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Goaltender Richard Brodeur lead the Vancouver Canucks on an epic journey to the Stanley Cup final in 1982. Source: https://icehockey.fandom.com/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Dubbed “King Richard”, goaltender Richard Brodeur put the Vancouver Canucks on his back, taking the once hapless team all the way to their very first Stanley Cup final.
When I was in Vancouver, watching the Stanley Cup playoffs, I could not help but think of Brodeur and that magical run in 1982.
Pre-history
Richard Brodeur played his junior hockey for the Cornwall Royals, where he helped them to a Memorial Cup championship in 1972. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 1972 NHL Entry Draft, but instead joined the upstart World Hockey Association‘s Quebec Nordiques. He played all seven seasons of the WHA’s existence, from 1972 to 1979, and helped the Nordiques to the Avco Cup championship in the 1976-1977 season.
Richard Brodeur played his junior hockey for the Cornwall Royals, where he helped them to a Memorial Cup championship in 1972. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 1972 NHL Entry Draft, but instead joined the upstart World Hockey Association‘s Quebec Nordiques. He played all seven seasons of the WHA’s existence, from 1972 to 1979, and helped the Nordiques to the Avco Cup championship in the 1976-1977 season.
When the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979, Brodeur was protected by the Nordiques but would be traded to the New York Islanders. Already deep in net with Billy Smith and Glenn “Chico” Resch, Brodeur was sent to the Islanders farm team, the Indianapolis Checkers.
In the 1979-1980 season in Indianapolis, Brodeur had 22 wins, four shut outs and a 2.88 goals against average. He also appeared in two games for the Islanders, his first in the NHL, posting one win and one loss.
However, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1980 for the Canucks’ fifth round pick in 1981, who turned out to be Jacques Sylvestre. The Canucks also got the Islanders’ fifth round pick in 1981, whoturned out to be Moe Lemay, who had a decent career with Vancouver.
Brodeur appeared in 52 games for the Canucks in the 1980-1981 season, winning 17, losing 18, and tying 16. He had no shut outs and a 3.51 goals against average.
Playground banter
It was around that time, in Grade 5, we got into a bit of an argument with some older guys on the playground. We were talking about the Islanders, who were on their way to their first Stanley Cup, when one of the guys named Larry I think, said we couldn’t even name one of the Islander goalies. Someone yelled Smith and another guy yelled Resch.
It was around that time, in Grade 5, we got into a bit of an argument with some older guys on the playground. We were talking about the Islanders, who were on their way to their first Stanley Cup, when one of the guys named Larry I think, said we couldn’t even name one of the Islander goalies. Someone yelled Smith and another guy yelled Resch.
Then, my friend and neighbour Mike, whose older brother was a huge Islanders fan, said, “Michael Brooder.” He ended up pronouncing the last name incorrectly and getting the first name wrong. After all, we had only read it briefly on a hockey card that said he was with the Islanders.
None of us had ever heard of this guy Richard Brodeur.
None of us had ever heard of this guy Richard Brodeur.
That would soon change.
Magical season
The 1981-1982 regular season was better for Brodeur as he won 20 games, lost 18 games and tied 12 in 52 appearances. He also recorded two shut outs and had a goals against average of 3.35.
The 1981-1982 regular season was better for Brodeur as he won 20 games, lost 18 games and tied 12 in 52 appearances. He also recorded two shut outs and had a goals against average of 3.35.
He was the full-time starting goalie, and with the trade of Glen Hanlon, would play in every playoff game for the Canucks.
Vancouver ended the season on a roll, going unbeaten in nine consecutive games. They hosted Calgary in the first round, sweeping them in three straight. They followed that up by defeating the Los Angeles Kings in five games then dispatched the Chicago Black Hawks in the Campbell Conference final.
The Canucks were off to the Stanley Cup final. It was fitting they would play the New York Islanders, the same team who had traded Brodeur to Vancouver two years earlier.
They got there propelled by the strong goaltending of Richard Brodeur who was not only a good gaoltender, but entertaining to watch. He reminded me of Mike Palmateer of the Toronto Maple Leafs. They both were up and down, flopping around the ice, stacking their pads and flashing the leather. Brodeur was dynamic, acrobatic, and effective because he was not afraid to leave his net to challenge the shooters.
Unfortunately, as good as he had been, the Islanders were better, sweeping the Canucks in four straight games.
Still, Brodeur had taken a massive under dog on an epic journey to within one step of winning the Stanley Cup. Overall he went 11-6 in the playoffs with a 2.70 goals against average.
The years after
Richard Brodeur would make the NHL all-star game the next year in 1983, but had to sit it out due to injury. He played with the Canucks until the 1987-1988 season when, late that year, he was traded to the Hartford Whalers where he appeared in six games, winning four and losing two. Those would be his last games in the NHL. He played with Hartford’s American Hockey League affiliate in Binghampton in the 1988-1989 season then retired.
Richard Brodeur would make the NHL all-star game the next year in 1983, but had to sit it out due to injury. He played with the Canucks until the 1987-1988 season when, late that year, he was traded to the Hartford Whalers where he appeared in six games, winning four and losing two. Those would be his last games in the NHL. He played with Hartford’s American Hockey League affiliate in Binghampton in the 1988-1989 season then retired.
He had a hockey school and now, has taken some time to focus on his art.
Parting thoughts
When the average hockey fan hears a goaltender named Brodeur they usually think of the legendary Martin Brodeur. Back in 1982 it was a different Brodeur – Richard Brodeur – who captivated hockey fans, leading the Vancouver Canucks on a magical run to the Stanley Cup final.
When the average hockey fan hears a goaltender named Brodeur they usually think of the legendary Martin Brodeur. Back in 1982 it was a different Brodeur – Richard Brodeur – who captivated hockey fans, leading the Vancouver Canucks on a magical run to the Stanley Cup final.
He was fun to watch and he left an indelible mark on Canuck fans. To some, he reached iconic status as “King Richard”.
My good friend Kevin Tabata was 12 years old when Brodeur led them on that playoff run in 1982. The next time the Canucks went on a similar run, in 1994, Kevin wrote Richard Brodeur a letter.
I have always thought that was so cool.
It just shows the mark that King Richard left.
*For my friend Kevin Tabata, who loved this team more than anyone else I know
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