Shot Left Height 1.78 m Playing career Weight 79 kg | Name Barclay Plager Position Defenseman Role Ice hockey player Played for St. Louis Blues | |
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Born March 26, 1941
Kirkland Lake, ON, CAN ( 1941-03-26 ) Died February 6, 1988, Creve Coeur, Missouri, United States | ||
1972 04 05 D Hextall Barclay Plager
Barclay Graham Plager (March 26, 1941 – February 6, 1988) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach for the St. Louis Blues.
Contents
- 1972 04 05 D Hextall Barclay Plager
- Playing career
- Post NHL career
- Death
- Career achievements and facts
- References
Playing career
The oldest of three hockey playing brothers (Bill, Bob and Barclay), Plager played junior league hockey with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey Association before spending six seasons in the minor leagues, cementing a reputation as a hard-nosed defensive defenceman. His reputation was established while still in juniors, when he had a notable fight with his own brother Bob, who was playing for the rival Guelph Royals. Plager spent the 1964 season with the Omaha Knights of the Central Professional Hockey League (CPHL), leading the league in assists and winning best defenceman accolades before being sold by the Detroit Red Wings to the Montreal Canadiens for $20,000. He played the majority of the next three seasons with the Springfield Indians of the AHL.
With the 1967 NHL Expansion, many new jobs opened up in the National Hockey League, and Plager was acquired with Red Berenson by the St. Louis Blues from the New York Rangers, which held his rights. The deal proved extremely successful for the Blues, for Berenson became the first great offensive star of the newly minted Western Division, while Plager anchored a stingy defence that allowed the fewest goals in the NHL in 1969, the second fewest in 1970, and the third fewest in 1971. Behind Plager's leadership—he was named the second captain in team history in 1970 and served longer than any other Blues' captain save for Brian Sutter—the Blues made the Stanley Cup finals their first three seasons. With brother Bob a fellow mainstay of the Blues' defence for eleven seasons and youngest brother Bill a teammate for four, it was widely seen as the "Plagers' team".
Post-NHL career
With his career winding down, Plager was named player-coach of the Blues' Kansas City CHL farm team in 1977, leading his club into the finals and being named the league's most valuable player. He retired as a player during the following season when he was named as head coach of the Blues, succeeding Leo Boivin. In his one full season as Blues' coach, 1979, however, the Blues had their worst season in franchise history, and he was relieved of duties the following season.
Suffering from dizzy spells thought to be the result of an old head injury, Plager was examined by a doctor following his stepping down as coach. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
On March 24, 1981, prior to a game with the New York Islanders, Barclay Plager Night was held and his No. 8 was retired.
In 1981, Plager was named assistant coach of the Blues, and save for another stint as interim head coach in the 1983 season, served as such until his death from cancer in 1988.
Death
In early 1987, Plager had an operation to remove a brain tumour with a heat treatment. He survived the operation, but when a new and rapidly growing tumour was discovered later that year, he refused treatment because he was informed that extensive brain damage might occur. He entered the hospital late in January 1988, and died on February 6, 1988, of a brain hemorrhage.
At the All-Star Game February 9, 1988, a moment of silence was held at the St. Louis Arena in his memory.