JOHNNY PEIRSON

JOHNNY PEIRSON: 1925-2021

Johnny Peirson, who played all his National Hockey League games with the Boston Bruins, passed away earlier this month at the age of 95. Born John Frederick Peirson on July 21, 1925, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Peirson family moved to Montreal, Quebec, when Johnny was 10-years-old.

At the age of 18, Peirson played one season with the Montreal Canadiens junior team in the Junior Amateur Hockey Association. In the playoffs, Peirson and his teammates, faced Concordia in a semi-final series. In the best-of-three series, Montreal and Concordia split the first two games, with Concordia taking game one 3-2, and Montreal demolishing their opponent 11-0 in game two. Despite having momentum on their side, the Canadiens fell by a score of 5-3 in the third and deciding game.

After spending one year in the Canadian Army, Peirson attended the University of McGill and joined their hockey team, the McGill Redmen of the Intercollegiate Hockey League. McGill opened their season against the University of Montreal Carabins at the Forum in Montreal with a 10-4 victory. McGill's attack was led by Peirson, who scored three goals in the first period, and one in each of the remaining periods. Also, he added two assists for a seven-point night.

A first-place tie in the standings with the University of Toronto, resulted in McGill and the Varsity Blues playing a one-game showdown for the championship. The contest took place on March 15, 1946, at the Forum. McGill's first-line, put together by coach Dave Chambers, composed of Peirson and Danny Porteous between Jimmy O'Connor, took control after two scoreless frames. By the 11:10 mark of the third period, McGill connected for three goals. O'Connor scored the first two, with Peirson assisting on his second tally. Peirson's goal came when O'Connor's shot hit the goalpost and the puck dropped to the ice and sat on the red line. After both his linemates took a jab at the puck, "Peirson put the near-hysterical crowd into a frenzy when he barely managed to poke it in at 11:10."

McGill scored another goal to defeat the Varsity Blues, who were coached by former Toronto Maple Leaf star, Ace Bailey, by a score of 4-1. For McGill, it was their first championship since 1939.

Peirson's play with McGill didn't go unnoticed by the Boston Bruins, and they signed the young right-winger to a contract for the 1946-47 campaign. As expected, Peirson was destined for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League for seasoning. But, during the Bruins-Hershey training camp, Peirson broke his wrist. 

He remained in Boston as the year got underway. By mid-December, Peirson was cleared to play and joined the Bruins' farm team in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League, the Boston Olympics. The Bruins took advantage of having Peirson in the vicinity, and when needed, he practiced with the big-club.

On January 3, 1947, Peirson was informed the Boston Bruins were adding him to their roster. He made his  NHL debut on January 4, 1947, when the Bruins took on the Canadiens in Montreal. The visitors fell 4-1 at the Forum. Peirson remained with the Bruins for five games and on January 13, 1947, he was assigned to the Hershey Bears of the AHL. During his short stint in the NHL, Peirson didn't register a point.

The slumping Bruins, dating back to December 1, 1946, only had five victories in their last 18 contests. While the Bruins were ice cold, the same could be said of the streets in Boston. The icy build-up, on roads and sidewalks, resulted in a city councilor to suggest the Bruins take to the streets to practice. "And they need it," said the councilor, who added his two-cents on the state of the Bruins.

In Hershey, Peirson helped the Bears win their first Calder Cup championship. On April 15, 1947, they defeated the Pittsburgh Hornets 5-0 to win the seventh and deciding game of the final. The next night, Peirson attended a dinner at the Hotel Hershey to celebrate the victory. The club, which organized the event, gave each player a watch. Along with their name, an inscription read, "Hershey Hockey Club, American Hockey League champions, 1946-47."

After training camp for the 1947-48 season, Peirson started the year with the Bruins. Tied to the bench for the first seven games, Peirson was sent down to Hershey on November 3 to work on his game, instead of riding the pine and seeing no action.

