Doug Bodger

Douglas Paul Bodger (born June 18, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins ninth overall in the 1984 NHL Draft he would play in over 1,000 games in the NHL, primarily with the Buffalo Sabres, but also had longer tenures with the Penguins and San Jose Sharks, while having short stints with the New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, and Vancouver Canucks at the end of his professional career.

A standout junior player in the Western Hockey League, Bodger was twice named the best defenceman on the Kamloops Junior Oilers. He was also named a WHL all-star in both his junior seasons. He also represented Canada at three World Championships, winning a silver medal at the 1996 tournament.

Playing career Bodger played his minor hockey with the Cowichan Midget Capitals before joining the Kamloops Junior Oilers of the Western Hockey League. In his first season with Kamloops, he scored 26 goals and 92 points, being named to the WHL Second All-Star Team. The following season, Bodger scored 21 goals and added 77 assists for 98 points, earning First All-Star Team honours.

As a top prospect, Bodger was expecting to be selected early in the draft. He had earlier conversations with the Detroit Red Wings, who told Bodger there was a "90 per cent chance" they would pick him at seventh overall, going so far as to ask he wear a red tie to match the team colours.

International play

Bodger played for Canada at three World Championships, in 1987, 1996, and 1999. Joining the Canadian national team for the first time in 1987, Bodger played in all ten games, scoring one goal and one assist as Canada finished fourth in the tournament. His next appearance in the World Championships was in 1996. In eight games, Bodger contributed three assists and was named the team's best defenceman as Canada won the silver medal. His third and final appearance for the national team was at the 1999 World Championships, where he scored three assists in ten games for the fourth place Canadians.

Awards

WHL Award Year WHL Second All-Star Team 1983 WHL West First All-Star Team 1984

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1981–82 Cowichan Valley Capitals Bantam — — — — — — — — — — 1982–83 Kamloops Junior Oilers WHL 72 26 66 92 98 7 0 5 5 2 1983–84 Kamloops Junior Oilers WHL 70 21 77 98 90 17 2 15 17 12 1983–84 Kamloops Junior Oilers MC — — — — — 4 0 1 1 2 1984–85 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 65 5 26 31 67 — — — — — 1985–86 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 79 4 33 37 63 — — — — — 1986–87 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 76 11 38 49 52 — — — — — 1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 69 14 31 45 103 — — — — — 1988–89 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 10 1 4 5 7 — — — — — 1988–89 Buffalo Sabres NHL 61 7 40 47 52 5 1 1 2 11 1989–90 Buffalo Sabres NHL 71 12 36 48 64 6 1 5 6 6 1990–91 Buffalo Sabres NHL 58 5 23 28 54 4 0 1 1 0 1991–92 Buffalo Sabres NHL 73 11 35 46 108 7 2 1 3 2 1992–93 Buffalo Sabres NHL 81 9 45 54 87 8 2 3 5 0 1993–94 Buffalo Sabres NHL 75 7 32 39 76 7 0 3 3 6 1994–95 Buffalo Sabres NHL 44 3 17 20 47 5 0 4 4 0 1995–96 Buffalo Sabres NHL 16 0 5 5 18 — — — — — 1995–96 San Jose Sharks NHL 57 4 19 23 50 — — — — — 1996–97 San Jose Sharks NHL 81 1 15 16 64 — — — — — 1997–98 San Jose Sharks NHL 28 4 6 10 32 — — — — — 1997–98 New Jersey Devils NHL 49 5 5 10 25 5 0 0 0 0 1998–99 Los Angeles Kings NHL 65 3 11 14 34 — — — — — 1999–2000 Vancouver Canucks NHL 13 0 1 1 4 — — — — — NHL totals 1,071 106 422 528 1,007 47 6 18 24 25

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1987 Canada WC 4th 10 1 1 2 4 1996 Canada WC 8 0 3 3 0 1999 Canada WC 4th 10 0 2 2 4 Senior totals 28 1 6 7 8