Brian Glennie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brian Glennie |
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| Born | August 29, 1946 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | February 7, 2020 (aged 73) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | |||||||||
| Weight | 197 lb (89 kg; 14 st 1 lb) | |||||||||
| Position | Defence | |||||||||
| Shot | Left | |||||||||
| Played for | Toronto Maple Leafs Los Angeles Kings |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| Playing career | 1968–1979 | |||||||||
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Brian "Blunt" Glennie (born August 29, 1946 – died February 7, 2020) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was a defenceman, which means he played a key role in protecting his team's net. Brian played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1969 to 1979. He was especially known for his powerful "hip-check," a way to stop opposing players.
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Brian Glennie's Early Hockey Days
Brian Glennie was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He started his hockey journey early, playing for the Toronto Marlboros in the Ontario Hockey Association. This was part of his "junior career," which is like a stepping stone for young players before they turn professional.
Becoming a Champion
Brian was a great leader and eventually became the captain of the Toronto Marlboros. He led his team to win the 1967 Memorial Cup, which is a very important championship for junior hockey teams in Canada. When he was a young "PeeWee" player (a younger age group in minor hockey), he was coached by Roger Neilson, who later became a famous coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Playing for Team Canada
After his junior career, Brian joined the Canadian National Team program for the 1967-68 season. This program helped prepare players to represent Canada on the world stage. He was part of the Canadian team that played in the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. His team proudly won the bronze medal at these Olympic Games. This tournament was also considered the IIHF World Championship for that year.
Brian Glennie's Professional Career
As a professional player, Brian Glennie played 572 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). Most of his career, all but 18 games, was spent with the Toronto Maple Leafs. During his time, he scored 14 goals and made 100 assists, adding up to 114 points.
A Strong Defenceman
Brian was known as a defensive player who hit hard. He was often paired with teammates who were more focused on scoring goals, like Tim Horton, Börje Salming, and Jim McKenny. Brian described his own playing style as being a "standup guy who would take the guy out." This meant he would stop opposing players, allowing his partner to get the puck and start an attack. The Hockey News even ranked him as one of the best body checkers of all time!
Representing Canada Again
Brian was also a member of Team Canada for the 1972 Summit Series. This was a famous series of games against the Soviet Union. Even though he didn't play in the games against the Soviet Union, Brian did play in two games against Sweden and Czechoslovakia. He said that this experience was one of the greatest of his life.
Later Career and Legacy
In 1978, Brian Glennie even appeared in a TV commercial for Swanson Hungry-Man meals with fellow hockey player Lanny McDonald. Brian passed away in Ottawa in February 2020 at the age of 73, after several years of health challenges.
Honours and Awards
- 1967 Memorial Cup (as captain)
- Bronze medal at the 1968 Winter Olympics
- Inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2005
