Charlie Simmer

Last updated
Charlie Simmer
Mikemilburyfacingoff.jpg
Simmer with the Boston Bruins in 1985
Born (1954-03-20) March 20, 1954 (age 70)
Terrace Bay, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for California Golden Seals
Cleveland Barons
Los Angeles Kings
Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
Eintracht Frankfurt
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft 39th overall, 1974
California Golden Seals
WHA draft 26th overall, 1974
Cleveland Crusaders
Playing career 1974–1992

Charles Robert Simmer (born March 20, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward, most notably for the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League, who was known for his scoring prowess.

Contents

Playing career

After a junior career with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey Association that saw him score 99 points in his only season (1973–74), Simmer was selected in the third round of the 1974 NHL amateur draft, 39th overall, by the California Golden Seals, where he joined a young field of players such as Larry Patey, Rick Hampton, George Pesut, Al McAdam and Stan Weir. He split his first three professional seasons between the Seals and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the CHL, having success in the minors but receiving limited playing time in the NHL. The Seals relocated to Cleveland in 1976, but Simmer did not receive more playing time.

He was traded in 1977 to the Los Angeles Kings, but spent the season with the Springfield Indians of the AHL, winning All-Star accolades. The next season Simmer was promoted halfway through the campaign to the Kings, and scored 21 goals in 39 games.

While with the Kings, he played left wing on the "Triple Crown Line" with Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor, one of the most potent and famed forward lines of the era. Despite injuries costing him significant playing time, Simmer had back-to-back 56-goal seasons and was further named an NHL first team All-Star in 1980 and 1981. In the latter season, Simmer almost accomplished one of hockey's most difficult feats: scoring 50 goals in 50 games. Simmer entered his 50th game with 46 goals and scored three times to finish just shy of the mark; that same night, Mike Bossy became only the second player in NHL history to score 50 in 50. [1] Simmer scored his 50th goal the following night in his 51st game. [2] Simmer's shooting percentage of 32.75 in 1981 was, and remains, an NHL record. [3]

Simmer was traded at the beginning of the 1985 season to the Boston Bruins, where despite the cumulative effects of several injuries throughout his career, he starred for three more seasons. In 1986, Simmer won the Bill Masterton Trophy for his perseverance and dedication to hockey.

Simmer played his final NHL season, for the Pittsburgh Penguins, in 1988. He subsequently played the 1989 season for Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga and, after a season off, parts of two seasons as a player-coach for the minor league San Diego Gulls before retiring.

Retirement

Simmer finished his NHL career with 711 points (342 goals, 369 assists) in 712 career games. At the time of his retirement, he was the last active player in North American professional hockey to have played for the Seals-Barons franchise (though Dennis Maruk was the last alumnus of the franchise to play in the NHL, upon his retirement in 1989.)

He was formerly married to one-time Playboy Playmate of the Year Terri Welles; the couple had one daughter. Simmer spent years as a color commentator for the Phoenix Coyotes and the Calgary Flames on Sportsnet.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1971–72 Kenora Muskies MJHL 4514314577—————
1972–73 Kenora MuskiesMJHL48436811157—————
1973–74 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHA 70455499137—————
1974–75 California Golden Seals NHL 358132126—————
1974–75 Salt Lake Golden Eagles CHL 4712294186—————
1975–76 California Golden SealsNHL2111222—————
1975–76 Salt Lake Golden EaglesCHL4223163996—————
1976–77 Cleveland Barons NHL2420216—————
1976–77 Salt Lake Golden EaglesCHL5132306237—————
1977–78 Los Angeles Kings NHL30002—————
1977–78 Springfield Indians AHL 7542418310040115
1978–79 Los Angeles KingsNHL372127481621012
1978–79 Springfield IndiansAHL3913233633—————
1979–80 Los Angeles KingsNHL6456451016532020
1980–81 Los Angeles KingsNHL65564910562—————
1981–82 Los Angeles KingsNHL501524394210471122
1982–83 Los Angeles KingsNHL8029518051—————
1983–84 Los Angeles KingsNHL7944489278—————
1984–85 Los Angeles KingsNHL51014—————
1984–85 Boston Bruins NHL633330633552242
1985–86 Boston BruinsNHL553624604230004
1986–87 Boston BruinsNHL802940695910002
1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL5011172824—————
1988–89 Frankfurt Lions GER 3619325168412313
1990–91 San Diego Gulls IHL 431672363—————
1991–92 San Diego GullsIHL10000—————
NHL totals71234236971154424991832

International

Medal record
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1983 West Germany
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
1983 Canada WC Bronze medal icon.svg102358
Senior totals102358

Awards and achievements

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References

  1. ↑ Keese, Parton (26 January 1981). "Bossy's Last-Chance Goals a Dramatic Ending to 50-Game Quest". The New York Times . Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  2. ↑ International, United Press (27 January 1981). "Simmer Scores 50th Goal". The New York Times . Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "NHL & WHA Single Season Leaders and Records for Shooting Percentage | Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
Preceded by Bill Masterton Trophy winner
1986 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NHL Goal Leader
1980

(tied with Danny Gare and Blaine Stoughton)

Succeeded by
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