Tom McVie, a Boston Bruins ambassador who coached the New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets, died at the age of 89.

BOSTON — Tom McVie, who coached the Winnipeg Jets to the 1979 World Hockey Association championship over Wayne Gretzky’s Edmonton Oilers in the final year before the franchises were absorbed into the NHL, has died. He was 89.

McVie made his NHL head coaching debut when he succeeded Hall of Famer Milt Schmidt in Washington on New Year’s Eve in 1975, but he never finished higher than fourth before heading to the WHA.

On Monday, it was announced that former NHL head coach Tom McVie passed away at the age of 89. McVie’s career in pro hockey spanned close to seven decades.

Former Bruins and Devils coach Tom McVie died at the age of 89, the Bruins announced on Monday. McVie began his coaching career with the Capitals and spent parts of nine seasons as a head coach with the Capitals,