Reggie Leach

Last updated
Reggie Leach
CM OM
Reggie Leach Philly HOF.jpg
Leach (left) in November 2018
Born (1950-04-23) April 23, 1950 (age 74)
Riverton, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Boston Bruins
California Golden Seals
Philadelphia Flyers
Detroit Red Wings
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft 3rd overall, 1970
Boston Bruins
Playing career 1970–1984

Reginald Joseph Leach CM OM (born April 23, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals, Philadelphia Flyers, and Detroit Red Wings between 1970 and 1983. He is best known for his time in Philadelphia, winning a Stanley Cup with the Flyers in 1975 and being a member of the LCB line.

Contents

Playing career

Nicknamed "The Riverton Rifle" and "The Chief", Leach was drafted third overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft. Leach scored his first NHL goal in Boston's 6-0 home win over St. Louis on January 31, 1971. He scored nine goals during his time with the Bruins.

Boston traded Leach, Rick Smith and Bob Stewart to California for Carol Vadnais and Don O'Donoghue on February 23, 1972. After playing three seasons in Oakland, the Golden Seals traded Leach to Philadelphia for Larry Wright, Al MacAdam and 1974 first rounder (Ron Chipperfield) on May 24, 1974. He contributed to the Philadelphia Flyers' Stanley Cup win in 1974-75. Leach finished his NHL career with a one-season stop with the Detroit Red Wings.

Leach's best season was the 1975–76 season with the Philadelphia Flyers, when he set career highs in goals (61), points (91), game-winning goals (11), and plus-minus with a +73 rating. Leach's 61 goals earned him the goal-scoring title for that season, as well as the current Flyers franchise record for most goals in a season.

Leach is perhaps best remembered for being one of only five players, the first Flyer, and the only non-goaltender to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs, as a member of the losing team in the Final. He followed Roger Crozier (Detroit Red Wings, in 1966) and Glenn Hall (St. Louis Blues, 1968) and preceded Ron Hextall (Philadelphia, 1987) and Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 2003). [1] [2] He earned this distinction in 1976 while setting NHL records for most goals in a single post-season, with 19 in 16 games, surpassing the Montreal Canadiens' Newsy Lalonde's 1919 mark of 17 goals, and longest consecutive games goal-scoring streak in the playoffs at 10, bettering the seven set by another Canadien, Maurice Richard, as his team went on to be swept in the final by Montreal. [3] The latter record remains unrivaled, but the former was matched by the Edmonton Oilers' Jari Kurri in 1985, although Leach established it in two fewer games. [4] During that same playoff season, Leach recorded a five-goal game against the Boston Bruins, a record he shares today with Maurice Richard, Darryl Sittler, Mario Lemieux and Newsy Lalonde. [5] Also, his total of 80 goals for the season and playoffs together set a new NHL record, which stood until 1980-81 when Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders scored 85. [6]

Leach played 934 career NHL games, scoring 381 goals and 285 assists for 666 points. Reggie was also part of the Flyers' 35-game unbeaten streak in 1980, which is a record that still stands today, in addition to the Flyers' home game unbeaten streak of 22 games in the same year. Leach also played for Team Canada in the 1976 Canada Cup, helping to win the championship. He was also a member of the NHL All-Star teams in 1976 and 1980.

Coaching career

In late 2007, Leach joined the Manitoulin Islanders of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League as an associate coach. In the spring of 2008, it was announced that Leach would return to Manitoulin for the 2008–09 season as the full-time head coach and director of hockey operations.

Personal life

Leach is of Ojibwe ethnicity, a member of Berens River First Nation in Manitoba. His son Jamie Leach played in the NHL for parts of five seasons, winning the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. Reggie and his two children have all represented Canada: Leach with Team Canada in 1976; son Jamie in the World Juniors in 1989; and daughter Brandie in the world Lacrosse championships in Scotland in 1993. [7]

