Gary Sargent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gary Sargent |
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| Born | February 18, 1954 Red Lake, Minnesota, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Los Angeles Kings Minnesota North Stars |
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| National team |  United States |
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| NHL Draft | 48th overall, 1974 Los Angeles Kings |
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| WHA Draft | 179th overall, 1974 Indianapolis Racers |
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| Playing career | 1974–1983 | ||
Gary Alan Sargent, born on February 18, 1954, is a former American ice hockey player. He was a talented defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Gary played for the Los Angeles Kings and the Minnesota North Stars. He also proudly represented the United States in international hockey tournaments. His professional career was very promising but ended early due to injuries.
Early life
Gary grew up as a member of the Ojibwa (also known as Chippewa) nation. This is an Indigenous group in North America. He was born on a reservation in Red Lake, Minnesota.
Besides hockey, Gary was also a great athlete in other sports. He was a rising star in high school baseball and gridiron football. He even received an offer to play professional baseball! This offer came from the Major League Baseball team, the Minnesota Twins. He also had offers to play college football.
However, Gary chose to focus on his hockey dream. Interestingly, other members of his family also played hockey. His distant cousin Henry Boucha and his first cousin T. J. Oshie both played in the NHL. His younger brother, Earl Sargent, was also drafted by an NHL team.
Pro career
Gary's talent in hockey was clear from a young age. He was picked by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft. This is like a special event where professional teams choose young players to join their clubs.
Before joining the Kings in 1975, Gary played exceptionally well for the United States national hockey team. He played in the 1973 Ice Hockey World Championship and the 1974 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. At the 1974 tournament, he was voted the "most valuable defenseman."
When he joined the Los Angeles Kings, he quickly made an impact. He was named the Kings' outstanding newcomer after his first year. He also helped the US team in the first-ever 1976 Canada Cup tournament. In the 1976-77 season, he was voted the Kings' defenseman of the year.
In 1978, Gary signed with his home state team, the Minnesota North Stars. He quickly became one of their most important defensemen. Gary was even chosen for the 1980 NHL All-Star game. However, he could not play due to ongoing back and knee problems. These injuries sadly forced him to retire early in 1983. He missed most of the three seasons before his retirement.
Post career
After retiring as a player, Gary Sargent returned to the Los Angeles Kings. He worked as a talent scout for them. He helped find new players for the team from 1986 to 1988.