In late December, the Bruins put out the call for Peirson to return to the club. But in his last outing with the Bears on New Year's Eve, Peirson collided with the Springfield Indians' goalpost and he left the game. Due to being out with a leg injury, and the necessary time to work himself into game shape, Peirson's promotion to the Bruins was put on hold.

On January 30, 1948, Johnny Peirson played his final game in the minors, when Hershey faced the Washington Lions in DC. Peirson scored the opening goal and added two assists on goals by Jack McGill. The Lions mounted a huge comeback in the last twenty-minutes and soared to an 8-7 victory in Peirson's last appearance as a Hershey Bear.

It was now time for Peirson to return to the NHL. The Bruins summoned Peirson to Boston to partake in their game on January 31, against the Chicago Black Hawks at the Garden on Causeway Street.

Peirson joined the Bruins when they had 21 tilts left in their regular schedule. He skated in 15 games and recorded four goals and two helpers. His first National Hockey League goal was scored on March 3, 1948, against Chicago goalie, Emile Francis. A newspaper report noted that Bruins forward, Don Gallinger, "... bobbed and weaved so that three Chicago Black Hawks wound up dizzy on the ice trying to check him before he passed to Peirson." Peirson's goal, Boston's fourth in the game, was the equalizer in a 4-4 tie. 

Once Peirson got settled in the Bruins line-up, coach Dit Clapper teamed him with center Paul Ronty and Kenny Smith at left wing. It didn't take too long for the trio to become known as the "Muscles Line." The name was in complete contrast to the physical appearance of the three linemates. They more resembled lightweights with Smith at 150 pounds, Ronty at 160 pounds, and Peirson at 170 pounds.

When the 1948 Stanley Cup playoffs rolled around, the Boston Bruins found themselves matched up against the defending Cup champs, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Their semi-final round opened on  March 24, 1948. The Maple Leafs prevailed and took the series four games to one.

Boston's lone victory came in game four, when they avoided elimination on home ice. The Bruins defeated the Leafs by a score of 3-2. In a tight checking game, goals were at a premium, with Ed Sandford putting the Bruins on the board first. Toronto's Bill Ezinicki evened the score, then, Johnny Peirson went to work. He scored goals in the first and second periods to give his team the margin for victory.

His first goal, the game-winner, came after Toronto goalie, Turk Broda, stopped shots by Kenny Smith and Paul Ronty. With Broda laid out on the ice, Peirson gained possession of the puck and raised it over the prone Toronto netminder. In the final frame, Ronty and Smith combined on a passing play to get the puck to Peirson. His 20-foot blast beat Broda on his glove-side.

In his first full season with the Bruins in 1948-49, Peirson proved he belonged in the NHL. In this era, the benchmark for an elite goalscorers was 20. Peirson, bagged 22 goals, and along with 21 assists, produced 43 points.

Peirson gave credit to his coach in Hershey, Don Penniston, for helping him improve his game. "He gave me lots of help," Peirson said in a February 1949 interview. "Told me to perfect a slap shot which I did and which has scored many goals for me. Also learned how to cover my wing because Don was always after us to check properly."

The next year, 1949-50, Peirson hit a career high for goals scored with 27, and points with 52 in 57 games.  Also, Ronty and Smith reached the benchmark with 23 and 20 goals respectively. 

Around the NHL, Peirson's gained a reputation for his work ethic. Montreal coach, Dick Irvin, told the following story about Peirson. "In Boston, the Bruins were a man short and we had five men up at their blue line. Johnny Peirson cleared the puck down the ice. And who do you think froze the puck against the boards at our end of the rink? Peirson. He passed five Canadiens in the race for the puck. I don't think I ever saw that happen before in a hockey game."

Peirson's work was recognized as he was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game on October 8, 1950. The defending Stanley Cup victors, the Detroit Red Wings, walloped the All-Stars 7-1. Peirson set-up Toronto's Sid Smith for the lone goal scored by the All-Stars.

