Barclay Plager
Encyclopedia
Barclay Graham Plager was a Canadian professional ice hockey
defenceman and coach for the St. Louis Blues
.
, 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 minor pro CHL, leading the league in assists and winning best defenceman accolades before moving on for 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".
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 famous # 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.
At the All-Star Game February 9, 1988, a moment of silence was held at the St. Louis Arena
in his memory.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman and coach for the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
.
Playing career
The oldest of three hockey playing brothers (BillBill Plager
William Ronald Plager is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman.Plager started his National Hockey League career with the Minnesota North Stars in 1967. He also played for the St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Flames...
, Bob
Bob Plager
Robert Bryant Plager is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for fourteen seasons from 1964–65 until 1977–78. He had two brothers, Bill and Barclay, who also played in the NHL....
, and Barclay), Plager played junior league hockey with the Peterborough Petes
Peterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team has played in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, since 1956, and is the oldest continuously operating team in the league.-History:...
of the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
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
Bob Plager
Robert Bryant Plager is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for fourteen seasons from 1964–65 until 1977–78. He had two brothers, Bill and Barclay, who also played in the NHL....
, who was playing for the rival Guelph Royals
Guelph Royals (hockey)
The Guelph Royals were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1960 to 1963. The team was based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and played home games at the Guelph Memorial Gardens. They were affiliated with the NHL New York Rangers...
. Plager spent the 1964 season with the Omaha Knights
Omaha Knights
The Omaha Knights were a minor league professional ice hockey team from 1959 to 1975, based in Omaha, Nebraska at the Ak-Sar-Ben arena. The Knights were founded in 1959 as members of the International Hockey League...
of the minor pro CHL, leading the league in assists and winning best defenceman accolades before moving on for three seasons with the Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
.
With the 1967 NHL Expansion
1967 NHL expansion
The National Hockey League undertook a major expansion for the 1967–68 season, adding six new franchises to double the size of the league. This marked the first change in the composition of the league since 1942, when the Brooklyn Americans folded. Thus, the expansion ended the era of the Original...
, many new jobs opened up in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, and Plager was acquired with Red Berenson by the St. Louis Blues from the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, 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
Brian Sutter
Brian Louis Allen Sutter is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward and former head coach in the National Hockey League . Brian is the second oldest of the famous Sutter brothers, six of whom have played in the NHL, and is the only one to have his number retired by an NHL team.-Player: Sutter was...
-- the Blues made the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
finals their first three seasons. With brother Bob a fellow mainstay of the Blues' defence for eleven seasons and youngest brother Bill
Bill Plager
William Ronald Plager is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman.Plager started his National Hockey League career with the Minnesota North Stars in 1967. He also played for the St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Flames...
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 CityKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
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
Leo Boivin
Léo Joseph Boivin is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota North Stars.-Playing career:Leo Boivin began playing hockey at seven years...
. 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 famous # 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
St. Louis Arena
The St. Louis Arena was an indoor arena located in St. Louis, Missouri, that stood from 1929 to 1999...
in his memory.
Career achievements and facts
- Retired with 44 goals, 187 assists, 231 points and 1115 penalty minutes in 614 games, all with St. Louis
- Was the Blues' career leader in games played and penalty minutes at the time of his retirement.
- Played in NHL All-Star Game in 1970, 1971, 1973 and 1974.
- Led the NHL in penalty minutes in 1968 with 153 playing only 49 games.
- His #8 jersey has been retired by St. Louis.