Gord Lane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gord Lane |
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| Born | March 31, 1953 Brandon, Manitoba, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Washington Capitals New York Islanders |
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| NHL Draft | 134th overall, 1973 Pittsburgh Penguins |
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| Playing career | 1973–1987 | ||
Gordon Thomas Lawrence Lane (born March 31, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was a strong defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Gordon Lane played for the Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders during his career, from 1975 to 1986. He is most famous for winning the Stanley Cup four times in a row with the Islanders, from 1980 to 1983.
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Gordon Lane's Hockey Journey
Gordon Lane started his hockey career playing junior hockey in the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL). He played for the Brandon Wheat Kings and later for the New Westminster Bruins.
Joining the Pros
In 1973, the Pittsburgh Penguins picked Gordon Lane in the NHL Entry Draft. He then signed a contract to play in the minor leagues for the Fort Wayne Komets. Later, he was traded to the Dayton Gems, which was a farm team for the Washington Capitals. A farm team is like a training ground for players before they join the main NHL team.
Gordon Lane helped the Dayton Gems win the Turner Cup championship. After this win, his coach, Tom McVie, and several other players from the Gems moved up to play for the Washington Capitals.
Time with the Washington Capitals
Gordon Lane joined the Washington Capitals in 1976. He played for parts of five seasons with the team. He was known for getting a lot of penalty minutes, leading the team in penalties for three of those seasons. He wasn't happy with how much he was playing, so he was traded to the New York Islanders in December 1979.
Becoming an Islander Champion
Gordon Lane's first game for the New York Islanders was against the New York Rangers. He quickly showed everyone his tough and defensive playing style. He was known for throwing big hits and getting involved in scrums (small fights or pushing matches) on the ice.
The Islanders' coach, Al Arbour, really liked Lane's defensive skills. Coach Arbour himself used to be a stay-at-home defenceman, just like Lane. Gordon Lane became a key part of the Islanders' strong defence. He helped them win an amazing four Stanley Cup championships in a row! They won in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983.
Injury and the End of a Streak
In the early part of the 1984 playoffs, Gordon Lane got injured. This meant he missed most of the Islanders' playoff games that year. Without him, the Islanders lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Edmonton Oilers. This ended their incredible winning streak.
Awards and Achievements
Gordon Lane achieved several important things during his hockey career:
- He won the Turner Cup championship in the IHL in 1976.
- He won four Stanley Cup championships with the New York Islanders (1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983).
- He is an honoured member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
