Paul Mara
A versatile NHL defenseman turned coach who carved out a long career with a sharp, offensive-minded style.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: September 7·Generation X
Biography
Paul Mara's hockey journey is one of adaptability, spanning over a decade as a steady NHL blueliner before transitioning behind the bench. The Massachusetts native was a first-round pick in 1997, known for his smooth skating and willingness to join the rush. He played for six different franchises, bringing a consistent offensive touch and a veteran presence to lineups in Tampa Bay, Phoenix, Boston, and New York. While never a superstar, he was a reliable minute-eater who understood the game's nuances. That hockey IQ became his coaching currency. After retirement, he broke ground as the head coach of the Boston Pride in the Premier Hockey Federation, guiding them to an Isobel Cup championship, before moving into the professional ranks as an assistant coach in the AHL and a development role with the New York Rangers.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Paul was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Paul Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Paul's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 734 regular-season games in the NHL across 11 seasons for six different franchises.
- Served as head coach of the Boston Pride, leading them to the 2022 Isobel Cup championship in the PHF.
- Recorded a career-high 47 points (17 goals, 30 assists) in the 2005-06 season with the Phoenix Coyotes.
- Was selected 7th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
Did You Know?
He is the cousin of former NHL player and current executive Chris O'Sullivan.
He played for Team USA in several international tournaments, including the 1999 World Junior Championships.
He served as a temporary Assistant to Player Development for the New York Rangers during the 2023-24 season.
He was traded from the Phoenix Coyotes to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Nick Boynton in 2006.
“A good defenseman makes the simple play and supports the attack without forcing it.”
