Gord Lane
Encyclopedia
Gordon Thomas Lawrence Lane (born March 31, 1953) is a retired Canadian ice hockey
defenceman.
Lane played junior in the WCHL, first with the Brandon Wheat Kings and after a trade with the New Westminster Bruins. A strong training ethic and quality coaching resulted in Lane being selected in the NHL draft.
Originally selected in the 1973 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins
, Lane was signed to a minor league contract with the Fort Wayne Komets
. He was subsequently traded to the Dayton Gems, farm team
to the Washington Capitals
. After winning the Turner Cup
with the Dayton Gems, coach Tom McVie
and several Gems players were promoted to the Washington Capitals. Signed by the Capitals in 1976, Lane played parts of five seasons with the team, leading the team in penalties in three of those seasons. Unhappy about his playing time with the Caps, he threatened retirement during the 1979–80 season. He was eventually traded to the New York Islanders
for forward Mike Kaszycki
on December 7, 1979, remaining with that club for the rest of his NHL career. His first game for the Isles was against the New York Rangers
at Madison Square Garden
, a 5–4 loss. Lane immediately made his presence known during the game, throwing several hits while also getting involved in several scrums. Lane's tough, defensive abilities did not go unappreciated by Islanders Head Coach, Al Arbour
, who, like Lane, was a stay-at-home defenceman during his own playing career. Lane helped guide the Islanders steady defence during their four straight Stanley Cup
championships (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983). Early in the 1983–1984 playoffs, Lane was injured and missed most of the Islanders playoff run. Lane's presence was sorely missed in the Cup finals, as the Oilers skated the tired, battered, and undermanned Islanders into the ice, dethroning the four-time champions in the process. An underrated enforcer who never failed to come to the aid of a teammate in trouble, Lane has been credited over the years with being the Islanders most effective defender during their Stanley Cup run.
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.
Lane played junior in the WCHL, first with the Brandon Wheat Kings and after a trade with the New Westminster Bruins. A strong training ethic and quality coaching resulted in Lane being selected in the NHL draft.
Originally selected in the 1973 NHL Entry Draft by 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...
, Lane was signed to a minor league contract with the Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
. He was subsequently traded to the Dayton Gems, farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
to the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. After winning the Turner Cup
Turner Cup
The Turner Cup is the championship trophy of the International Hockey League. The Cup is named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professional with the Detroit Red Wings organization, and played one season with the Indianapolis Capitals in the American Hockey League...
with the Dayton Gems, coach Tom McVie
Tom McVie
Tom McVie was a coach in the National Hockey League. He coached the Washington Capitals from the 1975–76 season to the middle of the 1978–79 season. He moved to the Winnipeg Jets, then in the World Hockey Association, and coached the team with Bill Sutherland in its first two NHL seasons, 1979–80...
and several Gems players were promoted to the Washington Capitals. Signed by the Capitals in 1976, Lane played parts of five seasons with the team, leading the team in penalties in three of those seasons. Unhappy about his playing time with the Caps, he threatened retirement during the 1979–80 season. He was eventually traded 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...
for forward Mike Kaszycki
Mike Kaszycki
Michael John Kaszycki is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. Selected in 1976 by both the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League and the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association, he also played for the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs.During the 1981–82 AHL...
on December 7, 1979, remaining with that club for the rest of his NHL career. His first game for the Isles was against 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...
at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, a 5–4 loss. Lane immediately made his presence known during the game, throwing several hits while also getting involved in several scrums. Lane's tough, defensive abilities did not go unappreciated by Islanders Head Coach, Al Arbour
Al Arbour
Alger Joseph "Radar" Arbour is a retired Canadian ice hockey player and a coach and executive in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, who, like Lane, was a stay-at-home defenceman during his own playing career. Lane helped guide the Islanders steady defence during their four straight 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...
championships (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983). Early in the 1983–1984 playoffs, Lane was injured and missed most of the Islanders playoff run. Lane's presence was sorely missed in the Cup finals, as the Oilers skated the tired, battered, and undermanned Islanders into the ice, dethroning the four-time champions in the process. An underrated enforcer who never failed to come to the aid of a teammate in trouble, Lane has been credited over the years with being the Islanders most effective defender during their Stanley Cup run.
Awards and achievements
- Turner CupTurner CupThe Turner Cup is the championship trophy of the International Hockey League. The Cup is named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professional with the Detroit Red Wings organization, and played one season with the Indianapolis Capitals in the American Hockey League...
(IHL) Championship (1976) - 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...
Championships (1980, 1981, 1982, & 1983) - “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of FameManitoba Hockey Hall of FameThe Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1985 when the first honoured members were named and plaques were erected in their honour. The first group of inductees was large in order to recognize the accomplishments of Manitoba players, coaches, builders and teams at the...