Although his numbers dropped in 1950-51 (70-19-19-38), Peirson, once again, earned a birth on the NHL All-Star Team. Joe Primeau, who guided the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Stanley Cup in 1951, selected him for the First All-Stars Team. A new format for the All-Star Game pitted the First All Stars against the Second All-Stars. The contest took place at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on October 9, 1951. Peirson netted the second tally for the First All-Stars in a 2-2 draw. 

In 1951-52, Peirson returned to the 20-goal club, and increased his point total from 38 to 50. On September 20, 1951, Peirson said good-bye to his center, Paul Ronty, who was traded to the New York Rangers. Peirson went on to play with a number of linemates, most notably, Milt Schmidt, Jack McIntyre, Fleming MacKell, Ed Sandford, Cal Gardner, and Vic Stasiuk, to name a few.

Throughout his career, Peirson was relatively free from spending long amounts of time on the sidelines due to injuries. But in 1952-53, his luck ran out. When the Bruins and Red Wings tangled at the Olympia on December 7, 1952, Peirson took an elbow to his face courtesy of Pete Leswick. As a result, Peirson suffered a broken jaw. To shield Peirson upon his return, Boston trainer, Hammy Moore, crafted a mask to protect Peirson's jaw from further damage. The mask was made of soft leather and foam. President Clarence Campbell of the NHL, gave his permission for Peirson to wear his new piece of equipment.

With his mask in place, Peirson returned to take on the New York Rangers at Boston Garden on January 25, 1953. The Bruins fell to the Rangers by a score of 2-1. 

In the remaining games, Peirson never took off his mask. He only participated in 49 contests, yet, he managed to score 14 goals and amassed 29 points.

For the first time since he joined the Bruins, Peirson played in the Stanley Cup final. The Bruins went up against Montreal and won only one game in the best-of-seven final. Peirson, contributed 9 points in 11 games.

Looking to get back on track, Peirson returned to form in 1953-54. On the injury front, he only missed two games, which enabled him to boost his stats. And that's exacting what Peirson accomplished. He once again became a top scorer with 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 points. It was his fourth term with 20 goals or more.

It appeared Peirson was ready to continue his efforts to help the Boston Bruins, but on September 1, 1954, the club announced Peirson's retirement. The explanation given for the sudden departure was Peirson's desire to work full-time with his father-in-law in the furniture business as a salesman. He spent several summers working in the same capacity.

While Peirson pursued his post-hockey life, the 1954-55 edition of the Boston Bruins, earned a playoff spot, but were vanished by their main nemesis, the Montreal Canadiens, in their semi-final confrontation.

Just as stunning as the news of his retirement from the NHL was, the news of his return to the Bruins was another jaw-breaking moment.

On December 5, 1955, Boston's general manager, Lynn Patrick, told the press that Peirson's name was removed from the voluntary retired list at NHL headquarters.

After game 28 of the Bruins 1955-56 schedule, Peirson, at the age of 30, made his comeback against the Chicago Black Hawks on December 15, 1955. Coach Milt Schmidt placed Peirson on a line with Cal Gardner and fellow winger, Vic Stasiuk. Peirson made the most of his return by scoring a goal and an assist in Boston's 4-1 win. "It felt like old times," said Peirson. 

Despite missing the 1956 playoffs, Peirson had no hesitation in signing a contract for the upcoming season. He put pen to paper in late August.

Not expected to be a contender, Boston exploded out of the gate, and by December 19, 1956, were in first-place with a 17-7-5-39 record.

"This is definitely the best-balanced Bruins' team I've been on since I came into the league back in 1948," stated Peirson. "Every kid when he's starting to play hockey dreams of playing with a winner. Maybe my dream is coming true finally."

At the same time, Peirson reflected on his state of mind and the Bruins infertility, both of which weighed heavily in his decision to retire in September 1954.

