Brian Spencer

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Position Left Wing
Nickname Spinner
Height
Weight		 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Pro Clubs Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Islanders
Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins
Nationality Flag of Canada Canada
Born September 3, 1949,
Fort St. James, British Columbia
NHL Draft Rnd 5, 55th overall, 1969
Toronto Maple Leafs
Pro Career 1969 – 1979

Brian Roy "Spinner" Spencer (Born September 3, 1949 in Fort St. James, British Columbia, Canada - Died June 2, 1988 in Riviera Beach, FL) was a Canadian Professional Hockey player who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Contents

[edit] Career

Brian Spencer was drafted in the 5th Round, 55th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1969 NHL Entry Draft. When he was called up to play with the Leafs, in what would be his first NHL game, he called his father Roy Spencer in British Columbia to tell him to watch the game that night on Hockey Night in Canada. Spencer was to be interviewed between periods of the game. However, a Vancouver Canucks game was aired instead of the Maple Leafs. Infuriated, Roy Spencer drove 135 kilometres to the closest CBC station in Prince George, BC. When he arrived he ordered them at gunpoint to broadcast the Maple Leafs game instead. The station complied but as Roy Spencer left the station he was confronted by the RCMP. After a brief stand-off Roy Spencer was shot and killed.

After a few seasons with Toronto and the New York, Spencer was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres. Spencer had his best offensive production in a Sabres uniform when he scored 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 1974-75. Spencer played well in Buffalo and was extremely popular with the fans at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium. His hustle, aggressive play, and hitting ability was something the fans admired. Spencer developed into a solid two-way player. He would however be dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in September 1977.

His offensive production fell as he took on the role of a checking forward with the Penguins. Spencer's last NHL season came in 1978-79 when he played 7 games for Pittsburgh. He then finished his playing career in the AHL (Binghamton, Springfield and Hershey) and retired after the 1979-80 season.

[edit] Off The Ice

While off the ice Spencer was often found working on his vehicle, dubbed "The Hulk". He began with a 2 1/2 ton Army convoy truck and removed the body. Next, Spencer installed a 651 Cummins diesel engine and placed the shell of a 1972 Dodge van and hood of a Mack Truck atop.

[edit] Death

After hockey, Spencer ran into some rough times. He submersed himself into a life of drugs and violence. In 1987 he was charged with kidnapping and murder and faced the death penalty. His family and friends, including ex-teammates gathered around him and tried to help Spencer through those rough times. The jury deliberated and ruled with a not guilty verdict in 1988 and Spencer vowed to change his life. Following 11 NHL seasons, 2 marriages and five children, he moved to Florida. Three months later he was robbed at gunpoint buying crack cocaine in Riviera Beach, FL, and Spencer was shot and killed.

[edit] Trivia

  • The friend with Spencer the night he was shot was Gregory Scott Cook.
  • Brian Spencer had a twin brother, Byron.
  • A book on Brian's life "Gross Misconduct", written by Martin O'Malley, was adapted by Atom Egoyan into a made for TV Movie in Canada.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Players:The Ultimate A-Z Guide of Everyone Who Has Ever Played in the NHL by Andrew Podnieks, ISBN 0-385-25999-9
  • Penguin's Profiles: Pittsburgh's Boys of Winter. O'Brien, James P. 1994, Retrieved 17 Nov. 2006.
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