Doug Jarvis began his hockey career with the Peterborough Petes in the OHA. He was a key player with the Petes as he took important faceoffs and strengthened their special teams unit. Jarvis was chosen to represent Team Canada in the 1974 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Canada took home the bronze medal as Jarvis scored four goals in five games. After a 133-point effort in 1974-75, he was selected to the OMJHL First All-Star Team. This caught the attention of NHL scouts and in 1975, he was picked 24th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. After being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, he was traded almost right away to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Greg Hubick. Jarvis began his professional hockey career in Montreal. He remained there for seven years teaming up with Hall of FamerBob Gainey to form one of the league's top penalty killing teams. He took home four Stanley Cups between 1976 and 1979. In 1980-81, Jarvis broke the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career. Prior to the 1982-83 NHL season, Jarvis was traded to the Washington Capitals with teammates Rod Langway and Brian Engblom for Ryan Walter and Rick Green. He and his teammates from Montreal helped solidify the Caps defence and turned the Capitals into a Stanley Cup contender team. In 1983-84, Jarvis was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy for his outstanding two way play. Halfway through the 1985-86 season, he was traded to the Hartford Whalers for Jorgen Pettersson. It was in Hartford that Doug Jarvis set the NHL record for most consecutive games played with 964, breaking Garry Unger's record of 914. For this achievement, he was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1986-87. In 1987-88, Jarvis was sent down to the minors as the Whalers were looking for Brent Peterson to take over as the team's top checking centre. He played in 24 games with the Binghamton Whalers before retiring.
Shortly after retiring, Jarvis was hired by the Minnesota North Stars to serve as assistant coach to Pierre Page. Two years later, the North Stars hired former linemate Bob Gainey as coach and general manager. The two helped the North Stars reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1991 where they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 1993, the team was relocated to Dallas as the Dallas Stars. He stayed with the North Stars/Stars for 14 years where Dallas won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 1999. His 14-year tenure with the team makes it the longest period of time an assistant coach has stayed with the same team. He was an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens from 2005 until his dismissal in 2009 and coached the Canadiens farm team the Hamilton Bulldogs from 2003-2005. Jarvis previously served as assistant coach to the Boston Bruins. He was hired by the Vancouver Canucks as an assistant coach during the 2016 offseason. He left his role after the 2017-18 season. He currently serves as a Senior Advisor for the Canucks.
Personal life
Jarvis and his wife Linda have two children, Landry and Laura. His cousin is Wes Jarvis.
Awards and achievements
Selected to the OMJHL First All-Star Team in 1975.
