Steve Bozek
Encyclopedia
Steven Michael Bozek is a retired professional ice hockey
left wing who spent 11 seasons in the NHL with four clubs. Noted for his hard shot, he was a reliable two-way forward and strong penalty killer.
while playing for Northern Michigan University
. Bozek was named a CCHA First-Team All-Star twice in his three years at Northern Michigan, leading the CCHA in scoring during the 1980–1981 season. In 1981, he was named a First-Team All-American - the first hockey All-American ever for Northern Michigan - after dominating college hockey with 90 points in just 44 games, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award
.
Bozek turned pro after his junior year, breaking straight into the Kings lineup for the 1981–82 season. As a rookie, he received an opportunity to spend a large portion of the season on the famed Triple Crown Line with Marcel Dionne
and Dave Taylor due to an injury to Charlie Simmer
, and he set a Kings rookie record (since broken) with 33 goals. In the playoffs, he secured a place in Kings lore by scoring the tying goal with 5 seconds left in the famed Miracle on Manchester
game against the Edmonton Oilers
, which was the greatest playoff comeback in NHL history as Los Angeles rallied from a 5–0 deficit to win 6–5 in overtime.
1982–83 would be a difficult year for Bozek, as he struggled with injuries and the sophomore jinx, finishing with 13 goals and 26 points in 53 games. At the conclusion of the season, he was dealt to the Calgary Flames
. Always a primarily offensive player to that point in his career, in Calgary he began to develop the defensive side of his game and became a strong checker and penalty killer. However, his five seasons in Calgary would be blighted by nagging knee problems, and he was only able to play more than 70 games in a season once. His best year as a Flame was 1985–86, as he scored 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points in 64 games, including a club-leading 4 shorthanded goals. He added 8 points in 14 games in the playoffs as Calgary reached the Stanley Cup
finals.
After missing most of the 1987–88 season with a knee injury, Bozek was traded to the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline along with Brett Hull
in a deal for Rob Ramage
and Rick Wamsley
. Another knee injury limited him to 7 regular season games with the Blues, and he finished the season with just 3 goals and 10 points in 33 games between Calgary and St. Louis.
Bozek's time in St. Louis would be brief, as he was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks
in a three-way deal prior to the 1988–89 campaign. He would have a strong bounce-back season in Vancouver, finishing with 17 goals and 35 points, and his defensive play was a factor in Vancouver improving to 3rd in the league defensively from 17th the previous season. He spent two more seasons in Vancouver, recording solid totals of 14 and 15 goals, although as usual he was slowed down by injuries which caused him to miss 40 games over that stretch. Due to his enthusiastic and scrppy style of play, he earned the nickname Steve "Boom-Boom" Bozek, a nickname coined by CKNW commentator Tom Larschied. He was selected to play for Canada at the 1991 World Championships, winning a silver medal.
In 1991, Bozek signed as a free agent with the expansion San Jose Sharks
, and was a member of their inaugural team during the 1991–92 season, finishing with 8 goals and 16 points in 58 games. He then played for a season in Italy before retiring in 1993.
Bozek finished his career with totals of 164 goals and 167 assists for 331 points in 641 games, along with 309 penalty minutes. He never played a game in the minor leagues.
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...
left wing who spent 11 seasons in the NHL with four clubs. Noted for his hard shot, he was a reliable two-way forward and strong penalty killer.
Playing career
Bozek was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 3rd round, 52nd overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft1980 NHL Entry Draft
The 1980 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum. This was the first time that an NHL arena hosted the draft. The National Hockey League teams selected 210 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1979–80 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the...
while playing for Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
. Bozek was named a CCHA First-Team All-Star twice in his three years at Northern Michigan, leading the CCHA in scoring during the 1980–1981 season. In 1981, he was named a First-Team All-American - the first hockey All-American ever for Northern Michigan - after dominating college hockey with 90 points in just 44 games, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award
Hobey Baker Award
The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player.It is named for hockey player and World War I veteran Hobey Baker, who played collegiately at Princeton University and learned the game at St...
.
