Bruce Affleck

Robert Bruce Affleck (born May 5, 1954) is a Canadian retired former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League in the 1970s. Currently he serves as an executive for the St. Louis Blues, the team with which he spent most of his playing career.

Bruce Affleck
Born (1954-05-05) May 5, 1954
Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for St. Louis Blues
Vancouver Canucks
New York Islanders
NHL Draft 21st overall, 1974
California Seals
Playing career 19741984

Playing career

Affleck was drafted in the 2nd round (21st overall) in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft by the California Seals from the University of Denver. He turned pro the following season, and spent the first half of the year with the Seals' Central Hockey League farm team in Salt Lake, but was dealt to the St. Louis Blues before he ever played a game in California. He finished the season with a 13-game callup to the Blues, recording 2 assists.

In 1975–76, Affleck made the Blues' squad full-time and was a huge success as a mobile, puck-moving defender. He played in all 80 of the team's games, recorded 4 goals and 30 points, and was named the team's Rookie of the Year. His 26 assists were the most of any Blues blueliner.

Affleck would spend three seasons as a regular in the Blues' lineup. However, by 1977–78 he was struggling, as he slumped to 18 points and a -56 rating on a St. Louis team which finished with just 20 wins and missed the playoffs. In 1978–79, he would lose his spot on the Blues, playing only 26 games and spending most of the season in the Central Hockey League, where he was named the league's top defender.

For the 1979–80 season, Affleck was sold to the Vancouver Canucks. However, he again spent most of the season in the CHL, where he was named the league's top defender. He did play in 5 games for the Canucks, recording an assist. He would sign as a free agent with the New York Islanders for the 1980–81 season, but did not see a game for the Islanders, although he was named the CHL's top defender for the second consecutive season, this time playing for the Indianapolis Checkers.

Affleck would spend the majority of the next two seasons playing in Switzerland, although he returned to Indianapolis for the close of the CHL season and playoffs both years, helping the team to two championships. He returned to Indianapolis full-time for the 1983–84 season, and was named the league's top defender for the third time along with MVP honours. He also received a one-game callup to the Islanders, five years after his last NHL action. He retired at the conclusion of the season.

Affleck finished his NHL career with 14 goals and 80 points, along with 86 penalty minutes, in 280 games.

TV and Management career

Following his career, Affleck returned to St. Louis as a TV color commentator and reporter for the St. Louis Blues. He and Joe Micheletti partnered with play-by-play announcer Ken Wilson. He currently serves as the team's Vice President of Sales.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1971–72 Penticton Broncos BCJHL 57 31 69 100 91
1972–73 Denver Pioneers WCHA 39 6 19 25 30
1973–74 Denver Pioneers WCHA 38 8 23 31 42
1974–75 Salt Lake Golden Eagles CHL 35 0 14 14 28
1974–75 Springfield Indians AHL 8 1 3 4 12
1974–75 St. Louis Blues NHL 13 0 2 2 4 1 0 0 0 0
1975–76 St. Louis Blues NHL 80 4 26 30 20 3 0 0 0 0
1976–77 St. Louis Blues NHL 80 5 20 25 24 4 0 0 0 0
1977–78 St. Louis Blues NHL 75 4 14 18 26
1978–79 Salt Lake Golden Eagles CHL 48 8 31 39 30 10 0 4 4 2
1978–79 St. Louis Blues NHL 26 1 3 4 12
1979–80 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 72 10 53 63 39
1979–80 Vancouver Canucks NHL 5 0 1 1 0
1980–81 Indianapolis Checkers CHL 77 8 50 58 41 5 2 6 8 2
1981–82 Indianapolis Checkers CHL 16 5 17 22 4 13 1 17 18 16
1982–83 Kloten Flyers NDA 30 6 12 18 0
1982–83 Indianapolis Checkers CHL 8 2 12 14 0 13 0 18 18 2
1983–84 Indianapolis Checkers CHL 54 13 40 53 18 2 0 0 0 0
1983–84 New York Islanders NHL 1 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 280 14 66 80 86 8 0 0 0 0

Awards and honors

Award Year
All-WCHA First Team 1972–73 [1]
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 1973 [2]
All-WCHA Second Team 1973–74 [1]
CHL Top Defender 1979–80
1980–81
1983–84
CHL co-MVP 1983–84

References

  1. "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  2. "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Kelly Hrudey
Winner of the Tommy Ivan Trophy
shared with John Vanbiesbrouck

1983–84
Succeeded by
None


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