Gord Kluzak

Gord Kluzak
Born	(1964-03-04) March 4, 1964 Climax, SK, CAN
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Boston Bruins
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	1st overall, 1982 Boston Bruins
Playing career	1982–1991

Gordon Glen Kluzak (born March 4, 1964 in Climax, Saskatchewan) is a retired Canadian professional hockey player who played for the Boston Bruins of the NHL from 1982 to 1991. He was selected first overall by the Bruins in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Kluzak currently works as a broadcaster for the Bruins.

Playing career

Gord Kluzak grew up on a wheat farm in Saskatchewan, and attended high school in Wilcox, Saskatchewan at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame.

Kluzak played junior hockey for two seasons with the WHL's Billings Bighorns, where he was paired on defence with future NHLer Bob Rouse. He missed half of the 1981–82 season and entire 1982 playoffs after he tore ligaments in his left knee in a game against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Feb. 9, 1982, which would be the first of many knee problems for Kluzak.

The injury did not hurt his draft placement however, as he was rated as the No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 2 WHL prospect for the 1982 NHL draft by The Hockey News.

Harry Sinden, the Boston Bruins general manager was sold on the young defenceman, and made him the 1st overall pick in that year's NHL Entry Draft. Sinden passed up on Kitchener Rangers star Brian Bellows, who was the popular choice amongst Bruin fans, and Gary Nylund of the Portland Winter Hawks, who many, including The Hockey News, felt was the better defenceman. Sinden made a deal with the Minnesota North Stars, who had the second pick that year, where he agreed to let them have Bellows with the No. 2 pick in exchange for Brad Palmer and Dave Donnelly.

Minnesota did end up picking Bellows, who went on to become a star in the NHL, with 485 goals and 1022 points over nearly 1200 NHL games. Nylund was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs and ended his career with 608 NHL games under his belt. Other notable NHL players drafted after Kluzak include Scott Stevens (5th, 1635 NHL games played), Phil Housley (6th, 1495 NHL games played), Dave Andreychuk (16th, 1639 NHL games played), Tomas Sandstrom (36th, 983 NHL games played), Pat Verbeek (43rd, 1434 NHL games played), and Doug Gilmour (134th, 1474 NHL games played). Kluzak, on the other hand was out of hockey at the age of 27 - felled by knee injuries, after playing in only 299 NHL games. He managed to avoid knee injuries for his first two NHL seasons. However on Oct. 7, 1984, Kluzak tore ligaments in his left knee when he collided in mid-ice with New Jersey Devils defenceman Dave Lewis. This required major reconstructive surgery and forced Kluzak to miss the entire 1984–85 regular season and 1985 playoffs. He would re-injure the knee again in September 1986 and miss another season.

His best year in the NHL may have been 1987–88. Kluzak managed to play 66 of Boston's 80 games during the 1987–88 season, and all 23 playoff games, as Boston went to the Stanley Cup Finals. After that Kluzak's career stalled because of chronic knee problems that resulted in 11 surgeries. He would play in only 13 more games, his last being on Nov. 5, 1990 against the New York Rangers. He announced his retirement on Nov. 12, 1990.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1980–81	Billings Bighorns	WHL		68	4	34	38	160		5	0	1	1	4
1981–82	Billings Bighorns	WHL		38	9	24	33	110		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Boston Bruins	NHL		70	1	6	7	105		17	1	4	5	54
1983–84	Boston Bruins	NHL		80	10	27	37	135		3	0	0	0	0
1984–85	Boston Bruins	NHL		Did not play (injury)
1985–86	Boston Bruins	NHL		70	8	31	39	155	3	1	1	2	16
1986–87	Boston Bruins	NHL		Did not play (injury)
1987–88	Boston Bruins	NHL		66	6	31	37	135	23	4	8	12	59
1988–89	Boston Bruins	NHL		3	0	1	1	2	—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Boston Bruins	NHL		8	0	2	2	11	—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Boston Bruins	NHL		2	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				299	25	98	123	543	46	6	13	19	129

International play

Gord Kluzak

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	1982	Ice hockey

In 1982 Kluzak was chosen to represent Canada at the World Junior Championships. Prior to 1982 Canada had sent the defending Memorial Cup champions to represent the country at the world juniors. Due to the Memorial Cup champion's lack of success, 1982 became the first year that the top players in the country were sent.

Led by Kluzak and Kingston Canadians goaltender Mike Moffat, the Canadians outscored the opposition 45–14, including a 7–0 rout of the Soviet Union, en route to the country's first gold medal at the event.

In perhaps one of the most memorable moments in tournament history, Kluzak and his teammates stood at the blue line and sang the Canadian national anthem. Apparently, the organizers in Rochester, Minnesota had not expected Canada to win and did not have a recording of "O Canada".

Post-retirement

After being forced to retire prematurely, Kluzak enrolled at Harvard University, graduating in 1994 with a degree in Economics, and spent two years as the Chief of Staff for the state lottery. He then returned to Harvard, earning an MBA in 1998. Since then, he has worked for Goldman Sachs.

Kluzak also worked as a color commentator on Bruins telecasts from 1995–96 through 2003–04. He now works for NESN as a studio analyst.

Awards

• World Junior Championships: 1982 (gold medal)
• World Junior Championships Best Defenceman: 1982
• World Junior Championships All-Star First Team: 1982
• WHL All-Star Second Team: 1981–82
• Canadian Amateur Junior Male Athlete of Year: 1982
• Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: 1989–90

External links

• Gord Kluzak's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Dale Hawerchuk	NHL first overall draft pick 1982	Succeeded by Brian Lawton
Preceded by Normand Leveille	Boston Bruins first round draft pick 1982	Succeeded by Nevin Markwart
Preceded by Tim Kerr	Bill Masterton Trophy Winner 1990	Succeeded by Dave Taylor