Bozek turned pro after his junior year, breaking straight into the Kings lineup for the 1981–82 season. As a rookie, he received an opportunity to spend a large portion of the season on the famed Triple Crown Line with Marcel Dionne
Marcel Dionne
Marcel Elphege "Little Beaver" Dionne is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers...
and Dave Taylor due to an injury to Charlie Simmer
Charlie Simmer
Charles Robert Simmer is a retired ice hockey forward, most notably for the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League, who was notable for his scoring and power play prowess.-Playing career:...
, and he set a Kings rookie record (since broken) with 33 goals. In the playoffs, he secured a place in Kings lore by scoring the tying goal with 5 seconds left in the famed Miracle on Manchester
Miracle on Manchester
The Miracle on Manchester is the nickname given to a National Hockey League playoff game between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers that took place on April 10, 1982 in the league's 65th season...
game against 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 ....
, which was the greatest playoff comeback in NHL history as Los Angeles rallied from a 5–0 deficit to win 6–5 in overtime.
1982–83 would be a difficult year for Bozek, as he struggled with injuries and the sophomore jinx, finishing with 13 goals and 26 points in 53 games. At the conclusion of the season, he was dealt to the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
. Always a primarily offensive player to that point in his career, in Calgary he began to develop the defensive side of his game and became a strong checker and penalty killer. However, his five seasons in Calgary would be blighted by nagging knee problems, and he was only able to play more than 70 games in a season once. His best year as a Flame was 1985–86, as he scored 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points in 64 games, including a club-leading 4 shorthanded goals. He added 8 points in 14 games in the playoffs as Calgary reached 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.
After missing most of the 1987–88 season with a knee injury, Bozek was traded to the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline along with Brett Hull
Brett Hull
Brett Andrew Hull is a former Canadian-American NHL player and the former Executive Vice President of the Dallas Stars. He is the son of Bobby Hull and nephew of Dennis Hull, both former NHL players. Hull is also known as "The Golden Brett," which is a play off of his father's nickname, "The...
in a deal for Rob Ramage
Rob Ramage
George Robert Ramage is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers...
and Rick Wamsley
Rick Wamsley
Richard James Wamsley is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs...
. Another knee injury limited him to 7 regular season games with the Blues, and he finished the season with just 3 goals and 10 points in 33 games between Calgary and St. Louis.
Bozek's time in St. Louis would be brief, as he was dealt to 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,...
in a three-way deal prior to the 1988–89 campaign. He would have a strong bounce-back season in Vancouver, finishing with 17 goals and 35 points, and his defensive play was a factor in Vancouver improving to 3rd in the league defensively from 17th the previous season. He spent two more seasons in Vancouver, recording solid totals of 14 and 15 goals, although as usual he was slowed down by injuries which caused him to miss 40 games over that stretch. Due to his enthusiastic and scrppy style of play, he earned the nickname Steve "Boom-Boom" Bozek, a nickname coined by CKNW commentator Tom Larschied. He was selected to play for Canada at the 1991 World Championships, winning a silver medal.
In 1991, Bozek signed as a free agent with the expansion San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, and was a member of their inaugural team during the 1991–92 season, finishing with 8 goals and 16 points in 58 games. He then played for a season in Italy before retiring in 1993.
Bozek finished his career with totals of 164 goals and 167 assists for 331 points in 641 games, along with 309 penalty minutes. He never played a game in the minor leagues.
Career statistics
| Regular season | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
|||||
| 1981–82 | Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 71 | 33 | 23 | 56 | 68 | |||||
| 1982–83 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 53 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 14 | |||||
| 1983–84 | Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... |
NHL | 46 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 16 | |||||
| 1984–85 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 54 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 6 | |||||
| 1985–86 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 64 | 21 | 22 | 43 | 24 | |||||
| 1986–87 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 71 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 22 | |||||
| 1987–88 | Calgary Flames-St.Louis Blues | NHL | 33 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 12 | |||||
| 1988–89 | 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,... |
NHL | 71 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 64 | |||||
| 1989–90 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 58 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 32 | |||||
| 1990–91 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 62 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 22 | |||||
| 1991–92 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 58 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 27 | |||||
| 11 Years | Totals | NHL | 641 | 164 | 167 | 331 | 309 | |||||