Brian Spencer facts for kids

Brian Roy "Spinner" Spencer (September 3, 1949 – June 3, 1988) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played as a left winger. Brian played for 10 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Hockey Career Highlights

Brian Spencer was chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft. He was the 55th player picked overall.

First NHL Game on TV

On December 12, 1970, Brian played his first NHL game that was shown on television. He called his father, Roy, in British Columbia to tell him to watch. An interview with Brian was even shown during the game.

However, in British Columbia, the TV station did not show the Maple Leafs game. Instead, it showed a different hockey game. Brian's father was very upset. He wanted to see his son play. This event was a very sad and difficult time for Brian and his family.

Playing for the Maple Leafs

Brian played 95 regular season games for the Maple Leafs. He also spent some time playing for their minor league team, the Tulsa Oilers.

Moving to the Islanders

On June 6, 1972, Brian was chosen by the New York Islanders. This happened during the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft. He played for the Islanders for two seasons.

Time with the Buffalo Sabres

Brian was traded to the Buffalo Sabres on March 10, 1974. He had his best scoring years while playing for the Sabres. In the 1974–75 season, he scored 12 goals and had 29 assists. This added up to 41 points.

Fans in Buffalo really liked Brian. They enjoyed his hard work, aggressive style of play, and strong hitting.

Joining the Pittsburgh Penguins

On September 20, 1977, the Sabres traded Brian to the Pittsburgh Penguins. His scoring numbers went down during his time with the Penguins. His last season in the NHL was in 1978-79. After that, he played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for a few teams. These teams included the Binghamton Dusters, Springfield Indians, and Hershey Bears. He retired from hockey in 1980.

Later Life

Brian Spencer passed away on June 3, 1988, in Riviera Beach, Florida. He had five children from two marriages. He also had a twin brother named Byron.

Career Statistics