Barclay Plager

Barclay Graham Plager (March 26, 1941 – February 6, 1988) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach for the St. Louis Blues.

Barclay Plager
Born	(1941-03-26)March 26, 1941 Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Died	February 6, 1988(1988-02-06) (aged 46) Creve Coeur, Missouri, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	St. Louis Blues
Playing career	1961–1978

Playing career

The oldest of three hockey playing brothers (with Bill and Bob), Plager played junior league hockey with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey Association before spending six seasons in the minor leagues, cementing a reputation as a hard-nosed defensive defenceman. His reputation was established while still in juniors, when he had a notable fight with his own brother Bob, who was playing for the rival Guelph Royals. Plager spent the 1964 season with the Omaha Knights of the Central Professional Hockey League (CPHL), leading the league in assists and winning best defenceman accolades before being sold by the Detroit Red Wings to the Montreal Canadiens for $20,000.^[1] He played the majority of the next three seasons with the Springfield Indians of the AHL.

With the 1967 NHL Expansion, many new jobs opened up in the National Hockey League, and Plager was acquired with Red Berenson by the St. Louis Blues from the New York Rangers, which held his rights. The deal proved extremely successful for the Blues, for Berenson became the first great offensive star of the newly minted Western Division, while Plager anchored a stingy defence that allowed the fewest goals in the NHL in 1969, the second fewest in 1970, and the third fewest in 1971. Behind Plager's leadership—he was named the second captain in team history in 1970 and served longer than any other Blues' captain save for Brian Sutter—the Blues made the Stanley Cup finals their first three seasons. The three Plager brothers played together for four seasons in St. Louis, with Barclay and Bob together on the Blues' defence for eleven seasons, then widely seen as the "Plagers' team".

Post-NHL career

With his career winding down, Plager was named player-coach of the Blues' Kansas City CHL farm team in 1977, leading his club into the finals and being named the league's most valuable player. He retired as a player during the following season when he was named as head coach of the Blues, succeeding Leo Boivin. In his one full season as Blues' coach, 1979, however, the Blues had their worst season in franchise history, and he was relieved of duties the following season.

On March 24, 1981, prior to a game with the New York Islanders, Barclay Plager Night was held and his No. 8 was retired.^[2]

In 1981, Plager was named assistant coach of the Blues, and save for another stint as interim head coach in the 1983 season, served as such until his death from cancer in 1988.

Death

In 1984, he was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumors and had to undergo chemotherapy treatments after suffering dizzy spells thought to be the result of an old head injury.^[3][4] In early 1987, Plager had a successful operation to remove a brain tumor with a heat treatment, but when a new and rapidly growing tumor was discovered later that year, he refused treatment because he was informed that extensive brain damage might occur. He entered the hospital late in January 1988, and died on February 6, 1988, of brain cancer.^[5][6][7]

At the All-Star Game February 9, 1988, a moment of silence was held at the St. Louis Arena in his memory.^[7]

Career achievements and facts

• Retired with 44 goals, 187 assists, 231 points and 1115 penalty minutes in 614 games, all with St. Louis
• Was the Blues' career leader in games played and penalty minutes at the time of his retirement
• Played in NHL All-Star Game in 1970, 1971, 1973 and 1974
• Led the NHL in penalty minutes in 1968 with 153 playing only 49 games
• His No. 8 jersey has been retired by the St. Louis Blues

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1957–58	Québec Baronets	MMJHL		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1957–58	Peterborough Petes	OHA		4	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1958–59	Peterborough Petes	OHA		54	4	16	20	252		19	6	6	12	74
1958–59	Peterborough Petes	M-Cup		—	—	—	—	—		12	0	2	2	62
1959–60	Peterborough Petes	OHA		48	8	27	35	165		12	1	7	8	37
1960–61	Peterborough Petes	OHA		48	11	33	44	165		3	0	0	0	23
1960–61	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	EPHL		3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1961–62	Québec Aces	AHL		1	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
1961–62	Hull-Ottawa Canadiens	EPHL		60	8	16	24	102		10	1	1	2	22
1962–63	Pittsburgh Hornets	AHL		13	0	1	1	15		—	—	—	—	—
1962–63	Edmonton Flyers	WHL		52	2	18	20	67		—	—	—	—	—
1963–64	Omaha Knights	CPHL		70	14	61	75	208		10	2	11	13	29
1964–65	Springfield Indians	AHL		39	3	16	19	65		—	—	—	—	—
1965–66	Springfield Indians	AHL		58	11	20	31	54		6	1	0	1	0
1966–67	Springfield Indians	AHL		36	6	12	18	60		—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Omaha Knights	CHL		11	1	10	11	39		12	3	8	11	42
1967–68	St. Louis Blues	NHL		49	5	15	20	153		18	2	5	7	73
1967–68	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		20	2	13	15	37		—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	St. Louis Blues	NHL		61	4	26	30	120		12	0	4	4	31
1969–70	St. Louis Blues	NHL		75	6	26	32	128		13	0	2	2	20
1970–71	St. Louis Blues	NHL		69	4	20	24	172		6	0	3	3	10
1971–72	St. Louis Blues	NHL		78	7	22	29	176		11	1	4	5	21
1972–73	St. Louis Blues	NHL		68	8	25	33	102		5	0	1	1	0
1973–74	St. Louis Blues	NHL		72	6	20	26	99		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	St. Louis Blues	NHL		76	4	24	28	96		2	0	1	1	14
1975–76	St. Louis Blues	NHL		64	0	8	8	67		1	0	0	0	13
1976–77	St. Louis Blues	NHL		2	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Kansas City Blues	CHL		75	6	42	48	157		9	2	4	6	12
1977–78	Salt Lake Golden Eagles	CHL		46	2	19	21	80		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				614	44	187	231	1115		68	3	20	23	182

Coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season						Post season
		G	W	L	T	Pts	Division rank	Result
St. Louis Blues	1977–78	26	9	11	6	24	4th in Smythe	Missed playoffs
St. Louis Blues	1978–79	80	18	50	12	48	3rd in Smythe	Missed playoffs
St. Louis Blues	1979–80	24	7	14	3	17	2nd in Smythe	Fired
St. Louis Blues	1982–83	48	15	21	12	42	4th in Norris	Lost in 1st round
Total		178	49	96	33

References

1. Canadian Press (June 9, 1964). "Chicago, Boston, Pull First Swap". Edmonton Journal. p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
2. Hebel, Alli (March 24, 2023). "42 years ago: Barclay Plager's number retired by Blues". ksdk.com. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
3. Rutherford, Jeremy. "A timeless toast: From his final resting place, longtime Blue Barclay Plager sips from the Stanley Cup". The Athletic. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
4. "SPORTS PEOPLE; Treatment for Plager (Published 1984)". November 6, 1984. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
5. Archives, L. A. Times (January 30, 1988). "Barclay Plager, 46, a former defenseman and..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
6. "Barclay Plager; Hockey Player, 46 (Published 1988)". February 7, 1988. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
7. Fachet, Robert (February 9, 1988). "PLAGER'S DEATH LEAVES MANY SOLEMN ALL-STARS". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 29, 2023.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Jim Roberts	St. Louis Blues captain 1972–76	Succeeded by Red Berenson
Preceded by Ian McKegney	Winner of the Tommy Ivan Trophy 1976–77	Succeeded by Doug Palazzari
Preceded by Leo Boivin Emile Francis	Head coach of the St. Louis Blues 1978–79 1982–83	Succeeded by Red Berenson Jacques Demers