Jim Paek

Assistant Coach

Biography:

Jim Paek, who joined the Griffins as an assistant coach on Aug. 11, 2005, begins his fifth season behind the team’s bench, making him the longest-tenured coach in franchise history.

Paek, 42, helped guide Grand Rapids to the AHL’s regular season championship in 2005-06 and additional playoff berths in 2006-07 and 2008-09, when the Griffins notched their first-ever playoff upset by eliminating Hamilton in the North Division Semifinals. He even took a turn as the team’s bench boss for one game last season, a 4-0 home victory over Philadelphia on Jan. 10, 2009.

In 2008, Paek earned the right to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup for the third time after coaching the Detroit Red Wings’ “black aces” during the parent club’s title run. Ironically, that privilege came at the expense of the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he won consecutive Stanley Cups as a defenseman in 1991 and 1992. During five seasons in the NHL (1990-95), he tallied 34 points (5-29—34) and 155 penalty minutes in 217 games with Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Paek became the first Korean to both play in the NHL and have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. In recognition of those accomplishments, Paek’s Penguins jersey is displayed in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

While in Pittsburgh, he was named the team’s 1992 rookie of the year and was the co-winner of its 1993 community service award.

Traded to Los Angeles with former Griffin Marty McSorley for Tomas Sandstrom and Shawn McEachern on Feb. 16, 1994, Paek had the distinction of counting both Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky as teammates. During his 16-year playing career, he also learned from some of hockey’s most accomplished coaches, including the legendary Scotty Bowman, “Badger” Bob Johnson, and former Dallas Stars head coach Dave Tippett.

Paek began his professional career with a three-year stint in Muskegon, Mich., during which he helped the IHL’s Lumberjacks win the 1989 Turner Cup. He added a fourth and final cup to his resume in 1999 as a member of the IHL’s Houston Aeros.

Upon retiring in 2003, Paek was named head coach of the WHA2’s Orlando Seals, guiding the club to a 27-25-5 record in 2003-04 and coaching in the league’s all-star game. In 2004, he returned to Cleveland and served as an assistant coach for the St. Edwards High School team that won the Ohio state championship, and co-coach of the Cleveland Panthers bantam minor squad that captured the Eastern Elite Amateur Hockey League title.

Paek and his wife, Kortney, have two children, Megan and Kyler.

E-mail: griff@griffinshockey.com

Phone: (616) 774-4585