The ECHL and its member teams mourn the loss and express their condolences to the family and friends of Phil Roberto, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 76.
Roberto spent six seasons in the ECHL, serving as head coach for the Birmingham Bulls from 1993-96 and general manager of the Columbus Cottonmouths from 2001-04. He also was interim head coach for the Cottonmouths for the final 28 games of the 2002-03 season. Overall in three-plus seasons as an ECHL coach, Roberto compiled a regular-season record of 100-97-12, while twice leading the Bulls to the Riley Cup Playoffs. In 1994, Birmingham reached the Riley Cup Semifinals, where the Bulls fell to Raleigh 3 games to 1.
His career in professional hockey included 385 National Hockey League games between 1969-77. He famously assisted on Montreal Canadiens captain Jean Beliveau’s 500th career goal, and totaled 181 points (75g-106a) during the course of his career with the Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings Kansas City Scouts, Colorado Rockies and Cleveland Barons. He added 17 points (9g-8a) in 31 Stanley Cup Playoff games, capturing a Stanley Cup title with Montreal in 1971.
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