About Paul Mara
Paul Richard Mara (born September 7, 1979) is an American former professional ice hockey defenceman, who most recently serveed as the Assistant Coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL). He previously served as the head coach of the Boston Pride in the now defunct Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). Additionally, he served temporarily as an Assistant to Player Development for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2023-24 season. He was selected 7th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1997 NHL entry draft, and went on to play 12 seasons in the National Hockey League. == Playing career == === Amateur === As a youth, Mara played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from the South Shore. After playing two seasons of high school hockey in Massachusetts for Belmont Hill School Paul Mara joined the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League for the 1996–97 season. As part of a three-team trade with the Windsor Spitfires, Mara was traded to the Plymouth Whalers on December 16, 1997. In reflecting on his move from high school to Junior hockey Mara said, "It was the best decision of my life, to go up to Sudbury." === Professional === Mara was drafted in the first round, 7th overall, in the 1997 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He spent two seasons between the Lightning and their IHL affiliate team the Detroit Vipers before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2001. He played 81 games with the Coyotes in 2003–04.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.