Brian Conacher

Last updated
Brian Conacher
Born (1941-08-31) August 31, 1941 (age 82)
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 19621976

Brian Kennedy Conacher (born August 31, 1941) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, coach, executive and broadcaster. Conacher played 155 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings between 1961 and 1972, winning the Stanley Cup with Toronto in 1967. He later played one season in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Ottawa Nationals in 1972–73. In the mid-1960s Conacher reinstated as an amateur player and joined the Canadian national team, playing at the 1964 Winter Olympics. He later served as a coach in the minor North American Hockey League, and general manager of both the Indianapolis Racers and Edmonton Oilers in the WHA. He was the manager of Maple Leaf Gardens until 1998. Conacher also held the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Contents

Personal information

Conacher is the son of Lionel Conacher, who was voted Canada's top athlete for the first half of the century. [1] He was educated at Toronto's Upper Canada College.

His brother, Lionel Jr., was a professional Canadian football player.

Charlie Conacher and Roy Conacher are Brian's uncles.

He is the cousin of Murray Henderson and Pete Conacher.

Playing career

Conacher played on the Canadian Olympic hockey team coached by Father David Bauer at the 1964 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck, Austria. [2] He was also a player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing full seasons during the 1967 and 1968 campaigns. He won the Stanley Cup with the Maple Leafs in 1967. In 1968, he played in the NHL 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 the Detroit Red Wings in 1971–72. He then decided to try out the new World Hockey Association, joining the Ottawa Nationals for a season.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Conacher had a few small coaching stints in the minor leagues before becoming the general manager of the WHA Indianapolis Racers, and then the same position in 1977–78 with the WHA Edmonton 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 pick Daniel Tkaczuk. [3]

Broadcasting career

As a broadcaster, Conacher was most notable as fellow UCC graduate Foster Hewitt's colour man during the 1972 Summit Series. He also teamed with Curt Gowdy to call hockey for the U.S. coverage of the 1976 Winter Olympics on ABC.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1958–59 Toronto Marlboros OHA 6011030220
1959–60 Toronto MarlborosOHA42171734230002
1960–61 Toronto MarlborosOHA142577
1961–62Toronto MarlborosMTJAHL25122739412781518
1961–62 Rochester Americans AHL 30002
1961–62 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 10000
1962–63 University of Western Ontario CIAU
1963–64 Canadian National Team Intl
1964–65Canadian National TeamIntl
1965–66 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL20002
1965–66 Rochester AmericansAHL69141630661260618
1966–67 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL66141327471232521
1967–68 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL6411142531
1967–68 Rochester AmericansAHL52246
1968–69Canadian National TeamIntl
1969–70Canadian National TeamIntl
1970–71Canadian National TeamIntl
1971–72 Detroit Red Wings NHL223144
1971–72 Fort Worth Wings CHL 40131326473254
1972–73 Ottawa Nationals WHA 69819273251344
1975–76 Mohawk Valley Comets NAHL 32132
WHA totals69819273251344
NHL totals155282856841232521

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1964 Canada OLY 77186
1965 Canada WC 71346
Senior totals14841210

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References

  1. "Custom Domain by Bitly".
  2. Shea, Kevin (March 13, 2009). "Spotlight - One on One with Father David Bauer". Legends of Hockey. Archived from the original on November 27, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  3. As the Puck Turns: A Personal Journey Through the World of Hockey, by Brian Conacher, p. 206, John Wiley and Sons, Mississauga, ON, 2007, ISBN   978-0-470-15295-9
Preceded by General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers
1977–78
Succeeded by