Wendel Clark

Wendel Clark
Born	(1966-10-25) October 25, 1966 Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position	Left Wing/Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs Quebec Nordiques New York Islanders Tampa Bay Lightning Detroit Red Wings Chicago Blackhawks
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	1st overall, 1985 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	1985–2000

Medal record
Representing Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	1985 Finland

Wendel L. Clark (born October 25, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was chosen first overall in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team he played with on three separate occasions, captaining the team from 1991 to 1994. A fan favourite in the city, Clark has been cited by multiple current NHL players as a boyhood idol.

Early years

A star junior hockey defenceman with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League, Clark was a member of Canada's gold medal winning team at the 1985 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.^[1] Clark was converted to forward after he was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. His professional career lasted from 1985 until 2000, during which time he played for the Maple Leafs (during three separate stretches), Quebec Nordiques, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.

Clark was known for his physical play and his offensive mind combined with scoring prowess. After his rookie season, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and finished third in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy. The serious back injury that Clark suffered during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks in 1987, when he was cross-checked into the crossbar of his own goal, hindered his progress as an elite NHL player. Nonetheless, he was a crowd favourite at Maple Leaf Gardens and won a place in the hearts of Leaf fans as he provided a spark during the latter part of the Harold Ballard era, considered the darkest period in the storied franchise's history. He was named captain of the team for the 1991–92 season.

Clark with the Maple Leafs.

During the 1992–93 season, Clark's second year captaining the team, the Leafs set team records in wins (44) and points (99) and also made the playoffs for the first time in three years. The Leafs had a memorable run to the Campbell Conference Finals, but after leading the best-of-seven series three games to two, they lost to the Wayne Gretzky-led Los Angeles Kings, who were coached by Clark's cousin, Barry Melrose. Two career defining moments happened in this series for Clark: his defense of Doug Gilmour, resulting in a bruised and battered Marty McSorley, and his hat-trick in Game Six of the seven-game series.

"That series was probably the most excitement I saw around here," proclaimed Clark, who had 20 points (10 goals and 10 assists) in his 21 games during the '93 playoffs. "It was the furthest the Leafs had advanced in a long time, the team was coming together at the right time and everybody was doing their jobs."

While Clark was known for grit and physical play (amassing 1,690 career penalty minutes), frequent injuries meant that he played only one full season. Nonetheless, he did manage an impressive 46 goals in 64 games for the Leafs during the 1993–94 season, playing on a line with Dave Andreychuk and Doug Gilmour. In the playoffs, the Leafs made a second consecutive trip to the Conference Finals, but fell 4–1 to the Vancouver Canucks, who were coached by future Leafs coach Pat Quinn.

Reputation

Clark came into the league swinging, and refused to back down to the league's toughest players, racking up 227 PIM during his rookie year. Clark quickly gained a reputation for hard-nosed hockey, showing little regard for his opponents or himself. His most famous check is perhaps his hit on unsuspecting St. Louis' defenseman Bruce Bell. Coming from opposite corners, Clark caught Bell with his head down, and the devastating hit left Bell unconscious. Many legendary hits followed during his career, leading to his famous nickname, Captain Crunch.

Early in his career, Clark fought all the league's toughest players, quickly gaining a reputation as a feared pugilist. Despite his size, Clark more than held his own against much larger opponents, showing a ferocity seldom matched throughout the league. Clark's list of opponents is a relative who's who of his era's NHL tough-guys: Craig Berube, Joey Kocur, Bob Probert, Dave Brown, Rick Tocchet, Mark Tinordi, Garth Butcher, Marty McSorley, Mike Peluso, and John Kordic.

Due to age, reputation and injuries, Clark's fights became less frequent during latter part of his career. But despite the numerous injuries, Clark's ability to change a game with a single bodycheck continued right up to his eventual retirement.

As tough as Clark was, his scoring touch and offensive ability was equal to his on-ice toughness. Clark's 227 PIM in his rookie season was the 1985-86 Toronto Maple Leafs team high, along with 34 goals which also led the team. Clark's brightest offensive moments came during the 1992-93 Stanley Cup run where the Toronto Maple Leafs came within one game of advancing to the Stanley Finals. Clark's performance in the series was legendary as he scored 10 goals and 10 assists in playoffs, including, a hat trick in Game 6 of the Semi-Finals against the Los Angeles Kings. On more of the combative side - Clark's toe-to-toe fight in Game 1 of the series with Los Angeles Kings enforcer, Marty McSorley after McSorley made a big hit on Leafs star, Doug Gilmour. Clark's career season-high in goals came in the 1993-94 season where he notched, 46 goals in 64 games.

Trades

In June 1994, with his value at an all-time high, Clark was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in a multi-player deal which notably involved a young Mats Sundin. He was succeeded as Maple Leafs captain by Gilmour. Clark played the lockout-shortened 1994–95 NHL season in Quebec.

After the Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche, Clark became embroiled in a contract dispute with the team. As a result, shortly before the beginning of the 1995–96 campaign, he was sent to the New York Islanders in a three-way trade that brought Claude Lemieux to Colorado and Steve Thomas to the New Jersey Devils. Clark played 58 games with the Islanders, but finished the season back in Toronto.

The Islanders received a first round pick from the Leafs (4th overall in '97) which turned out to be Roberto Luongo.

Later career

In 1998 Clark signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he earned a spot on the North American All-Star team, and went on to score 28 goals in 65 games. Despite his success in Tampa Bay, he was dealt at the trade deadline to the Detroit Red Wings, where he finished the 1998–99 season. Clark signed with the Chicago Blackhawks later in 1999, but only appeared in 13 games with the team.

Upon returning to the Leafs in 2000, after being benched by the Blackhawks, Clark was not particularly effective for the remainder of the regular season, but he found his form for the Leafs' playoff run. The love that Leaf fans had for their former captain could be seen when they gave a 1:30 standing ovation after Clark barreled into the New Jersey zone and hit the post in Game 1. During Game 4, Clark assisted on the game-winning goal that gave the Leafs a 2–1 victory and tied the series with the Devils.

Post-retirement

Clark is now employed by the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club as a community ambassador and public relations. He can be seen at virtually all Leaf home games, usually with his wife Denise and children. The Toronto Maple Leafs honoured the former captain by raising his legendary number 17 to the rafters on November 22, 2008, at the Air Canada Centre. He owns two restaurants, Wendel Clark's Classic Grill and Sports Lounge, in both Hamilton, Ontario and Vaughan, Ontario,^[2][3] and resides in King City.^[2][3][4]

Family

Clark's first cousin is ex-NHLer and ESPN commentator Barry Melrose; he is also a cousin of former Detroit Red Wing and Saskatoon Blade Joe Kocur. Clark's younger brother Kerry Clark was also a professional hockey player; he was a career minor leaguer who is in the top 60 in minor league history in penalty minutes with 2812.^[5] Clark's other brother, Donn Clark is best known for being the head coach of the Prince Albert Raiders and the Saskatoon Blades.

Wendel's son, Kody Clark, began playing for the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League in 2016.^[6]

In popular culture

Though it was released very early in his career, arguably before he became well known as a player, Clark was famously celebrated by the Canadian band The Rheostatics in the song "The Ballad of Wendel Clark Parts I & II" on their debut album, Greatest Hits.

Awards

• Selected to two NHL All-Star Games: 1986 and 1999
• Inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.^[7]
• #17 jersey retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs.^[8]

Career statistics

See also

• Captain (ice hockey)
• Notable families in the NHL

References

External links

• Wendel Clark's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Wendel Clark's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Official website