Playing career

After playing five seasons with Western Hockey League's Calgary Wranglers and Medicine Hat Tigers, Houda made his NHL debut with the Red Wings near the end of the 1985-86 season.

He would be a journeyman throughout his career, playing for the Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Los Angeles Kings, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in his NHL travels. He also spent a great deal of time in the minor leagues playing for the Kalamazoo Wings and Utah Grizzlies in the IHL, and the Adirondack Red Wings and Rochester Americans with whom he would win the Calder Cup in 1996 in the AHL. After returning to Rochester in 1999 and serving as the Amerks captain in his final season, Houda retired after the 2002-03 season and immediately became an assistant coach under Randy Cunneyworth in Rochester.

Coaching career

On July 25, 2006, Houda was named an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins. He was relieved of his duties following the 2015-16 season, after 10 seasons with the Bruins. During Houda's 10 seasons with the club, the Bruins compiled a 428-264-94 record, seventh-best in the NHL over that span. Boston's 57 playoff wins over the same duration are fourth-most in the league, trailing only Chicago (76), Detroit (66) and Pittsburgh (66). Houda also spent three seasons as an assistant coach in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans from 2003-06. The Amerks compiled a 125-86-16-13 record in the span and held the league’s best record in 2004-05 at 51-19-4-6 (112 points).

On May 10, 2016, Houda was named an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]