Craig Berube: Nationality, Gym Accident & Maple Leafs Firing

When a hockey coach walks into morning skate with a shiner and a row of stitches across his forehead, people are going to ask. Craig Berube’s gym accident in early 2026 set off a wave of curiosity, but it’s only one chapter in a career that went from NHL enforcer to Stanley Cup champion to a stunning Maple Leafs firing.

Nationality: Canadian ·
Born: December 17, 1965 (age 60) ·
Birthplace: Calahoo, Alberta, Canada ·
NHL seasons played: 17 ·
Stanley Cup as head coach: 2019 (St. Louis Blues) ·
Head coaching tenure (Maple Leafs): May 2024 – May 2026

The table above aggregates Berube’s core biographical and career identifiers, showing a trajectory from player to championship coach.

What is Craig Berube’s nationality?

What is Craig Berube’s ethnicity?

Craig Berube is Canadian. He was born on December 17, 1965 in Calahoo, Alberta (Wikipedia). The surname Bérubé is of French origin, a name common among French‑Canadian families (ESPN).

What is Craig Berube’s age?

Berube turned 60 years old on December 17, 2025. He remains one of the older active head coaches in the NHL, though his age hasn’t stopped him from taking on new challenges.

The implication: his age and tenure signal a coach with deep institutional knowledge, yet the Maple Leafs decided to move on from that experience after two seasons.

What ethnicity is the last name Berube?

What is the origin of the Bérubé name?

The surname Bérubé is French. It derives from an Old French word meaning “red,” likely referencing hair or complexion. The name is especially common among French‑Canadian lineages, consistent with Berube’s own family history (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Berube’s French surname ties him to a broader Quebecois and Acadian heritage, though his own upbringing was in Alberta.

How did Craig Berube get cut?

What caused the cut?

In early 2026, Berube suffered a deep gash on his forehead and a bruised eye after what he described as a “stupid accident” in the gym (Sportsnet). He said it was his own fault and declined to give further details about the exact equipment or exercise.

Where did the accident happen?

Berube did not specify the location beyond saying it happened at the gym. Multiple reports confirmed that he showed up for morning skate the next day with visible stitches and a black eye (NHL.com). The injury did not prevent him from coaching that night against the Vegas Golden Knights.

What is on Craig Berube’s forehead?

What does the injury look like?

Photos published by Berube and widely circulated showed a large, vertical gash on his forehead closed with visible stitches, along with a dark bruise around his eye (Yahoo Sports). The wound was severe enough that reporters described it as “gnarly,” though Berube himself played it down.

What this means: the injury, while visually striking, was largely a footnote in a season defined by poor results on the ice.

What actually happened to Craig Berube?

What was the gym accident?

As detailed above, the accident occurred roughly months before the end of the 2025‑26 season. Berube called it “a stupid accident” and said it happened during a workout (The Athletic). Players reportedly laughed when he told them about it.

Why was he fired from the Maple Leafs?

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired Berube on May 13, 2026 after two seasons. The team finished the 2025‑26 campaign with a 32‑36‑14 record and missed the playoffs (ESPN). Berube was the second major casualty in a broader organizational shakeup — former GM Brad Treliving was let go in March 2026.

Timeline

• 1965 – Born in Calahoo, Alberta
• 2019 – Won Stanley Cup as head coach of St. Louis Blues
• 2023 – Fired by St. Louis Blues
• May 2024 – Hired as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
• c. 2025–2026 – Gym accident (forehead cut, black eye)
• May 13, 2026 – Fired by Toronto Maple Leafs

The pattern: Berube’s coaching career has been marked by high highs (a Stanley Cup) and abrupt endings in both St. Louis and Toronto.

Quotes from Berube and the Maple Leafs

“I did it to myself. It was a stupid accident.”
— Craig Berube, via Sportsnet

“We have decided to part ways with Craig Berube. We thank him for his service and wish him the best.”
— Toronto Maple Leafs statement, via ESPN

For Berube, the next chapter is uncertain but the resume is undeniable. With a Stanley Cup ring and a reputation as a player‑first coach, he remains a credible candidate for any team needing stability. The trade‑off for front offices: his Toronto tenure ended in disappointment, but that may say more about the franchise than the man.

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