Brian Conacher
Encyclopedia
Brian Kennedy Conacher was a professional ice hockey
player and hockey broadcaster, specializing in colour commentary
. He is the son of the legendary Lionel Conacher
, who was voted Canada's top athlete for the first half of the century.http://www.histori.ca/sports/conach.html He was educated at Toronto's Upper Canada College
.
Conacher played on the Canadian Olympic hockey team
at the 1964 Winter Olympics
. He was also a player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
, playing full seasons during the 1967 and 1968 campaigns. He won the Stanley Cup
with the Maple Leafs in 1967. In 1968 he played in the NHL All-Star Game
, though not as an All-Star but as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs (in those years, the current Stanley Cup Champion played the All-Star team). Brian was notable in that game as one of only two players to wear a helmet. After 1968, he was relegated, once again, to the minor leagues, until he finally finished his NHL career with a final season with the Detroit Red Wings
in 1971–72. He then decided to try out the new World Hockey Association
, joining the Ottawa Nationals
for a season.
, and then the same position in 1977–78 with the WHA Edmonton Oilers
.
As a broadcaster, Brian was most notable as fellow UCC graduate Foster Hewitt
's colour man during the 1972 Summit Series.
Conacher was also a part time coach with Upper Canada College. Some of the students he coached became collegiate and/or professional hockey players: Syl Apps III
, Jason Cipolla (played with the St. John's Maple Leafs), Andre Faust
(Philadelphia Flyers), Mike McKee (Quebec Nordiques), and NHL first round pick Daniel Tkaczuk
.
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...
player and hockey broadcaster, specializing in colour commentary
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
. He is the son of the legendary Lionel Conacher
Lionel Conacher
Lionel Pretoria Conacher, MP , nicknamed "The Big Train", was a Canadian athlete and politician. Voted the country's top athlete of the first half of the 20th century, he won championships in numerous sports. His first passion was football; he was a member of the 1921 Grey Cup champion Toronto...
, who was voted Canada's top athlete for the first half of the century.http://www.histori.ca/sports/conach.html He was educated at Toronto's Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
.
Conacher played on the Canadian Olympic hockey team
Canadian national men's hockey team
The Canadian national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, and participates in international competitions. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior...
at the 1964 Winter Olympics
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
. He was also a player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, playing full seasons during the 1967 and 1968 campaigns. He won 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...
with the Maple Leafs in 1967. In 1968 he played in the NHL All-Star Game
21st National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 21st National Hockey League National Hockey League All-Star Game was played in Maple Leaf Gardens on January 16, 1968, where the host Toronto Maple Leafs battled a team of all-stars from the remaining NHL teams...
, though not as an All-Star but as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs (in those years, the current Stanley Cup Champion played the All-Star team). Brian was notable in that game as one of only two players to wear a helmet. After 1968, he was relegated, once again, to the minor leagues, until he finally finished his NHL career with a final season with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in 1971–72. He then decided to try out the new World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
, joining the Ottawa Nationals
Ottawa Nationals
The Ottawa Nationals were a professional men's ice hockey team based out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada that played in the World Hockey Association during the 1972–73 WHA season....
for a season.
Retirement
After retiring as a player he had a few small coaching stints in the minor leagues before becoming the general manager of the WHA Indianapolis RacersIndianapolis Racers
The Indianapolis Racers were a franchise in the former World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1978. They competed in five seasons, folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena...
, and then the same position in 1977–78 with the WHA Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
.
As a broadcaster, Brian was most notable as fellow UCC graduate Foster Hewitt
Foster Hewitt
Foster William Hewitt, OC was a Canadian radio broadcaster most famous for his play-by-play calls for Hockey Night in Canada. He was the son of W. A. Hewitt, and the father of Bill Hewitt.-Early life and career:...
's colour man during the 1972 Summit Series.
Conacher was also a part time coach with Upper Canada College. Some of the students he coached became collegiate and/or professional hockey players: Syl Apps III
Syl Apps III
Syl Apps III is an ice hockey player, the grandson of Toronto Maple Leafs captain Syl Apps and the son of Pittsburgh Penguins player Syl Apps, Jr.-Playing career:...
, Jason Cipolla (played with the St. John's Maple Leafs), Andre Faust
Andre Faust
Andre Faust is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger. He was drafted by New Jersey Devils in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft in 9th round as the 173rd pick overall...
(Philadelphia Flyers), Mike McKee (Quebec Nordiques), and NHL first round pick Daniel Tkaczuk
Daniel Tkaczuk
Daniel Tkaczuk is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL. Tkaczuk is a Canadian who is of Polish origin.-Playing career:...
.