"It seems that every year after that first one we had to struggle down to the playoffs, said Peirson. "Usually it went down to the next to last game. We didn't seem to be getting anywhere."

With his confidence restored, Peirson's last two seasons with Boston brought him closer to his dream of winning a Stanley Cup.

In both 1957 and 1958, the Boston Bruins reached the Stanley Cup final. Unfortunately, for Peirson and his teammates, they encountered the powerful Montreal Canadiens. The Habs were a juggernaut in the midst of winning six consecutive Cups from 1955 to 1960.

For the second, and final time in his career, Peirson hung-up his skates. Johnny Peirson played his last game on April 20, 1958, when the Bruins were defeated in game six by Montreal on home ice.

When the book closed on Peirson's 11 years wearing the gold and black of the Boston Bruins, it showed he played in 545 games and scored 153 goals and 173 assists for 326 points. His penalty-minutes totalled 315. In the playoffs, he saw action in 49 games and scored 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points. He served 26 minutes in the penalty box.

With his life as a hockey player behind him, Peirson, at the age of 33, continued to work in the furniture industry. Also, he discovered a way to stay connected to the hockey world.

Peirson got his start as a hockey commentator for Boston Bruins' games on WBZ-Radio. He sat alongside his partner, the legendary Fred Cusick, who served as the play-by-play man. Cusick followed Peirson to WSBK-TV-38 for the 1970-71 season, when Don Earle left the scene. Peirson and Cusick worked together in the broadcast booth from 1970 to 1985.  

Next, Peirson took on a new gig as the studio analyst for the telecasts. In this role, Peirson was like an instructor who taught the game. He used a telestrator to diagram plays he broke down for the audience. 

"I sit and watch and select four or five plays during a period, then pick two or three based on the message I want to give," explained Peirson.

"In a small way, he was responsible for the hockey boom here years ago," said Ken London, who produced games on Channel 38. "How many NHL players from this area grew up listening and learning from Peirson?" 

During his run on radio and television, Peirson continued to work in the furniture business. In 1995, he left broadcasting to concentrate solely on his furniture job and his family.

An avid golfer, Peirson played in many tournaments, including the 1950 Canadian Amateur in Saskatoon. Also, as an amateur, he participated in the 1950 Canadian Open at Royal Montreal. Over four-rounds, Peirson shot 71-76-75-78. 

John Peirson died on April 16, 2021, in Wayland, Massachusetts.

A PENALTY SHOT

 THE FIRST IN A STANLEY CUP FINAL

On April 15, 1937, the first National Hockey League penalty shot in a Stanley Cup final contest was awarded to New York Rangers' forward (pictured above) Alex Shibicky.

The penalty shot took place as a result of a scramble in front of Detroit goalie, Earl Robertson, in the second period. On the play, Neil Colville of the Rangers was tripped as he fired a shot on the Red Wings' net. The puck got past Robertson and the pile-up around his crease for New York's first tally of the game. 

Referee Bill Stewart gave the goal to Babe Pratt, with assists going to Shibicky and Colville. The goal evened the score at 1-1.

But, Mickey Ion, the other official on the ice, whistled down the play when he called a penalty on Detroit's Herbie Lewis for holding. Iron, felt the offence warranted a penalty shot.

Shibicky's attempt to beat Robertson on the penalty shot was stymied by the Red Wings' netminder when he, " ... easily blocked" the shot. 

Robertson's effort in game five of the best-of-five Cup final was praised by Detroit's coach and manager, Jack Adams. "Earl Robertson, he's a big league goalie now," said Adams. "He was marvellous. He pitched for the Wings and they pitched for him. That's the way we've been."

A newspaper account noted of Robertson that he was " ... caught in a rain of pucks as the Rangers stormed into the attacking zone with five-man rushes in the last two periods, leaped, dived, fell prone and swung his stick to clear all shots."

The Red Wings defeated the Rangers 3-0 in the deciding game.

