Playing career Gary Bergman

1 playing career

1.1 minor league career
1.2 nhl career
1.3 1972 summit series

playing career
minor league career

the professional hockey world had first @ bergman in 1957 when winnipeg warriors of western hockey league called young defenceman on mjhl s winnipeg braves. after 2 years warriors, , solid defensive play, bergman moved american hockey league , continued gain experience while skating 4 different ahl squads, including buffalo bisons, cleveland barons, quebec aces, , springfield indians. after last season in 1964 nhl took notice. detroit red wings claimed bergman in 1964 intra-league draft on june 10 , put hard-working defenceman test.

nhl career

bergman joined detroit red wings 1964–65 season , looked comfortable freshman. in 58 games, bergman held offensive instincts while focusing on defensive work. gradually gained confidence , seniority on team. played solidly when wings reached 1966 stanley cup finals , lost montreal canadiens in 6 games. bergman man tangled montreal’s henri richard when richard scored stanley cup-winning goal against detroit in overtime during game 6 of 1965–66 final series. bergman, wings season, convinced richard pushed puck in glove , goal should not have counted. said after game,

took him down , held stick in hand, there no way score.

bergman continued improve defensive , offensive roles on team throughout 1970s. well-rounded play made him useful on both power-play , penalty-killing units wings. although incurred share of penalties, bergman wasn t considered surly opponent on ice. looked trouble never backed down onrushing opponent, whether fancy scorer or power forward. while eyes on young superstars bobby orr , brad park, red wings mediocre team continued lose respect in league, retirement of gordie howe. bergman started turning community, becoming involved in many outside charities , organizations. particularly involved helping disabled children , adults. 1 of liked nhlers off ice due charity work , in 1973 named co-winner of charlie conacher humanitarian award.

after 10 years wing, bergman traded minnesota north stars fellow veteran blueliner ted harris on november 7, 1973. 1 thought why traded stemmed bergman speaking out when disagreed decisions of coach ned harkness. post 26 points go along consistent defensive play in 1973–74 season north stars.

after 1 year reacquired in off-season on october 1, 1974 red wings detroit s third round draft pick in 1975 (who ended being alex pirus). score 30 points former team before being traded again following year. along bill mckenzie, bergman traded on august 22, 1975 peter mcduffe , glen burdon newly formed kansas city scouts spend final nhl season. in 1975–76, bergman record second highest point total of nhl career, scoring 5 goals , tacking on 33 assists finish 38 total points.

bergman retired 367 points in 838 regular season games. in decade , half of nhl service, had chance play in 21 post-season games, 12 of them taking place in 1966.

1972 summit series

in 1972 bergman received huge compliment when harry sinden , john ferguson invited him play team canada in 1972 summit series. bergman recounted day asked play country,

harry called me sunday morning. janie , kids , going out door church, , had stop. janie saying, off damn phone, have church. harry sinden on phone asking me if d part of team.

bergman played important defensive role in 8 games against soviets , chipped in 3 assists. posthumously honored defensive efforts in 2005, when team honored, en masse, members of canadian sports hall of fame.