen served as coach of the Florida Panthers, led Team Canada to the 2014 Olympic women’s ice hockey gold medal in Sochi and coached Canada’s men’s U-18 team to a bronze medal in the world championships before accepting an assistant coach position with the Blackhawks in July 2014. Before taking the job as an assistant, Dineen’s name had been floated for several NHL head coaching vacancies.
“It’s funny how this business works out,” Dineen said. “You go from different points, from highs and lows and challenges along the way. I’ve been in this game for over 30 years now and to end up (celebrating a Stanley Cup), there really is great satisfaction in that.”
Chicago, which also won the Cup in 2010 and 2013, was seeded third in the Central Division of the NHL’s Western Conference heading into playoffs. The Blackhawks overcame Nashville, Minnesota and Anaheim before defeating Tampa Bay in the finals — a journey that began April 15 (with a double-overtime victory over Nashville) and ended two months later with the Blackhawks clinching the Cup at home for the first time in 77 years.
Dineen’s wife, Annie, joined him on the ice for an embrace amid the postgame festivities. Their four children — Hannah, Emma, William and Declan — followed for a group photo that was later reprised, with dad hoisting the Cup, in the suburban Chicago backyard of Quenneville.
The family also accompanied Dineen atop a double decker bus through the streets of Chicago for the Blackhawks’ victory parade culminating in a rally at Soldier Field. The crowd was estimated at 2 million.
“It was all about the family, and how they were able to enjoy it with us,” Dineen said. “They were all on board all year, whether they were in school at Colby or in Florida or there for the games.”
His eldest daughter, Hannah, 20, plays hockey for Colby and will return to the Waterville campus this fall for her junior year. Emma, 18, just graduated from high school in Florida and plans to play soccer at Babson College outside of Boston this fall. Sons William, 14, and Declan, 11, attend school in Chicago.
Part of Cup tradition holds that each player and coach gets to spend a day with the trophy.
“We’re still working through that,” Dineen said. “Somewhere this summer I’ll get it, but when you’re as far down the totem pole as I am, there will be a day or two to pick from.”
As for family friends in Maine, Dineen said plans are in the works for another get-together, although it may not be in New England.
“This year we may do the opposite,” he said, “and have some buddies from Maine head in our direction.”
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