Roger Belanger
Encyclopedia
Roger Richard Belanger was a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
player.
of the OHL
in 1982–83, getting 31 points (17 goals and 14 assists) in 68 games. However, however an injury in the playoffs limited him to just one game, in which he had no points. Prior to the 1983–84 season, the Knights dealt Belanger to the Kingston Canadians
. His offensive production exploded in Kingston, as he registered 90 points (44 goals and 46 assist in 67 games. The Canadians failed to make the playoffs that season. In the 1984 NHL Entry Draft
, the Pittsburgh Penguins
chose Belanger with their first round, the 16th choice overall.
Belanger stepped right into the rebuilding Penguins' lineup in the 1984–85 season, and had eight points (three goals and five assists) in 44 games. The Penguins sent him back to the OHL
, where his rights were traded to the Hamilton Steelhawks
and in three regular season games in Hamilton, Belanger had six points (3G-3A). Belanger helped the Steelhawks in the playoffs with 13 points, including three goals, in 17 games.
In 1985–86, Belanger failed to crack the Penguins' lineup and found himself with the Baltimore Skipjacks
of the AHL
, as he recorded 17 goals and 38 points in 69 games in what proved to be the last injury-free season of his career. The following year Belanger played in 32 games with Baltimore, getting 20 points (nine goals and 11 assists), then spent time with the Muskegon Lumberjacks
of the IHL, where he had a goal and two assists in five games. In 1987–88, Belanger was beset with numerous injuries and played in just five games with the Lumberjacks, getting a goal and three assists, then played two games with the New Haven Nighthawks
of the AHL, where he went scoreless.
That proved to be the end of Belanger's playing career, as he retired from hockey in 1988 due to injuries.
. He was only 45.
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.
Playing career
Belanger started his junior career with the London KnightsLondon Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
of the OHL
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....
in 1982–83, getting 31 points (17 goals and 14 assists) in 68 games. However, however an injury in the playoffs limited him to just one game, in which he had no points. Prior to the 1983–84 season, the Knights dealt Belanger to the Kingston Canadians
Kingston Canadians
The Kingston Canadians were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1973 to 1988. The team played home games at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
. His offensive production exploded in Kingston, as he registered 90 points (44 goals and 46 assist in 67 games. The Canadians failed to make the playoffs that season. In the 1984 NHL Entry Draft
1984 NHL Entry Draft
The 1984 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 9, 1984, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.The 1984 Entry Draft was noted for the unusually high number of future Hall of Famers picked, particularly in lower rounds. In addition to Mario Lemieux being taken first overall, Patrick Roy was chosen...
, the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
chose Belanger with their first round, the 16th choice overall.
Belanger stepped right into the rebuilding Penguins' lineup in the 1984–85 season, and had eight points (three goals and five assists) in 44 games. The Penguins sent him back to the OHL
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....
, where his rights were traded to the Hamilton Steelhawks
Hamilton Steelhawks
The Hamilton Steelhawks were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1984 to 1988. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario, and played at Copps Coliseum.-History:...
and in three regular season games in Hamilton, Belanger had six points (3G-3A). Belanger helped the Steelhawks in the playoffs with 13 points, including three goals, in 17 games.
In 1985–86, Belanger failed to crack the Penguins' lineup and found himself with the Baltimore Skipjacks
Baltimore Skipjacks
The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor professional ice hockey team in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena.-History:...
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...
, as he recorded 17 goals and 38 points in 69 games in what proved to be the last injury-free season of his career. The following year Belanger played in 32 games with Baltimore, getting 20 points (nine goals and 11 assists), then spent time with the Muskegon Lumberjacks
Muskegon Lumberjacks
The Muskegon Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Muskegon, Michigan.-Facts:-Season-by-Season record:Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses/Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in...
of the IHL, where he had a goal and two assists in five games. In 1987–88, Belanger was beset with numerous injuries and played in just five games with the Lumberjacks, getting a goal and three assists, then played two games with the New Haven Nighthawks
New Haven Nighthawks
The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings...
of the AHL, where he went scoreless.
That proved to be the end of Belanger's playing career, as he retired from hockey in 1988 due to injuries.
Death
Belanger died September 16, 2011, from a heart attack at his home in Welland, OntarioWelland, Ontario
Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada.The city has been traditionally known as the place where rails and water meet, referring to the railways from Buffalo to Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, and the waterways of Welland Canal and Welland River,...
. He was only 45.
Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1982–83 | London Knights London Knights The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:... |
OHL 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.... |
68 | 17 | 14 | 31 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 1983–84 | Kingston Canadians Kingston Canadians The Kingston Canadians were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1973 to 1988. The team played home games at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.-History:... |
OHL | 67 | 44 | 46 | 90 | 66 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1984–85 | Hamilton Steelhawks Hamilton Steelhawks The Hamilton Steelhawks were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1984 to 1988. The team was based in Hamilton, Ontario, and played at Copps Coliseum.-History:... |
OHL | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 47 | ||
| 1984–85 | Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... |
NHL 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... |
44 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 32 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1985–86 | Baltimore Skipjacks Baltimore Skipjacks The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor professional ice hockey team in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena.-History:... |
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... |
69 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 61 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1986–87 | Baltimore Skipjacks | AHL | 32 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1986–87 | Muskegon Lumberjacks Muskegon Lumberjacks The Muskegon Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Muskegon, Michigan.-Facts:-Season-by-Season record:Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses/Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in... |
IHL | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1987–88 | Muskegon Lumberjacks | IHL | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1987–88 | New Haven Nighthawks New Haven Nighthawks The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings... |
AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| OHL totals | 138 | 64 | 63 | 127 | 119 | 18 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 52 | ||||
| IHL totals | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| AHL totals | 103 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 75 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| NHL totals | 44 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 32 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||