Garry Unger

Last updated
Garry Unger
Born (1947-12-07) December 7, 1947 (age 76)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for AHL
Rochester Americans
Moncton Alpines
NHL
Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
St. Louis Blues
Atlanta Flames
Los Angeles Kings
Edmonton Oilers
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Playing career 19671988

Garry Douglas Unger (born December 7, 1947) is a former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1967 until 1983.

Contents

Playing career

Unger set an NHL record by playing 914 consecutive games in the regular season between February 24, 1968, and December 21, 1979, doing so with four teams: the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Flames. [1] Unger passed Andy Hebenton, who had the record of 630 consecutive games played that had stood since the 1963-64 NHL season. Unger's streak came to an end after Flames' coach Al MacNeil benched him on December 21, 1979 (the only game he would miss that season). His record has since been surpassed by Phil Kessel who has played over 1000 consecutive games as of the completion of the 2022–23 NHL season.

He was part of a six-player blockbuster transaction in which he was traded along with Frank Mahovlich and Pete Stemkowski from the Maple Leafs to the Red Wings for Norm Ullman, Paul Henderson and Floyd Smith on March 4, 1968. The Maple Leafs and Red Wings were in fifth and sixth place respectively at the bottom of the East Division standings at the time of the deal. [2]

Unger finished his career with 1105 career NHL games, scoring 413 goals and 391 assists for 804 points, and he also registered 1075 career penalty minutes. [1] Unger was the MVP of the 1974 NHL All-Star Game played in Chicago. He had an assist and scored a shorthanded goal in the West Division's 6–4 victory over the East Division.

After retiring from the NHL he went to play for three seasons in the British professional league. During a season for the Peterborough Pirates he racked up 95 goals and well over 200 points while playing in only 30 games.

Personal

Garry was the oldest of four children of Jakob and Olive (Wheeler) Unger. Unger's younger sister used a wheelchair; she proved to be an inspiration to Unger during his playing career. After being traded to Atlanta in 1979, Unger encountered a group of Christian players, including Paul Henderson, whom Unger credits with helping him discover spirituality and giving meaning to his life. [3]

He and his wife Beverly have three children. Garry presently works with the Banff Hockey Academy in Banff, Alberta, Canada.[ citation needed ]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1965–66 Calgary Buffaloes AJHL
1966–67 London Nationals OHA 4838357360625727
1966–67 Rochester Americans AHL 1000010000
1966–67 Tulsa Oilers CPHL 22022
1967–68 London NationalsOHA24152
1967–68 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 151124
1967–68 Tulsa OilersCHL93586
1967–68 Rochester AmericansAHL51346
1967–68 Detroit Red Wings NHL13510152
1968–69 Detroit Red WingsNHL7624204433
1969–70 Detroit Red WingsNHL764224666740116
1970–71 Detroit Red WingsNHL5113142763
1970–71 St. Louis Blues NHL2815142941632520
1971–72 St. Louis BluesNHL783634701041145935
1972–73 St. Louis BluesNHL7841398011951232
1973–74 St. Louis BluesNHL7833356896
1974–75 St. Louis BluesNHL8036448012321346
1975–76 St. Louis BluesNHL803944839532137
1976–77 St. Louis BluesNHL803027575640112
1977–78 St. Louis BluesNHL8032205266
1978–79 St. Louis BluesNHL8030265644
1979–80 Atlanta Flames NHL791716333940332
1980–81 Los Angeles Kings NHL5810102040
1980–81 Edmonton Oilers NHL13000680002
1981–82 Edmonton OilersNHL467132069410123
1982–83 Edmonton OilersNHL16202810000
1982–83 Moncton Alpines AHL82350
1985–86 Dundee Rockets BHL 358648134646761344
1986–87 Peterborough Pirates BHL-2309514323858817153238
1987–88 Peterborough PiratesBHL32374481116
NHL totals1,1054133918041,07552121830105

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1978 Canada WC 1000030
1979 CanadaWC721312
Senior totals1721342

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Garry Unger player profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  2. "Mahovlich, Ullman Traded," The Edmonton Journal, Monday, March 4, 1968. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  3. "Doug Jarvis player profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
Preceded by St. Louis Blues captain
1976–77
Succeeded by
Red Berenson