Randy Gregg (hockey player)
Encyclopedia
Randall John Gregg is a retired professional ice hockey
defenceman who spent 10 seasons in the National Hockey League
and is currently a family physician in Edmonton. He is best known for his time with the Edmonton Oilers
, where he spent most of his career and won five Stanley Cup
s; 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990.
to work toward a medical degree, and playing hockey was a secondary priority. However, he became one of the top players in Canadian university hockey, leading the Golden Bears to two CIAU championships, and was CIAU Player of the Year in 1979. He received a contract offer from the New York Rangers
but rejected it to spend the year with the Canadian national team, and captained Canada's entry at the 1980 Winter Olympics
in Lake Placid
.
Following the 1980 Olympics, Gregg took the unusual step of signing in Japan
as a player-coach, and spent two full seasons playing there. He was at last convinced to accept an NHL offer by his hometown Edmonton Oilers
, and joined the team for the 1982 playoffs, appearing in 4 games.
In 1982–83, Gregg emerged as a regular on the Oilers' blueline, appearing in all 80 games and registering 6 goals and 28 points. Receiving as much notoriety from the fact that he had a medical degree as he did for his solid play on the blueline, he helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup
finals in 1983. In 1983–84, he would have his finest NHL season, as he recorded career highs of 12 goals and 40 points, and then contributed 10 points in 19 playoff games to help Edmonton win their first Stanley Cup. Following the season, he was selected to represent Canada at the 1984 Canada Cup
tournament.
Gregg would continue to be a solid contributor over the next few seasons for the Oilers as they dominated the NHL and won the 1985 Stanley Cup, although he would be slowed somewhat by injuries. However, hockey was still something of a temporary career for Gregg, and he was conflicted about when he should leave the sport and take up his medical career. He retired after the Oilers' disappointing loss in the 1986 playoffs, but changed his mind six weeks into the season and helped Edmonton win their third championship in 1986–87. He retired from professional hockey again for the 1987–88 campaign to enter a residency program in orthopedic surgery as well as represent Canada at the 1988 Winter Olympics
, but re-joined Edmonton for the playoffs to win another Stanley Cup.
Gregg spent two more years with the Oilers as a solid depth defender, helping the team win their 5th Stanley Cup in seven years in 1990. He was one of seven players to play for all five championship teams. Exposed in the NHL Waiver Draft in 1990, he was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks
but decided again to retire. However, after a year away from the sport, he signed with the Canucks for the 1991–92 campaign, appearing in 21 games and providing valued veteran leadership for a young improving team, before retiring for good following the season.
Gregg appeared in 474 NHL games, recording 41 goals and 152 assists for 193 points along with 333 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 137 playoff games, totaling 13 goals and 40 assists for 53 points.
Following his retirement, Gregg completed his residency training program at the University of Alberta. He is presently a family physician, operating a successful sports medicine practice in Edmonton. He briefly worked at TSN as the third string color commentator for NHL games in 1994-95.
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 who spent 10 seasons 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...
and is currently a family physician in Edmonton. He is best known for his time with 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 ....
, where he spent most of his career and won five 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; 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990.
Playing career
Gregg attended the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
to work toward a medical degree, and playing hockey was a secondary priority. However, he became one of the top players in Canadian university hockey, leading the Golden Bears to two CIAU championships, and was CIAU Player of the Year in 1979. He received a contract offer from 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...
but rejected it to spend the year with the Canadian national team, and captained Canada's entry at the 1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
in Lake Placid
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
.
Following the 1980 Olympics, Gregg took the unusual step of signing in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as a player-coach, and spent two full seasons playing there. He was at last convinced to accept an NHL offer by his hometown 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 ....
, and joined the team for the 1982 playoffs, appearing in 4 games.
In 1982–83, Gregg emerged as a regular on the Oilers' blueline, appearing in all 80 games and registering 6 goals and 28 points. Receiving as much notoriety from the fact that he had a medical degree as he did for his solid play on the blueline, he helped the Oilers reach 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...
finals in 1983. In 1983–84, he would have his finest NHL season, as he recorded career highs of 12 goals and 40 points, and then contributed 10 points in 19 playoff games to help Edmonton win their first Stanley Cup. Following the season, he was selected to represent Canada at 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...
tournament.
Gregg would continue to be a solid contributor over the next few seasons for the Oilers as they dominated the NHL and won the 1985 Stanley Cup, although he would be slowed somewhat by injuries. However, hockey was still something of a temporary career for Gregg, and he was conflicted about when he should leave the sport and take up his medical career. He retired after the Oilers' disappointing loss in the 1986 playoffs, but changed his mind six weeks into the season and helped Edmonton win their third championship in 1986–87. He retired from professional hockey again for the 1987–88 campaign to enter a residency program in orthopedic surgery as well as represent Canada at the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
, but re-joined Edmonton for the playoffs to win another Stanley Cup.
Gregg spent two more years with the Oilers as a solid depth defender, helping the team win their 5th Stanley Cup in seven years in 1990. He was one of seven players to play for all five championship teams. Exposed in the NHL Waiver Draft in 1990, he was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
but decided again to retire. However, after a year away from the sport, he signed with the Canucks for the 1991–92 campaign, appearing in 21 games and providing valued veteran leadership for a young improving team, before retiring for good following the season.
Gregg appeared in 474 NHL games, recording 41 goals and 152 assists for 193 points along with 333 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 137 playoff games, totaling 13 goals and 40 assists for 53 points.
Following his retirement, Gregg completed his residency training program at the University of Alberta. He is presently a family physician, operating a successful sports medicine practice in Edmonton. He briefly worked at TSN as the third string color commentator for NHL games in 1994-95.
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)
- 1986–87 - NHL - Stanley Cup (Edmonton)
- 1987–88 - NHL - Stanley Cup (Edmonton)
- 1989–90 - NHL - Stanley Cup (Edmonton)