David John "Dave" Semenko (born 12 July 1957 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) is a retired hockey player who played for the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, and Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Winnipeg (ˈwɪnɨpɛg is the capital and largest city in the Canadian province of Manitoba, and 7th largest municipality in Canada with a population Manitoba (English ˌmænɨˈtoʊbə French /manitoba/ is a province of Canada, spanning 647797 square kilometres (250116  sq mi of North America Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. The Edmonton Oilers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Hartford Whalers were an American professional Ice hockey team based in Hartford Connecticut. "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America He was originally selected in 1977 by the Minnesota North Stars of the National Hockey League and the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays The Minnesota North Stars were a professional Ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL for 26 seasons from 1967 to 1993. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America The Houston Aeros are an Ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The World Hockey Association (French Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional Ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972

A frequent fighter, he was known as Wayne Gretzky's bodyguard early in Gretzky's career in Edmonton, beginning in the WHA in 1978, until Semenko was traded to Hartford in January 1987. Wayne Douglas Gretzky, OC (born January 26 1961 is a retired Canadian professional Ice hockey player Enforcer is an unofficial role in Ice hockey. The term is sometimes used synonymously with " fighter " " tough guy " or " goon Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) The 1986–87 NHL season was the 70th season of the National Hockey League. Semenko is considered by many to be one of the toughest players ever in the NHL. The protection offered by Semenko allowed Edmonton's star players, like Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, and Paul Coffey more freedom on the ice, greatly helping the Oilers win Stanley Cups in 1984 and 1985. Jari Pekka Kurri (born May 18 1960 in Helsinki, Finland is a retired Finnish professional Ice hockey right winger Mark John Douglas Messier (born January 18 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a former Ice hockey centerman of the National Hockey League Paul Douglas Coffey (born June 1 1961 in York, Ontario) is a retired professional Ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion The 1983–84 NHL season was the 67th season of the National Hockey League. The 1984–85 NHL season was the 68th season of the National Hockey League. He fought boxing legend Muhammad Ali in an exhibition on June 12, 1983. Biography Early life Cassius Clay Jr was born on January 17 1942 Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar)

Semenko played his junior hockey for the Brandon Wheat Kings and then played two years for the Oilers in the WHA before it merged with the NHL. Wheat Kings redirects here For The Tragically Hip song see Fully Completely The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian The World Hockey Association (French Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional Ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 He scored the final goal in WHA history in Game 6 of the 1979 Avco Cup Finals, which the Oilers lost to the Winnipeg Jets. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The Avco World Trophy also known as the Avco Cup was the championship trophy of the original World Hockey Association ( 1972 - 1979) The Winnipeg Jets were a professional Hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. ^[1] After brief stops with the Hartford Whalers and Toronto Maple Leafs, he retired following the 1987–88 season. The Hartford Whalers were an American professional Ice hockey team based in Hartford Connecticut. "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St He finished his 575-game NHL career with 55 goals, 88 assists and 1175 penalty minutes.

After retiring, he became a colour commentator on Oilers radio broadcasts and then became an assistant coach with the Oilers in 1996 before joining the scouting staff. The 1996–97 NHL season was the 80th Regular season of the National Hockey League. Legions of fans still affectionately remember Semenko as "Cementhead" although his official team nickname was always "Sammy".

Awards & Achievements

• Stanley Cup Championships (1984 & 1985)
• “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

References

External links

• Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com
• Dave Semenko's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Dave Semenko's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Dave Semenko's biography at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

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