Don Luce

Donald Harold Luce (born October 2, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre, executive and scout. Luce played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs from 1969 to 1982.

Don Luce
Born (1948-10-02) October 2, 1948
London, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for New York Rangers
Detroit Red Wings
Buffalo Sabres
Los Angeles Kings
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL Draft 14th overall, 1966
New York Rangers
Playing career 19681982

After his playing career, Luce moved into a long career in player development for the Sabres and the Philadelphia Flyers. He is currently working as a pro scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs.[1]

Playing career

Luce was drafted by the New York Rangers and played three seasons (1965–68) for their farm team; the Kitchener Rangers in Kitchener, Ontario. He then played one and a half seasons with another Rangers farm team, the Omaha Knights, before being brought up to the NHL team for the last 12 games of 1969–70. <--While in New York, he often ate dinner with Tim Horton.-->

During the 1970–1971 season he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, where he played 58 games before being dealt again, this time to the Buffalo Sabres, for whom he then played until 1981. Luce was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the NHL player annually who best demonstrates the qualities of perseverance, leadership and dedication to the sport of hockey, for the 1974-75 season.

In the middle of the 1980–81 season he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, and finished his career the following season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Luce was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 1986 [2] and also served as an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres in 1986–87. He served as the Sabres' Head of Player development from the end of his term as assistant coach until July 2006, when the team let him go and cut much of its scouting department. Luce had been responsible for bringing in the likes of Alexander Mogilny, Maxim Afinogenov, Martin Biron, Brian Campbell, and Jason Pominville.

He is remembered among Sabres fans fondly for his work ethic on the ice, his abilities on the penalty kill, his work in the team's front office, and in the community where he and his wife Diane continue to act charitably even though they are no longer affiliated with the Sabres.

Luce played 894 career NHL games, scoring 225 goals and 329 assists for 554 points. His best statistical season was the 1974–75 season with the Buffalo Sabres, when he set career highs in goals (33), points (76), shorthanded goals (8), and plus minus with a +61 rating.

Luce was appointed Director of Player Development for the Philadelphia Flyers on December 1, 2006[3] and served in that position through the 2011–12 season.

On September 20, 2015, it was announced that Luce had been hired as a professional scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs.[1]

Personal life

Luce's grandson Griffin plays NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of Michigan.[4]

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1965–66Kitchener RangersOHA-Jr.4716193571194121620
1966–67Kitchener RangersOHA-Jr.481942619413791635
1967–68Kitchener RangersOHA-Jr.542470948819481252
1968–69Omaha KnightsCHL7222345656734711
1969–70New York RangersNHL12123850114
1969–70Omaha KnightsCHL642235578221234
1970–71New York RangersNHL90110
1970–71Detroit Red WingsNHL583111418
1971–72Buffalo SabresNHL781181938
1972–73Buffalo SabresNHL781825433261122
1973–74Buffalo SabresNHL7526305644
1974–75Buffalo SabresNHL803343764516581319
1975–76Buffalo SabresNHL772149704294376
1976–77Buffalo SabresNHL802643691663142
1977–78Buffalo SabresNHL782635612480226
1978–79Buffalo SabresNHL792635611431120
1979–80Buffalo SabresNHL80142943301433611
1980–81Buffalo SabresNHL6115132819
1980–81Los Angeles KingsNHL10101240222
1981–82Toronto Maple LeafsNHL3944832
1981–82Salt Lake Golden EaglesCHL21014102578
NHL totals 894 225 328 553 364 71 17 22 39 52

References

  1. "LEAFS ADD TROY BODIE, DON LUCE AS PRO SCOUTS". The Nation Network. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  2. "Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame". sabresalumni.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-18.
  3. "bio - luce - Philadelphia Flyers - Team". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  4. Allentuck, Danielle (July 4, 2018). "With grandfather watching, Griffin Luce makes most out of Sabres camp invite". buffalonews.com. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
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