In 1985, Leach entered rehab for alcohol abuse. He has remained sober for over 30 years. [8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1966–67 Flin Flon Bombers MJHL 4567461131181418123015
1966–67 Flin Flon Bombers M-Cup —————661711
1967–68 Flin Flon Bombers WCHL 598744131208151231548
1968–69 Flin Flon BombersWCHL223610464918138210
1969–70 Flin Flon BombersWCHL5765461111681716112750
1970–71 Boston Bruins NHL 23246030000
1970–71 Oklahoma City Blazers CHL 4124184232—————
1971–72 Boston BruinsNHL567132012—————
1971–72 California Golden Seals NHL1767137—————
1972–73 California Golden SealsNHL7623123545—————
1973–74 California Golden SealsNHL7822244634—————
1974–75 Philadelphia Flyers NHL80453378631782106
1975–76 Philadelphia FlyersNHL806130914116195248
1976–77 Philadelphia FlyersNHL7732144623104590
1977–78 Philadelphia FlyersNHL7224285224122248
1978–79 Philadelphia FlyersNHL763420542085160
1979–80 Philadelphia FlyersNHL76502676281997166
1980–81 Philadelphia FlyersNHL793436705990002
1981–82 Philadelphia FlyersNHL6626214718—————
1982–83 Detroit Red Wings NHL7815173213—————
1983–84 Montana Magic CHL7621295034—————
NHL totals9343812856663879447226922

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1976 Canada CC 61124
Senior totals61124

Awards

John K. Samson wrote and recorded a song about Leach, which was titled "Petition" on his 2010 EP Provincial Road 222 and retitled "www.ipetitions.com/petition/rivertonrifle/" on his 2012 album Provincial . [10] The song recites the text of Samson's own petition to have Leach inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, [10] and was formally presented to the HHOF in 2013. [10]

Leach was the answer to a radio question in the TV series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia . In the fourth episode of the show's sixth season, Mac wins a radio prize after guessing Leach's name at the last second to the question, "Who holds the Philadelphia Flyers' franchise record for goals in a season?"

Leach is cited as inspirational example in Richard Wagamese's novel Indian Horse (2012) and the 2017 film adaptation directed by Stephen Campanelli.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Flyers</span> National Hockey League team in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wells Fargo Center in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, an indoor arena they share with the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Part of the 1967 NHL expansion, the Flyers are the first of the expansion teams in the post–Original Six era to win the Stanley Cup, victorious in 1973–74 and again in 1974–75.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conn Smythe Trophy</span> Ice hockey award

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the most valuable player (MVP) of his team during the National Hockey League's (NHL) Stanley Cup playoffs. It is named after Conn Smythe, the longtime owner, general manager, and head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 54 times to 47 players since the 1964–65 NHL season. Each year, at the conclusion of the final game of the Stanley Cup Finals, members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote to elect the player deserving of the trophy. The trophy is handed out by the NHL Commissioner before the presentation of the Stanley Cup and only the winner is announced, in contrast to most of the other NHL awards which name three finalists and are presented at a ceremony. Vote tallies for the Conn Smythe Trophy were released starting in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie Parent</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1945)

Bernard Marcel Parent is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs between 1965 and 1979, and also spent one season in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Philadelphia Blazers during the 1972–73 season. Parent is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Leetch</span> American ice hockey player (born 1968)

Brian Joseph Leetch is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 18 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins. He has been called one of the top defensemen in NHL history.

Kevin McCarthy is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent 10 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1977 and 1987, serving as captain of the Vancouver Canucks from 1979 until 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Bucyk</span> Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1935)

John Paul "Chief" Bucyk is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Having played most of his career with the Boston Bruins, he has been associated in one capacity or another with the Bruins' organization since the late 1950s. Bucyk was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Barber</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1952)

William Charles Barber is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played twelve seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL). As part of the famed LCB line, Barber helped lead the Flyers to the franchise's two Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990. He is currently a scouting consultant with the Flyers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bun Cook</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Frederick Joseph "Bun" Cook was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and coach. He was an Allan Cup champion with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1924 before embarking on a 13-year professional career. He played for the Saskatoon Crescents in the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) and the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League (NHL). Cook was a member of two Stanley Cup championship teams with the Rangers, in 1928 and 1933, playing on the "Bread Line" with his brother Bill and Frank Boucher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Oliver (ice hockey)</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Harold "Pee-Wee" Oliver was a Canadian ice hockey forward who played for the Calgary Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) and the Boston Bruins and New York Americans of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1921 and 1937. He was a member of the Tigers' 1924 WCHL championship and won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 1929. Oliver played nearly 600 games in a professional career that spanned 16 seasons and scored 217 goals. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1967.

