Brian Spencer

For the American field hockey player, see Brian Spencer (field hockey).
Brian Spencer
Born (1949-09-03)September 3, 1949
Fort St. James, BC, CAN
Died June 3, 1988(1988-06-03) (aged 38)
Riviera Beach, FL, USA
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Islanders
Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft 55th overall, 1969
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1969–1980

Brian Roy "Spinner" Spencer (September 3, 1949 – June 3, 1988) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.[1]

Career

Brian Spencer was drafted in the fifth round, 55th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1969 NHL Entry Draft. On December 12, 1970, when Spencer was called up to play with the Leafs in what would be his first NHL game on television, he telephoned his father Roy in British Columbia to tell him to watch the game that night on Hockey Night in Canada. Spencer was to be interviewed between periods of the game. However, a game featuring the Vancouver Canucks versus the California Golden Seals was aired instead. Infuriated, Roy Spencer drove 135 kilometres (84 mi) to Prince George, where the closest CBC Television station, CKPG-TV, is located. When he arrived, he ordered station staff, at gunpoint, to broadcast the Maple Leafs game instead. The station complied, but as Roy Spencer left the station, he was confronted by the RCMP. After a brief stand-off Roy Spencer was shot and killed.[2][3]

After several seasons with Toronto and the New York Islanders, Spencer was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres. Spencer had his best offensive production in a Sabres uniform when he scored 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 1974–75. Spencer played well in Buffalo and was extremely popular with the fans at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium. His hustle, aggressive play, and hitting ability was something the fans admired. Spencer developed into a solid two-way player. He would however be dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in September 1977.

His offensive production declined as he took on the role of a checking forward with the Penguins. Spencer's last NHL season came in 1978–79 when he played seven games for Pittsburgh. He then finished his playing career in the AHL (Binghamton, Springfield and Hershey) and retired after the 1979–80 season.

Death

After hockey, Spencer submerged himself in a life of drugs and violence. In 1987 he was charged with kidnapping and murder and faced the death penalty.[4] Family and friends, including ex-teammates, gathered around him and tried to help. A former teammate from the Sabres, Rick Martin, tried to help by testifying as a character witness at his trial. The jury returned a not guilty verdict in March 1988 and Spencer vowed to change his life. Despite the acquittal and a move to Florida, Spencer's life continued to spiral out of control. Three months later, Spencer would die under similar circumstances to his father; he was fatally shot in a robbery following a crack cocaine purchase in Riviera Beach, Florida.

Spencer was survived by five children from two marriages, and his twin brother, Byron.

A book on Brian's life Gross Misconduct: The Life of Spinner Spencer, written by Martin O'Malley, was adapted in 1993 by Atom Egoyan into a made-for-television film in Canada, Gross Misconduct.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "What really happened to Brian 'Spinner' Spencer?". The Buffalo News. July 2, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  2. ↑ Los Angeles Times: "Fabulous Forum: Sports Legend Revealed: A father of an NHL player held up a TV station to force them to show his son's game", June 1, 2010.
  3. ↑ Hockey's Tough Guys: Brian "Spinner" Spencer
  4. ↑ Sports Illustrated: "The Case Against Brian Spencer: One woman's testimony could mean a death sentence for a former hockey player accused of murder", May 11, 1987.

External links

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