Brian Kennedy Conacher(born August 31, 1941) is a Canadian former professionalice hockeyplayer, coach, executive, and broadcaster. Conacher played 155 games in theNational Hockey League(NHL) with theToronto Maple LeafsandDetroit Red Wingsbetween 1961 and 1972, winning theStanley Cupwith Toronto in1967.He later played one season in theWorld Hockey Association(WHA) with theOttawa Nationalsin1972–73.In the mid-1960s Conacher was reinstated as an amateur player and joined theCanada national team,playing at the1964 Winter Olympics.He later served as a coach in the minorNorth American Hockey League,and general manager of both theIndianapolis RacersandEdmonton Oilersin the WHA. He was the manager ofMaple Leaf Gardensuntil 1998. Conacher also held the position of Chief Executive Officer of theRoyal Agricultural Winter Fair.
| Brian Conacher | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
August 31, 1941 Toronto,Ontario,Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings Ottawa Nationals | ||
| Playing career | 1962–1976 | ||
Personal information
editConacher is the son ofLionel Conacher,who was voted Canada's top athlete for the first half of the century.[1]He was educated at Toronto'sUpper Canada College.
His brother,Lionel Jr.,was a professional Canadian football player.
Charlie ConacherandRoy Conacherare Brian's uncles.
He is the cousin ofMurray HendersonandPete Conacher.
Playing career
editConacher played on theCanadian Olympic hockey teamcoached byFather David Bauerat the1964 Winter Olympicsat Innsbruck, Austria.[2]He was also a player for theToronto Maple Leafs,playing full seasons during the1967and1968campaigns. He won theStanley Cupwith the Maple Leafs in1967.In 1968, he played in theNHL All-Star Game,though not as an All-Star but as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs (in those years, the current Stanley Cup Champion played the All-Star team). Brian was notable in that game as one of only two players to wear a helmet. After 1968, he was relegated, once again, to the minor leagues, until he finally finished his NHL career with a final season with theDetroit Red Wingsin 1971–72. He then decided to try out the newWorld Hockey Association,joining theOttawa Nationalsfor a season.
Coaching career
editAfter retiring as a player, Conacher had a few small coaching stints in the minor leagues before becoming the general manager of the WHAIndianapolis Racers,and then the same position in 1977–78 with the WHAEdmonton Oilers.
Conacher was also a part-time coach with Upper Canada College. Some of the students he coached became collegiate and/or professional hockey players:Syl Apps III,Jason Cipolla (played with the St. John's Maple Leafs),Andre Faust(Philadelphia Flyers), Mike McKee (Quebec Nordiques), and NHL first-round pickDaniel Tkaczuk.[3]
Broadcasting career
editAs a broadcaster, Conacher was most notable as fellow UCC graduateFoster Hewitt's colour man during the1972 Summit Series.He also teamed withCurt Gowdyto call hockey for the U.S. coverage of the1976 Winter OlympicsonABC.
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1958–59 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1959–60 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA | 42 | 17 | 17 | 34 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1960–61 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1961–62 | Toronto Marlboros | MTJAHL | 25 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 18 | ||
| 1961–62 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1961–62 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1962–63 | University of Western Ontario | CIAU | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1963–64 | Canada National Team | Intl | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1964–65 | Canada National Team | Intl | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1965–66 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1965–66 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 69 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 66 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 18 | ||
| 1966–67 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 66 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 47 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 21 | ||
| 1967–68 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 64 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1967–68 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1968–69 | Canada National Team | Intl | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1969–70 | Canada National Team | Intl | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970–71 | Canada National Team | Intl | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971–72 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 22 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971–72 | Fort Worth Wings | CHL | 40 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 1972–73 | Ottawa Nationals | WHA | 69 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 1975–76 | Mohawk Valley Comets | NAHL | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| WHA totals | 69 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ||||
| NHL totals | 155 | 28 | 28 | 56 | 84 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 21 | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Canada | OLY | 7 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 6 | |
| 1965 | Canada | WC | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | |
| Senior totals | 14 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 10 | |||
References
edit- ^"Custom Domain by Bitly".
- ^Shea, Kevin (March 13, 2009)."Spotlight - One on One with Father David Bauer".Legends of Hockey.Archived fromthe originalon November 27, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 21,2020.
- ^As the Puck Turns: A Personal Journey Through the World of Hockey, by Brian Conacher, p. 206, John Wiley and Sons, Mississauga, ON, 2007,ISBN978-0-470-15295-9
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics fromNHL.com,orEliteprospects.com,orHockey-Reference.com,orThe Internet Hockey Database