Yeah, but Im pretty sure Im 30 years older than you, dude. Robert Wetzel, a former Blues employee, drove ahead of a van carrying the Stanley Cup. He entered the hospital late in January 1988, and died on February 6, 1988, of a brain hemorrhage.[2]. Plager died on Feb. 6, 1988. 8 during a night in his honor against the New York Islanders. #stlblues #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/9NfgNVHfDv, St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 2, 2019. One of the most important parts of the team in the early days was Noel Picard. So of course, with my mind, Im thinking, Are they going to put (Bobbys day with the Cup) on a number, like the 8th or the 5th?. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. From left, Barclay Plager, Ernie Wakely, and Noel Picard all were members of Omaha's CHL championship team of 1963-64. And this time, he brought the Stanley Cup. Told about the impression hes left on his brothers family, Bobby briefly got choked up. It was an emotional moment to be sure, one that was in stark contrast to the triumphant emotions Bob felt following Game 7 in Boston. An outfield in flux. We believed we could have won. In the postseason, they took turns visiting his gravesite, leaving "Let . "We go up there and start pushing and shoving. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Bobby then gathered everyone around for a toast, which the Blues captured in the tweet below. Plager's day with the Cup included visits to daughter Melissa . He received a text message from the Blues that it would be Sept. 1 and passed that along to his daughter, Melissa Briggs, who began the planning. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Center Mark Pavelich is playing in Italy and right wing Dave Silk in West Germany . I get asked about that a lot, Picard told the Post-Dispatch in 2011. If that didnt give you chills, the specific hour and minutes on the clock would have. There was no words to even describe that, Karri said. Relevance is automatically assessed so some headlines not qualifying as Dnipro . If weve got an eight or a five, were good, Helen added. The Blues released the following statement Sunday: "The St. Louis Blues and the Blues Alumni organization are deeply saddened by the passing of Billy Plager. Unimaginable just unbelievable, Karen replied. That was number Helen said, starting the sentence. Barclay played 10 seasons with the Blues from 1967-77 and remained with the organization after his retirement as a player in various roles, including two stints as a head coach, until he passed away in 1988 from a cancerous brain tumor. Transaction information may be incomplete. Kelly died almost exactly a year later, from cancer at the age of 52. At his age (37), being a player-coach, that was not done a lot, Blues Hall of Famer Bernie Federko, who played for Barclay in Kansas City, once said. General Manager David Poile of the Washington Capitals met today with David Welker, owner of the Fort Wayne Komets of the International League, to discuss the possibility of Fort Wayne becoming the Capitals' sole farm outlet next season. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/XBWWz2yKom. Keith Allen, Fred Cusick and Bob Johnson were presented the Lester Patrick Award for service to U.S. hockey at a luncheon here today. And that picture was all over our familys Facebook pages., The Plager family placed a miniature Stanley Cup on Barclays gave prior to the Blues winning the championship. N.B. The fans recall one of the great characters in Blues history. He played with his other two brothers, Bill and Bob, in St. Louis for a total of four seasons. How do you know? They say, My dad or my mom, theyre big Blues fans. In addition, he is the Blues Insider for 101 ESPN in St. Louis. When you see the sweater of mine thats down at the rink, with the blood on there, I say, Oh yeah, thats blood but it aint mine, he said. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Armstrong picked it up and said, Here we go. So we gave Barclay a little drink there, and then I look and everybody is pouring beers and saying, Heres to you, Barc! I said, I dont know whos buried beside him, but if he ever wakes up, hes going to have one heck of a hangover.. Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, he played as Defenseman in the National Hockey League for ten seasons (1967 to 1977) with the St. Louis Blues. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Picard was a defenseman for six seasons for the Blues before being let go in the 1972-73 season and finishing his career with Atlanta. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. It was great for me, but it was their day, too.. The Plager family, bonded by Barclays younger brother Bobby, is as close-knit as the stitching on the Blues sweater. But the trio of Plager brothers were better known for their physical play and willingness to stick up for teammates, and that was no better illustrated than in a game in Philadelphia. Jeremy Rutherford is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the St. Louis Blues. Barclay Plager never won a Stanley Cup as a player. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 8 sweater was retired in 1981, after which he returned to the bench as an assistant coach and even filled in as the interim head coach. Hockeydb.com - Hockey Statistics and History for the NHL and more! You have permission to edit this article. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. The defenseman retired following the 1977-78 season after two seasons in the CHL. 8 for Barclay or No. Helen Plager, the widow of former Blues player and coach Barclay Plager, stood near the chapel of Bellerive Gardens Cemetery last Sunday and recalled what she whispered to her late husband during this years Stanley Cup playoffs. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. 