A native of Bengough, Saskatchewan, Robertson never played a regular season game for the Red Wings. He was the first rookie NHL goalie to record two shutouts in the Stanley Cup final. He blanked New York 1-0 in game four. 

After his playoff run in 1937, Robertson joined the New York Americans for five seasons (in his final year, the New York Americans became the Brooklyn Americans).

THE DUKE OF HOCKEY

 

On April 9, 2021, the world mourned the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at Windsor Castle in England.

In October 1951, on an official visit to Canada, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, attended hockey games in Toronto and Montreal.

Their first hockey stop was in Toronto, where they watched an exhibition contest between the Maple Leafs and Chicago Black Hawks at Maple Leaf Gardens.

In a 2012 interview with the late Danny Lewicki, we discussed the Royal visit to the Gardens on October 13. "Of course, it was an exciting day for us, just to think she would be there," said the former Leaf forward. "It was a very memorable afternoon, no doubt about it."

After the exhibition, Conn Smythe, who sat with the Royal couple (Seats in box 50 were replaced with comfortable chairs and the box was decorated with a Union Jack), talked about their reaction to the tilt between the Leafs and Hawks. "They both enjoyed the game tremendously. That was apparent in the way Prince Philip roared with laughter at the upsetting bodychecks and the way the eyes of Princess Elizabeth glowed as the players shot by her at full speed."

As for the game in Montreal on October 29, 1951, the Canadiens-Rangers game was part of the regular season schedule for 1951-52. 

Montreal sportswriter, Dink Carroll of The Gazette, wrote, "Prince Philip appeared to enjoy the bodychecking. He burst into laughter when Eddie Pullman of the Rangers, after losing his stick, stepped into Ross Lowe and spilled him to the ice. He laughed again when big Butch Bouchard slammed Eddie Slowinski into the boards."

The Habs defeated the Rangers 6-1. The photo below shows Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth taking in the action at The Forum.

The two games in Canada impressed Prince Philip so much, that he donated the Edinburgh Trophy to Canadian hockey in March 1954. It was to be presented to the winner of the Quebec Hockey League vs. Western Hockey League final. 

Canadian Press reported, "The trophy is a silver figure of a hockey player mounted on top of a silver globe with a map of North America raised on it. The globe is attached to a round, black ebony base bearing the Dominion coat of arms. On the opposite side of the base is an oblong plaque for inscription to be decided later on. Smaller plaques set around the base will carry names of the winning teams and the year they won it."

The first team to capture the Edinburgh Trophy were the Calgary Stampeders in 1954. They defeated the Quebec Aces, who represented the QHL. The above photo shows the presentation to the victors.

In the final competition for the Edinburgh Trophy, in 1957, the Quebec Aces faced the Brandon Regals. In game 6, Bob Beckett scored the game-winning goal to give his team the championship.

BOBBY PLAGER: A HIT

BOB PLAGER: AN ORIGINAL ST. LOUIS BLUE

Bob Plager, who played parts of 3 seasons with the New York Rangers and 11-years with the St. Louis Blues, died on March 24, 2021, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 78-years-old.

Early in his hockey career, Plager established a style of play that remained with him until he hung up his skates. Descriptions like "rugged, aggressive, rough, hard-hitting, pugilist and burly" were often used after Plager applied his physical force on an opponent. Along with his brothers, Barclay and Billy, they earned a reputation for going toe-to-toe. All three were defencemen.

"The Plagers are prepared to fight for anything in which they believe," noted a scribe. "On occasion, they'll fight for things in which they don't believe."

Bob Plager got his start in junior with Guelph of the Ontario Hockey Association in the early 1960s. At the same time, Barclay Plager, his older brother, was on the blueline for Peterborough. The inevitable occurred when they faced each other in a contest held in Peterborough. 

