Jody Gage

Last updated
Jody Gage
Born (1959-11-29) November 29, 1959 (age 64)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Detroit Red Wings
Buffalo Sabres
Rochester Americans
NHL draft 45th overall, 1979
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 19791996

Joseph William "Jody" Gage (born November 29, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He was drafted in the third round, 45th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.

Contents

Biography

As a youth, Gage played in the 1972 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Toronto. [1]

Gage played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1976–79 with the St. Catharines Fincups, Hamilton Fincups, and Kitchener Rangers before turning pro in 1979–80, splitting time with the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League and the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League. In his AHL debut on October 11, 1979, Gage scored four goals in an 8-3 win over the Hershey Bears. With his help, Adirondack would win the Calder Cup championship in 1981.

Prior to the 1985–86 season, Gage signed with the Buffalo Sabres as a free agent and was assigned to the AHL's Rochester Americans, where Gage would soon become one of the important figures in the history of the franchise. His Amerks debut was a mirror image of his AHL debut in 1979, scoring four goals in a win over Hershey. In ten seasons, Gage became the Amerks' all-time leader in games played (653), points (728), goals (351), and assists (377). Gage won the Les Cunningham Award in 1987–88 after a 60-goal season (second player in league history to accomplish this feat). He was the third player in AHL history to score 1000 points, the fifth player to play 1000 AHL games, and the fifth member of the AHL's 500-goal club. Gage led Rochester to a Calder Cup in 1986–87 and back to the Calder Cup Finals in 1989–90, 1990–91, and 1992–93.

The man dubbed "Mr. Amerk" retired during the 1995–96 season and finished his AHL career with 504 goals, 1,048 points, seven 40-goal seasons, and 51 playoff goals. In 68 career NHL games with Detroit and Buffalo, Gage totaled 14 goals, 15 assists, and 26 penalty minutes. Immediately after his retirement, Gage accepted a position as assistant general manager and helped the Amerks capture the 1995–96 Calder Cup championship in a thrilling seven-game series over the defending champion Portland Pirates.

Gage was named general manager of the Americans before the 1996–97 season and has since overseen five division titles, two more trips to the Calder Cup Finals, and a Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy after a 51-win season in 2004–05. In addition to his work with the Amerks, Gage also served as GM for the Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse and was GM of the National Lacrosse League's Rochester Knighthawks (1995-2019) until new ownership took control of both the Amerks and Knighthawks in 2008.

In 2006, Gage was a member of the inaugural induction class of the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.

On February 3, 2011, Gage was named the new general manager for the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse. [2]

Gage is now the vice president of player personnel for the Rochester Knighthawks Lacrosse Club.

Career statistics

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1975–76 Toronto Nationals OPJHL 53285280145
1976–77 St. Catharines Fincups OMJHL 47132033220000
1977–78 Hamilton FincupsOMJHL3215183319
1977–78 Kitchener Rangers OMJHL361727442194374
1978–79 Kitchener RangersOMJHL5846438940101236
1979–80 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 632521461552130
1979–80 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 141712290
1980–81 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1622422
1980–81 Adirondack Red WingsAHL591731484417961512
1981–82 Detroit Red WingsNHL31910192
1981–82 Adirondack Red WingsAHL4721204121
1982–83 Adirondack Red WingsAHL652330533361568
1983–84 Detroit Red WingsNHL30000
1983–84 Adirondack Red WingsAHL734032723263472
1984–85 Adirondack Red WingsAHL7827336055
1985–86 Buffalo Sabres NHL73250
1985–86 Rochester Americans AHL7342579956
1986–87 Rochester AmericansAHL7026396560171451924
1987–88 Buffalo SabresNHL20000
1987–88 Rochester AmericansAHL76604410446525710
1988–89 Rochester AmericansAHL6531386960
1989–90 Rochester AmericansAHL754538834217461012
1990–91 Rochester AmericansAHL7342438534156101614
1991–92 Buffalo SabresNHL90112
1991–92 Rochester AmericansAHL674040805416591410
1992–93 Rochester AmericansAHL7140408076958132
1993–94 Rochester AmericansAHL4418213957
1994–95 Rochester AmericansAHL234592020000
1995–96 Rochester AmericansAHL163121520
AHL totals10385045441048725115515911094
NHL totals6814152926

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References

  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  2. "Nationals Announce Move to Hamilton". NationalsLacrosse.com press release. March 5, 2009. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-04.