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. I had the feeling Its not going to happen its not looking good, said Kelly Plager, 54, their other son. It was a dream season, said Kevin Plager, 48, one of Barclay and Helens two sons. . NewsNow aims to be the world's most accurate and comprehensive Dnipro news aggregator, bringing you the latest headlines automatically and continuously 24/7. Its usually a six-pack or 12-pack. Player Overview & Base Stats; Game Finder; Streak Finder; Span Finder; News; Career Splits. 8 jersey has been retired by the St. Louis Blues, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 7 May 2022, at 23:03. "We need to talk about where the International League is going. Washington winger Dave Christian is one of six members of the 1980 U.S. gold medal hockey team still playing in the NHL. He said, Its got grandpas blood all down here.. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Allen, former coach and general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, said, "It seems funny to be receiving the award in St. Louis, the scene of some of my most embarrassing coaching memories. They must have given them out at a game one night and he had a bunch of them., So Rachel went and put the Stanley Cup up there, said Karri Solimando, 43, Barclay and Helens other daughter. Try again later. Photo by Steve Perille, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Many of the Blues, who call The Arena home, get their first look at the plush Arena Club in 1967, the team's inaugural season in the NHL. I was busy with four kids and never really thought about what it meant until the years kept going by and by and by and my kids were getting older, Helen said. He played all 614 games of his NHL career for the Blues. We finally did it! she said. Its super cool, Kevin said. There was a problem saving your notification. We got to celebrate with Barclay and Noel and their families. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Plager played 645 games in 11 seasons for the Blues from 1967-78. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Billy Plager, one of three Plager brothers to play for the Blues, died early Sunday morning. An original member of the St. Louis Blues, Plager would take the trophy to the burial place of his older brother, Barclay, who also played for the expansion Blues. Who would have ever thought wed be doing that?, Kevin, an eighth-round draft pick of the Blues in 1989, said:You only see it on TV, and now to be able to touch it.. Resend Activation Email. Post-Dispatch file photo, Billy McCreary (right), the new coach of the Blues, talks over old times with there players who played for him eight years ago when he was coaching at Omaha in the Central Hockey League on Nov. 2, 1971. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Barclay Plager had 44 goals over his career. Make sure that the file is a photo. If you know anything about the Plagers, you know that they are consumed by finding a connection to the No. . Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. In the postseason, they took turns visiting his gravesite, leaving Lets Go Blues signs and rally towels on his headstone. Barclay became the Blues head coach in 1978, but resigned the following season because he said he wasnt getting the most out of the team. That was the first time I teared up when they did that, Karen added. Rough and tumble Barclay Plager came to the Blues via the 1967 NHL expansion draft. . ). He served as the team's head coach but was relieved of his duties in 1979 after the team recorded their worst season in franchise history. / St. Louis Blues. I didnt expect that at all and I got the chills.. If you think we're going to party down here, they're partying up there, too.". Photo by Steve Perille, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Steve Perille Many of the. Learn more about merges. He is survived by his wife, Helen, and four children. Doug MacLean, an assistant coach for St. Louis, played Tier Two hockey in Ontario when Bryan Murray was coaching at Pembroke. It's tough to hear. All Rights Reserved. ", Tweet from @StLouisBlues: If there's anything more St. Louis than @RealTedDrewes from the #StanleyCup, we don't know what it is. All Rights Reserved. LOUIS, FEB. 8 -- The death on Saturday of Barclay Plager, who served the St. Louis Blues as captain, coach and inspiration, has cast a pall over the 39th NHL All-Star Game, to be played here. Behind Plager's leadershiphe was named the second captain in team history in 1970 and served longer than any other Blues' captain save for Brian Sutterthe Blues made the Stanley Cup finals their first three seasons. Do you have a blog? I will never forget it. In early 1987, Plager had an operation to remove a brain tumour with a heat treatment. Billy Plager, the youngest of the Plager brothers, played parts of four seasons with the Blues - more than any other team in his NHL career - and passed away more recently in 2016. The only thing that might have made that moment more special is if Barclay and Billy had been there to hoist the Cup with him. Billy was preceded in death by his brother Barclay Plager, who died in 1988 at age 46 of cancer. To those who have gone before us. WHA hat tricks courtesy Scott Surgent. As the group giggled, Sgt.Wetzel, who led the police escort, stood nearby pinching himself. For the players and coaches in the all-star game, it's tough to be here now, especially those of us who played with him." So perhaps Sept. 1 did have some significance after all. Theres a connection, he said. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. We battled. stlouisblues.com is the official Web site of the St Louis Blues. From left, Barclay Plager, Ernie Wakely, and Noel Picard all were members of Omaha's CHL championship team of 1963-64. 