Bruce Affleck

Robert Bruce Affleck (born May 5, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League between 1975 and 1984. Currently he serves as an executive for the St. Louis Blues, the team with which he spent most of his playing career.

Playing career Affleck was drafted in the 2nd round (21st overall) in the 1974 NHL Amateur 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 spent 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 lost 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 signed 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 spent 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 currently serves as the team's Vice President of Sales.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs 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 University of Denver WCHA 39 6 19 25 30 — — — — — 1973–74 University of Denver WCHA 38 8 23 31 42 — — — — — 1974–75 St. Louis Blues NHL 13 0 2 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 1974–75 Salt Lake Golden Eagles CHL 35 0 14 14 28 — — — — — 1974–75 Springfield Indians AHL 8 1 3 4 12 — — — — — 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 St. Louis Blues NHL 26 1 3 4 12 — — — — — 1978–79 Salt Lake Golden Eagles CHL 48 8 31 39 30 10 0 4 4 2 1979–80 Vancouver Canucks NHL 5 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1979–80 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 72 10 53 63 39 — — — — — 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 New York Islanders NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1983–84 Indianapolis Checkers CHL 54 13 40 53 18 2 0 0 0 0 NHL totals 280 14 66 80 86 8 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours Award Year All-WCHA First Team 1972–73 All-NCAA All-Tournament Team† 1973† All-WCHA Second Team 1973–74 CHL Top Defender 1979–801980–811983–84 CHL co-MVP 1983–84 † (participation later vacated)