"He came down the ice carrying the puck, and there was an offside as I was getting ready to check him," Plager told a reporter in a 1966 interview. "I relaxed, and he gave me the stick in the mouth as he came past me. I reached out and started swinging."

And the hostilities didn't stop on the ice.

"We went at it pretty good on the ice and again in the penalty box. Then, after we were thrown out of the game, we continued to battle in the runway leading to the dressing rooms."

It was a tradition in the Plager household to resolve any disputes by putting on the boxing gloves. Numerous matches were held in the backyard between the Plager boys. "Barclay always beat me," Plager recalled. "I always beat Billy, and Billy would go across the street and lick our cousin." 

The brotherly battle in Peterborough showed everyone that Plager would stand his ground, and no one, including a sibling, was exempt from being on the other end of his fury. He stood at five-foot-eleven and his playing weight ranged from 195 to 215 pounds.

At the start of 1964-65,  Bob Plager skated for the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League. They were a farm team of the New York Rangers. Like any young player, Plager wanted a chance to show what he could do in the National Hockey League.

His call to the big show came on December 3, 1964, when Rangers' general manger, Emile Francis, summoned Plager to Broadway. Francis was fully aware what Plager brought to the table, as he coached the Kirkland Lake, Ontario, native in junior with the Guelph Royals.

New York coach, Red Sullivan, looked forward to having Plager in his line-up. "Plager's aggressive, rough and has a good shot," Sullivan said of his new addition.

On December 9, 1964, Plager made his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden. The Chicago Black Hawks were in town to face the Blueshirts. Plager's skates first touched the ice in the third period. He immediately became a fan favourite, when he went after Chicago superstar, Bobby Hull. The Daily News observed "the only Ranger who showed much enthusiasm ... was Bob Plager." This was in reference to "when he hung Bobby Hull, Chicago's Golden Boy, on the boards." 

While his work impressed the Garden faithful, more importantly, Plager's performance garnered a positive response from the boss, Emile Francis. "No 21-year-old kid has done a better job for us," said the GM. "It's likely Plager will get a good shot at winning a job with the Rangers next season."

With a taste of NHL experience under his belt, Plager returned to the Canucks on December 17. But his stay in Vancouver was a short one, as the Rangers called him up for a second time on January 11, 1965.

In a contest on January 27, 1965, at home, Plager displayed his bone crushing physical style against the Boston Bruins. His victim was Bruins' winger, Johnny Bucyk, who Plager upended with a hip check. The hit didn't go unnoticed by Red Sullivan. In his post-game scrum, Sullivan stated, "When Plager dumped Bucyk, the whole team came to life."

Unable to obtain a roster spot with New York, Plager was shipped out on February 5, 1965, to the Baltimore Clippers of the American Hockey League. This move indicated the Rangers wanted Plager to face the challenges in hockey's second best league.

The next season, 1965-66, Plager started the year in the Central Professional Hockey League with the Minnesota Rangers. At the age of 22, Plager was elected captain of his new team. His presence, on and off the ice, demonstrated the respect his teammates had for their new leader.

Plager found himself in a familiar situation when the New York Rangers sent for him to begin another stint with the parent club. He was ready for action when the Rangers took on the Red Wings at the Olympia in Detroit. When he departed Minnesota, Plager had accumulated 145 penalty minutes in just over 40 games. 

Besides his crushing hits, this time around, Plager was recognized for another skill in his repertoire. After a tilt on March 6, 1966, a 1-1 draw with Detroit, Emile Francis commented on the other facet of Plager's game. "He's fearless at blocking shots, and you would have to say he's made a big difference in our defence."

In the summer, Plager returned to his home in Kapuskasing, Ontario. His unique job, as beer taster for Brewers Retail, involved visiting commercial customers in his territory to see if their inventory was still good. When he talked about his work, one can't help but detect Plagers's sense of humour. "Beer tasting is not the ideal off-season job for a hockey player," stated Plager. "It's not very hard, you know. You just sit back, and well, you know, you taste the beer to see if it's stale."