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. I didnt really realize who my dad was, as far as like people saying, Oh my gosh, your dad is Barclay Plager? said Karen, who was 20 when he died. "I'm just so thankful that he's alive to do this, to see this and to celebrate this. Plager became a leader for the team and was named the second captain in team history in 1970. The latest STL Blues hockey news, NHL headlines, scores, standings and rosters. / NHL.com Independent Correspondent. Oops, we were unable to send the email. "I go up in the stands after the fan, and the next thing I know Barclay is behind me and Billy is behind him," Bobby remembered. On March 24, 1981, the Blues retired Barclay Plager's No. 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. "It was Barclay, Noel, Jimmy Roberts, Dan Kelly, who announced our games, the Solomons owned us. Then Allen was embarrassed again, because he lost the thread of his speech and, since he was not wearing his glasses, could not read it, either . At least 6 people killed in crashes on I-55 south of Springfield, Illinois, Man dies after crashing into construction site in O'Fallon, St. Louis forecast: Gusty winds again Tuesday, Storm damages a 'labor of love' in Jefferson County, Blues take 3-0 victory over Winnipeg Jets, 32 years ago: Blues retire Bernie Federkos No. You talk to some of the players and tell them to enjoy it now because you never know when this will happen again.". A police escort led by Ballwin Sgt. Enter Search Term. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. He was 78. He gave our star players room to be star players. "I want the best place for our young players' development but we also must look at things from a financial standpoint. Bobby joked, however, that the stain on the sweater wasnt from Barclay. He reunited with his brothers Barclay and Billy in heaven on March 24, 2021 at age 78. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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. Suffering from dizzy spells thought to be the result of an old head injury, Plager was examined by a doctor following his stepping down as coach. There have been hundreds of visits to Bellerive Gardens Cemetery over the years, but none like last week. [1] He played the majority of the next three seasons with the Springfield Indians of the AHL. He was also welcomed by his parents, Gus and Edith Plager Carrying on Bobby's legacy are his daughter, Melissa Plager Briggs, son, Bobby, Jr., and son-in-law David Briggs. If Barc was here, hed have the same answer, Oh yeah, thats blood, but it aint mine.. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. He retired with 231 points (44 goals and 187 assists) in 614 games, all with the Blues. In a playing career that spanned 10 seasons, Barclay played 614 games with the Blues from their inaugural season in 1967 until 1977. He's the linchpin from Day One to all the way now. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Bob Plager is the only one of three still living; Barclay Plager died in 1988. On a gorgeous afternoon, about 20 members of the extended family began arriving at the cemetery around 4:30 p.m., placing a History Made sign with a picture of the Cup near the stone. On Jan. 6, 1972, a fan dumped a beer on Blues coach Al Arbour, leading to a chaotic scene that saw several players head into the stands, including all three Plagers. (Jeremy Rutherford / For The Athletic). An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Last chance! {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Rudderless ship of chaos: St. Louis judge advances Kim Gardner contempt case, Cardinals send prized prospect Jordan Walker to Class AAA in curious series of moves, What Oliver Marmols gamble in ninth vs. LA reveals about managing to spark Cardinals, How sending Jordan Walker to Class AAA is a bet clarity can correct muddled outfield: Cardinals Extra, Bud Light sales continue to plummet after transgender marketing controversy, The world watches (and makes donations) as St. Louis bald eagle raises eaglet from a rock, A closer on ice. The day after the Blues won, they went to OB Clarks, he said. Noel was such a big, happy-go-lucky guy and enjoyed life. Melissa Briggs, the daughter of Blues legend Bob Plager, placed the flag there back in June to let her uncle know that the Blues - the team both Bob and Barclay cherished so much and always represented with such pride - had finally done it. Billy spent more time with the Blues than any other franchise and engrained himself in the St. Louis community during his tenure. His No. Kelly thought he had lost his lone opportunity. They're talking about putting franchises in Phoenix and Sacramento and Erie {Pa.} and that could affect everybody's costs.". 4, was there to watch.. Barclay Plager was 46 when he died Feb. 6, 1988, from a brain hemorrhage. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Bobby has been here since day one, so hes been a fixture this whole time, Kevin said. (FullRecord), Relatives: BrothersBillPlager, BobPlager. He went too soon, thats all., Brothers Bob and Barclay Plager have their numbers retired in the rafters of Enterprise Center. The others are defenseman Ken Morrow of the Islanders, defenseman Jack O'Callahan and center Mark Johnson of New Jersey, defenseman Mike Ramsey of Buffalo and center Neal Broten of Minnesota. Verify and try again. When Boston's Bobby Orr shot the puck for overtime goal in Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals to end the series, Picard put his stick between Orr's legs and tripped him, sending Orr flying through the air and celebrating while parallel to the ice. (Top photo of Bobby Plager courtesy of the St. Louis Blues). It is . In 1981, he was named assistant coach and had another stint as interim head coach in 1983. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Well be talking about that forever.. There were a few tears, for sure.. Barclay Plager Overview. 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. . Together, the family held a toast to Barclay and each sipped champagne from the Stanley Cup. People send me cards and pictures in Montreal and I sign them all the time., Noel Picard looks on as Bobby Orr goes airborne after scoring the goal that won the Stanley Cup for the Boston Bruins on May 10, 1970, against the St. Louis Blues at Boston Garden.