Gary Veneruzzo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gary Veneruzzo |
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| Born | June 28, 1943 Fort William, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | St. Louis Blues Los Angeles Sharks Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades Cincinnati Stingers Phoenix Roadrunners San Diego Mariners |
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| Playing career | 1962–1977 | ||
Gary Raymond Veneruzzo is a former Canadian ice hockey player. He was born in Fort William, Ontario, Canada, on June 28, 1943. Gary played in two major professional hockey leagues: the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA). His career lasted from 1962 to 1977.
Gary Veneruzzo's Hockey Journey
Gary Veneruzzo started his hockey career in the minor leagues. He played for the Tulsa Oilers, a team connected to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 1967, when the NHL expanded and added new teams, the St. Louis Blues picked him in the draft.
Playing in the NHL
Even though he was drafted, Gary didn't immediately join the Blues. He played for their minor league team, the Kansas City Blues, where he was a top scorer. This helped him get a chance to play a few games with the St. Louis Blues in the 1967–68 season. In those games, he scored one goal and one assist. He also played in nine Stanley Cup playoff games, where he got two assists. He played two more games for the Blues in the 1971–72 season.
Joining the WHA
In 1972, Gary Veneruzzo decided to join the new WHA league, which was just starting. He signed with the Los Angeles Sharks. He had a great first season with the Sharks, leading the team in scoring with 43 goals and 30 assists. The next year, he was the second-highest scorer on the team.
The Sharks team later moved and became the Michigan Stags and then the Baltimore Blades. Gary continued to be a strong player, leading that team in scoring too. He then played for the Cincinnati Stingers before being traded to the Phoenix Roadrunners. Gary played one more year in the WHA, finishing his career with the San Diego Mariners in the 1976–77 season.
Career Highlights
Overall, Gary Veneruzzo played 348 games in the WHA. He scored 151 goals and made 123 assists, adding up to 274 points. He also spent 212 minutes in the penalty box. In the WHA playoffs, he played 18 games and scored 5 goals.
In 2000, Gary Veneruzzo was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Gary Veneruzzo para niños