The 1982–83 NHL season was the 66th season of the National Hockey League. The New York Islanders won their fourth Stanley Cup in a row with their second consecutive finals sweep by beating the Edmonton Oilers four games to none. No team in any major professional North American sport has won four consecutive playoff championships since as of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butch Goring</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Robert Thomas "Butch" Goring is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders and Boston Bruins. A four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Islanders, he has been cited as a key figure of the Islanders dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Propp</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1959)

Brian Phillip Propp is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), from 1979 to 1994. He featured in five Stanley Cup Finals with three different NHL teams and won the 1987 Canada Cup with Team Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Clarke</span> Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1949)

Robert Earle Clarke is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire 15-year National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team. Popularly known as Bobby Clarke during his playing career and as Bob Clarke since retiring as a player, Clarke is acknowledged by some as being one of the greatest hockey players and captains of all time. He was captain of the Flyers from 1973 to 1979, winning the Stanley Cup with them in both 1974 and 1975. He was again captain of the Flyers from 1982 to 1984 before retiring. A three-time Hart Trophy winner and 1987 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Clarke was rated number 24 on The Hockey News' list of The Top 100 NHL Players of All-Time in 1998. In 2017 Clarke was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1987 Stanley Cup Finals</span> 1987 ice hockey championship series

The 1987 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1986–87 season, and the culmination of the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Edmonton Oilers and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Oilers won the series 4–3, for their third Stanley Cup victory. This was the sixth of nine consecutive Finals contested by a team from Western Canada, the fifth of eight consecutive Finals contested by a team from Alberta, and the fourth of five consecutive Finals to end with the Cup presentation on Alberta ice. Game 7 of this series was played on May 31, which at the time was the latest finishing date for an NHL season. The record would be broken five years later when that series ended on June 1.

The 1976 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1975–76 season, and the culmination of the 1976 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the two-time defending champion Philadelphia Flyers, making their third consecutive finals appearance, and the Montreal Canadiens. This was the Canadiens first appearance in the Final since their Cup win in 1973. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series, four games to none to win their 19th Stanley Cup in franchise history.

The 1975 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1974–75 season, and the culmination of the 1975 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Buffalo Sabres and the defending champion Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers would win the best-of-seven series, four games to two. This was the first Final to have two non-"Original Six" teams since the 1967 expansion, and also the first contested by any team that had joined the league after 1967. The 1975 Flyers are the last Stanley Cup championship team to be composed solely of Canadian players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Stanley Cup Finals</span> 1974 ice hockey championship series

The 1974 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1973–74 season, and the culmination of the 1974 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers made their first Finals appearance and the Bruins returned to the Finals for the third time in five years, having won the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. The Flyers won the best-of-seven series, four games to two, becoming the first team from the 1967 Expansion to win the Stanley Cup, as well as the first non-Original Six Cup champion since the Montreal Maroons in 1935.

The 1975–76 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 67th season. The Canadiens won their 19th Stanley Cup in club history. In addition to the regular NHL schedule, the Canadiens played an exhibition game against the powerful Soviet Red Army team, recording a 3–3 tie.

The 1974–75 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers eighth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers repeated as Stanley Cup champions. The 1974–75 Flyers were the last Stanley Cup champion to be composed entirely of Canadian players.

The 1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' ninth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the third consecutive year, but they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in a four-game sweep.

References

  1. ↑ nhl.com. "Conn Smythe Trophy" . Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  2. ↑ BarDown Staff (28 July 2017). "5 players who won the Conn Smythe Trophy after losing in the SCF". BarDown. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Weekes, Don (27 October 2009). The Biggest Book of Hockey Trivia. Vancouver, BC, Canada: Greystone Books. p. 483. ISBN   9781926812038.
  4. ↑ Schroeder, Declan (17 May 2018). "Scheifele Sniping His Way Toward Leach's Record". The Hockey Writers: Hockey News & Insights. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  5. ↑ "HHOF Records and Rankings -- NHL Playoff Goals". 2010-12-03. Archived from the original on 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  6. ↑ "Reggie Leach Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  7. ↑ Friedman, Zach. "The Greatest Indigenous-Canadian Athletes Day 1: Reggie Leach". Radio Western. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  8. ↑ Panaccio, Tim (26 January 2014). "Reggie Leach using troubled past to inspire youth". CSNPhilly.com. Comcast. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "'It makes my heart happy,' says Stanley Cup winner Reggie Leach while receiving honorary degree".
  10. 1 2 3 "John K. Samson to Bring Petition to Hockey Hall of Fame". Exclaim! , February 21, 2013.
Bibliography
Preceded by Boston Bruins first round draft pick
1970 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy
1976 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NHL Goal Leader
1976		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.