Career
In his National Hockey League coaching career he has been an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers, the Toronto Maple Leafs and most recently the Edmonton Oilers, who released Acton and fellow assistant Craig Ramsay on June 4, 2015. Acton was selected 103rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1978 National Hockey League Amateur Draft. He began his National Hockey League career on Montreal"s fourth line but his productive play soon earned him a promotion to the first line, where he centered all-stars Steve Shutt and Guy Lafleur.
He became known as one of the best faceoff men in the National Hockey League. His most productive National Hockey League season came in 1981-1982 when he registered 88 points in 78 games with Montreal.
Acton"s son, Will, is also a hockey player. 1979-1980 AHL Second Team All-Star.