Gary Bergman (born October 7, 1938 in Kenora, Ontario; died December 8, 2000) was a professional ice hockey defenceman playing in the NHL mostly for the Detroit Red Wings. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. Defence ( defense in the USA in Ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions He was also a part of Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series. The Summit Series was the first competition between full-strength Soviet and Canadian national Ice hockey teams an eight-game series held in
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Playing career
Minor league career
The professional hockey world had its first look at Bergman in 1957 when the Winnipeg Warriors of the Western Hockey League called up the young defenceman currently on the MJHL's Winnipeg Braves. The Winnipeg Warriors were a Junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League. This article refers to the junior Western Hockey League For other leagues with the same name see Western Hockey League (disambiguation. History The beginning The League has a rich tradition first year of operation was the 1918–19 season making it the oldest Junior League in Canada The Winnipeg Braves were a Canadian Junior Hockey Team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, affiliated with the Winnipeg Warriors (minor pro of the Western Hockey League After two years with the Warriors, and solid defensive play, Bergman moved into the American Hockey League and continued to gain experience while skating with four different AHL squads, including the Buffalo Bisons, Cleveland Barons, Quebec Aces, and the Springfield Indians. American Hockey Association (1926–1942The American Hockey League (AHL is a Professional Ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary For other teams named Buffalo Bisons see Buffalo Bisons (disambiguation The Buffalo Bisons were an American Hockey League The Quebec Aces, also known in French as As de Québec, were an amateur and later a professional men's Ice hockey team from Quebec City, Quebec The Springfield Indians were a minor professional Ice hockey franchise based in West Springfield Massachusetts. It was after this last season in 1964 that the NHL finally took notice. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America The Detroit Red Wings claimed Bergman in the 1964 Intra-League Draft on June 10 and put the hard-working defenceman to the test. The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions
NHL career
Bergman joined the Detroit Red Wings for the 1964–65 season and looked very comfortable as a freshman. The 1964–65 NHL season was the 48th season of the National Hockey League. In 58 games, Bergman held back his offensive instincts while focusing on his defensive work. Gradually he gained confidence and seniority on the team. He played solidly when the Wings reached the 1966 Stanley Cup finals and lost to the Montreal Canadiens in six games. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion The Montreal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal are a professional Ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Bergman was the man tangled up with Montreal’s Henri Richard when Richard scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal against Detroit in overtime during Game 6 of the 1965–66 final series. Joseph Henri Richard (born February 29, 1936 in Montreal, Quebec) is a former professional Ice hockey player who played centre with the The 1965–66 NHL season was the 49th season of the National Hockey League. Bergman, like all Wings from that season, was convinced Richard pushed the puck in with his glove and the goal should not have counted. He said this after the game,
"I took him down and held his stick in my hand, there was no way he could score. "
Bergman continued to improve his defensive and offensive roles on the team throughout the early 1970s. His well-rounded play made him useful on both the power-play and penalty-killing units for the Wings. Although he incurred his share of penalties, Bergman wasn't considered a surly opponent on the ice. He rarely looked for trouble but also never backed down from an onrushing opponent, whether he was a fancy scorer or a power forward. While all eyes were on young superstars like Bobby Orr and Brad Park, the Red Wings were a mediocre team that continued to lose respect in the league, especially with the retirement of Gordie Howe. Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr OC (born March 20 1948 in Parry Sound, Ontario) is a retired Canadian Ice hockey defenseman Douglas Bradford (Brad Park (born July 6, 1948 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired Ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC (born March 31 1928 in Floral, Saskatchewan) is a former professional Ice hockey player from Canada Bergman started turning to the community, becoming involved in many outside charities and organizations. He was particularly involved with helping disabled children and adults. He was one of the most liked NHLers off the ice due to his charity work and in 1973 he was named co-winner of the Charlie Conacher Humanitarian Award. Charles William "Charlie" Conacher (b December 20, 1909 in Toronto, Ontario - December 30, 1967 was a Canadian
After 10 years as a Wing, Bergman was traded to the Minnesota North Stars for fellow veteran blueliner Ted Harris on November 7, 1973. The Minnesota North Stars were a professional Ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL for 26 seasons from 1967 to 1993. Ted Harris can refer to Ted Harris (ice hockey, professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League Ted Harris (songwriter, One thought as to why he was traded stemmed from Bergman speaking out when he disagreed with the decisions of coach Ned Harkness. Ned Harkness (born Nevin D Harkness September 19, 1921 in Ottawa Ontario, Canada - died September 19, 2008 in Rochester He would post 26 points to go along with his consistent defensive play in the 1973–74 season for the North Stars. The 1973–74 NHL season was the 57th season of the National Hockey League.
After one year he was reacquired in the off-season on October 1, 1974 by the Red Wings for Detorit's 3rd round draft pick in 1975 (who ended up being Alex Pirus). Alex Alexander Pirus (born January 12, 1955 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired former professional Ice hockey player who played 159 He would score 30 points for his former team before being traded again the following year. Along with Bill McKenzie, Bergman was traded on August 22, 1975 for Peter McDuffe and Glen Burdon to the newly formed Kansas City Scouts where he would spend his final NHL season. Bill McKenzie (b March 12, 1949 in St Thomas, Ontario) was a Canadian Professional Ice hockey Goaltender Peter Arnold McDuffe (b February 16 1948 Milton Ontario) was a Canadian Professional Ice hockey Goaltender who played Glen Burdon (Born - August 4, 1954 in Lumsden, Saskatchewan) is a retired Canadian professional Ice hockey defenceman who The Kansas City Scouts was a professional Ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL from 1974–76 In 1975–76, Bergman would record his second highest point total of his NHL career, scoring five goals and tacking on 33 assists to finish with 38 total points. The 1975–76 NHL season was the 59th season of the National Hockey League.
Bergman retired with 367 points in 838 regular season games. Point in Ice hockey has two official meanings A point is given to a player who either scores a goal or earns an assist during a game In nearly a decade and a half of NHL service, he had the chance to play in only 21 post-season games, 12 of them taking place in 1966. The 1965–66 NHL season was the 49th season of the National Hockey League.
1972 Summit Series
In 1972 Bergman received a huge compliment when Harry Sinden and John Ferguson invited him to play with Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series. Harry James Sinden (born September 14, 1932 in Kingston Ontario, Canada) was the long-time general manager coach and president for the John Bowie Ferguson Sr ( September 5, 1938 - July 14, 2007) was a professional Ice hockey player The Summit Series was the first competition between full-strength Soviet and Canadian national Ice hockey teams an eight-game series held in Bergman recounted the day he was asked to play for his country,
"Harry called me Sunday morning. Janie and the kids and I were just going out the door to church, and I had to stop. Janie was saying, 'Would you get off the damn phone, we have to get to church. ' It was Harry Sinden on the phone asking me if I'd be part of the team. "
Bergman played an important defensive role in all eight games against the Soviets and chipped in with three assists. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 He would posthumously be honored for his defensive efforts in 2005, when the team was honored, en masse, as members of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a Hall of fame located in Toronto and established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements
Awards & achievements
- Turnbull Cup (MJHL) Championship (1959)
- Memorial Cup Championship (1959)
- Selected to Team Canada for 1972 Summit Series
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (1973)
- “Honoured Member” of the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
- “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
External links
- Gary Bergman's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- Gary Bergman's biography at Legends of Hockey
- Gary Bergman's biography at Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
- Gary Bergman’s biography at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
| Preceded by Red Berenson |
Detroit Red Wings captains 1973–74 |
Succeeded by Ted Harris |
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