Lee Fogolin
Encyclopedia
Lee Joseph Fogolin is a retired defenseman
who played in the National Hockey League
. He played for the Buffalo Sabres
and the Edmonton Oilers
, appearing in 924 NHL regular season games between 1974 and 1987, winning the Stanley Cup in 1984 and 1985.
while his father, Lee Fogolin Sr.
, was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks
. His father also played for the Detroit Red Wings
and won the Stanley Cup
in 1950.
His son, Michael Fogolin, played for the Prince George Cougars
in the WHL
and died in his sleep on May 26, 2004 of a possible heart condition.
Fogolin played from 1972–1974 with the Oshawa Generals
of the OHA
, scoring 52 points in 102 games with 240 PIM. He was drafted in the first round, 11th overall, of the 1974 NHL Entry Draft
by the Buffalo Sabres.
Although Fogolin was raised in Canada, he was chosen to play for Team USA in the 1976 Canada Cup
, since he was born in the U.S.. He was invited again in 1984
, but this time chose not to play.
Hershey Bears
. He was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers for the 1979–1980 season.
Fogolin played seven full seasons with Edmonton, and was named as captain for the 1981–82 season. He would be the first of four captains to lead the Oilers to the Stanley Cup finals, in 1983, where they lost to the New York Islanders
. While a solid defenceman in his own right, he was overshadowed by many of the young stars on the Oilers' roster, most notably scoring superstar Wayne Gretzky
. Fogolin gave up the captaincy to Gretzky for the 1983–84 season onwards. Fogolin was a member of the Oilers' Stanley Cup wins in 1984 and 1985. Fogolin also played in the 1986 National Hockey League All-Star Game
.
Fogolin was re-acquired by the Sabres near the end of the 1986–87 season, and retired after completing the season with them.
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who played 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...
. He played for the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
and the 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 ....
, appearing in 924 NHL regular season games between 1974 and 1987, winning the Stanley Cup in 1984 and 1985.
Background and early career
Fogolin was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
while his father, Lee Fogolin Sr.
Lee Fogolin Sr.
Lidio John Fogolin, Sr. was a professional ice hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks of the NHL.-Playing career:...
, was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
. His father also played for 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...
and 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...
in 1950.
His son, Michael Fogolin, played for the Prince George Cougars
Prince George Cougars
The Prince George Cougars are a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. The team is based in Prince George, British Columbia, and plays its home games at the CN Centre...
in the WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
and died in his sleep on May 26, 2004 of a possible heart condition.
Fogolin played from 1972–1974 with the Oshawa Generals
Oshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. The Generals are one of the most successful franchises in Canadian Hockey League...
of the OHA
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
, scoring 52 points in 102 games with 240 PIM. He was drafted in the first round, 11th overall, of the 1974 NHL Entry Draft
NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
by the Buffalo Sabres.
Although Fogolin was raised in Canada, he was chosen to play for Team USA in the 1976 Canada Cup
1976 Canada Cup
The 1976 Canada Cup was an international ice hockey tournament held September 2–15, 1976, in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Quebec, Canada as well as in Philadelphia, United States. It was the first of five Canada Cup tournaments held between 1976 and 1991...
, since he was born in the U.S.. He was invited again in 1984
1984 Canada Cup
The 1984 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament played during the first three weeks of September 1984. The best-of-three final took place between Canada and Sweden, with Canada winning two games to nil...
, but this time chose not to play.
NHL playing career
Fogolin played his first pro season (1974–75) in Buffalo, but split the next season between the Sabres and the AHLAmerican 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...
Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
. He was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers for the 1979–1980 season.
Fogolin played seven full seasons with Edmonton, and was named as captain for the 1981–82 season. He would be the first of four captains to lead the Oilers to the Stanley Cup finals, in 1983, where they lost to the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. While a solid defenceman in his own right, he was overshadowed by many of the young stars on the Oilers' roster, most notably scoring superstar Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
. Fogolin gave up the captaincy to Gretzky for the 1983–84 season onwards. Fogolin was a member of the Oilers' Stanley Cup wins in 1984 and 1985. Fogolin also played in the 1986 National Hockey League All-Star Game
National Hockey League All-Star Game
The National Hockey League All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held at the midway point of the regular season of the National Hockey League , with many of the league's star players playing against each other...
.
Fogolin was re-acquired by the Sabres near the end of the 1986–87 season, and retired after completing the season with them.
Awards and achievements
- 1983–84 - NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe 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...
- Stanley CupStanley CupThe 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...
(EdmontonEdmonton OilersThe 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 ....
) - 1984–85 - NHL - Stanley Cup (Edmonton)
- 1985–86 - National Hockey League All-Star GameNational Hockey League All-Star GameThe National Hockey League All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that is traditionally held at the midway point of the regular season of the National Hockey League , with many of the league's star players playing against each other...
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1972-73 Oshawa Generals OHA 55 5 21 26 132
1973-74 Oshawa Generals OHA 47 7 19 26 108
1974-75 Buffalo Sabres NHL 50 2 2 4 59 8 0 0 0 6
1975-76 Hershey Bears AHL 20 1 8 9 61 -- -- -- -- --
1975-76 Buffalo Sabres NHL 58 0 9 9 64 9 0 4 4 23
1976-77 Buffalo Sabres NHL 71 3 15 18 100 4 0 0 0 2
1977-78 Buffalo Sabres NHL 76 0 23 23 98 6 0 2 2 23
1978-79 Buffalo Sabres NHL 74 3 19 22 103 3 0 0 0 4
1979-80 Edmonton Oilers NHL 80 5 10 15 104 3 0 0 0 4
1980-81 Edmonton Oilers NHL 80 13 17 30 139 9 0 0 0 12
1981-82 Edmonton Oilers NHL 80 4 25 29 154 5 1 1 2 14
1982-83 Edmonton Oilers NHL 72 0 18 18 92 16 0 5 5 36
1983-84 Edmonton Oilers NHL 80 5 16 21 125 19 1 4 5 23
1984-85 Edmonton Oilers NHL 79 4 14 18 126 18 3 1 4 16
1985-86 Edmonton Oilers NHL 80 4 22 26 129 8 0 2 2 10
1986-87 Edmonton Oilers NHL 35 1 3 4 17 -- -- -- -- --
1986-87 Buffalo Sabres NHL 9 0 2 2 8 -- -- -- -- --
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NHL Totals 924 44 195 239 1318 108 5 19 24 173