Gordie Roberts
Encyclopedia
Gordon Douglas Roberts (born October 2, 1957 in Detroit
, Michigan
) is a retired professional ice hockey
defenseman who played 1,097 NHL
regular season games from 1979 to 1994. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
. His brother Doug Roberts
is also a former NHL player.
star Gordie Howe
, who was eventually Roberts' teammate in Hartford, and grew up playing junior hockey hockey in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League
for the Detroit Jr. Red Wings.
in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft
. His professional career started in 1975 when he was signed as a 17-year old underage junior by the WHA New England Whalers. He represented the Whalers in the 1977 and 1978 WHA All-Star Game and was still with New England when the NHL and WHA merged in 1979.
In 1980, the Whalers traded Roberts to the Minnesota North Stars
for Mike Fidler
. He remained a North Star for eight seasons before moving to the Philadelphia Flyers
in 1988, who promptly traded him to the St.Louis Blues after only 11 games. During this time, Roberts also played for Team USA in the 1984 Canada Cup
as well as the 1982 and 1987 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments.
Roberts won 2 Stanley Cup
s with the Pittsburgh Penguins
in 1991 and 1992 and became the first American player to appear in 1000 NHL games in 1992. He played for the Boston Bruins
during his final two years in the NHL.
as well as the assistant coach of the Phoenix Coyotes
for the 1998 and 1999 seasons. In recent years, he has worked as a pro scout for the Montreal Canadiens
, specializing in Western Canada and the Western U.S..
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
) is a retired professional ice hockey
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...
defenseman who played 1,097 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...
regular season games from 1979 to 1994. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
. His brother Doug Roberts
Doug Roberts (ice hockey)
Douglas William Roberts is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 419 games in the National Hockey League and 140 games in the World Hockey Association between 1966 and 1977....
is also a former NHL player.
Amateur career
Roberts was named after legendary Detroit Red WingsDetroit 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...
star Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
, who was eventually Roberts' teammate in Hartford, and grew up playing junior hockey hockey in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League
Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior level ice hockey league sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association based out of Southwestern Ontario....
for the Detroit Jr. Red Wings.
Professional career
Roberts was drafted in the third round, 54th overall by the Montreal CanadiensMontreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft
1977 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1977 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft.Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:...
. His professional career started in 1975 when he was signed as a 17-year old underage junior by the WHA New England Whalers. He represented the Whalers in the 1977 and 1978 WHA All-Star Game and was still with New England when the NHL and WHA merged in 1979.
In 1980, the Whalers traded Roberts to the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
for Mike Fidler
Mike Fidler
Michael Edward Fidler is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 271 games in the National Hockey League between 1976 and 1982. He played for the Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars, Hartford Whalers, and Chicago Black Hawks...
. He remained a North Star for eight seasons before moving to the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 1988, who promptly traded him to the St.Louis Blues after only 11 games. During this time, Roberts also played for Team USA in the 1984 Canada Cup
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...
as well as the 1982 and 1987 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments.
Roberts won 2 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...
s with 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...
in 1991 and 1992 and became the first American player to appear in 1000 NHL games in 1992. He played for the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
during his final two years in the NHL.
Post Playing Career
Roberts served as the player/coach of the 1994–95 International Hockey League Chicago WolvesChicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
as well as the assistant coach of the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
for the 1998 and 1999 seasons. In recent years, he has worked as a pro scout for the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, specializing in Western Canada and the Western U.S..
Awards and achievements
- Inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of FameUnited States Hockey Hall of FameThe United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
in 1999. - Played in 1977 and 1978 WHA All-Star Game