On September 28, 1966, the New York Rangers revealed they signed Plager to new contract. But his stay with the Rangers was a short one. On October 19, 1966, Plager, along with forward Bill Collins, were optioned out to the Baltimore Clippers.

Unfazed by the move, Plager accepted the cards he was dealt, and went about his business. And, he remained relentless.

Randy Miller of the Springfield Indians, engaged Plager in bout on November 24, 1966, and came out of the fisticuffs with a broken nose. Plager told Bill Tanton of Baltimore's The Evening Sun, what his major goal was when he dropped the gloves. "And I'll tell you something, always get the first one (punch) in, that's the fight in hockey."

Tanton, also spoke with Terry Reardon, the coach and general manager of the Clippers. "That Plager is absolutely fearless," said Reardon. "I think he actually enjoys fighting. I think he and his brother (Barclay) stay in shape in the summer by beating each other up." 

At home, against the Providence Reds on December 2, Plager was involved in a collision with Bob Leduc. The incident took place behind the Clippers' net. As Plager followed through on his check, he drove Leduc into Bill Collins, who was positioned against the boards. The tremendous force of the check and the impact with Collins, resulted in Leduc going down. He suffered a back injury and was out of commission for several weeks.

Plager explained his part in the hit. "That's my play. If they don't keep their heads up they will have to take the consequences."

In February of 1967, Plager got another shot with the Rangers, as he filled in for injured defenceman, Jim Neilson. This was Plager's last appearance as a Ranger. He was sent down to Baltimore after he suited up for one game.

There was light at the end of the tunnel for Plager's goal of becoming a permanent fixture on an NHL team. It came when the NHL expanded from 6 to 12 franchises.

During the expansion draft in June 1967, the Rangers lost defenceman Rod Seiling, who was selected by the St. Louis Blues. New York, not happy with Seiling's departure, worked out a deal with St. Louis to get him back. In exchange for Seiling, Bob Plager and Gary Sabourin went to the Blues.

In St. Louis, Plager became a mainstay on the Blues' defensive core. And he never altered his game.

Following a contest in Pittsburgh, on November 6, 1968, Blues' coach, Scotty Bowman, raved about Plager's contribution in a 3-1 victory over the Penguins. "Bob was hitting as hard and as often tonight as I've ever seen him. He was really punishing those opposing forwards."

At the age of 34, Plager announced his retirement on October 1, 1977. The Blues didn't offer Plager a contract for the upcoming season. He remained in the game as a special assignment scout with St. Louis.

As the 1977-78 campaign progressed, the Blues struggled out of the gate. By Thanksgiving Day (in the States), on November 24, they only recorded 4 victories. This moved Emile Francis, now the Blues' general manager, to take action. He decided his club lacked physical fortitude and signed Plager to  contract. 

Francis shed light on his decision to bring Plager back into the fold as an active player. "Bobby may not be the fastest guy in the world on skates, but he has a hockey head on him and he won't back off from anyone, like some of our players have been doing."

Plager's comeback came at home on December 3, 1977, against the New York Islanders. Although the Blues lost 7-2, Plager's impact was immediate. The St. Louis Dispatch noted: "Until Plager hit (Mike) Kaszycki with a hip check ... the crowd sat back in bored silence and watched the Islanders effortlessly protect their three-goal lead."

His return as a St Louis Blue, ended after 18 games. On February 16, 1978, Plager was named as the player-coach of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the Central Hockey League. He replaced his brother, Barclay, who was promoted to takeover the coaching reins with the St. Louis Blues.

In the off-season, Plager was reassigned to his job as a special assignment scout. He would go on to serve a number of roles with the Blues, which ranged from working in the hockey department, to broadcasting, and community relations.

A left-shooting defenceman, Plager participated in 644 National Hockey League games with New York and St. Louis. He scored 20 goals and 126 assists for 146 points. He raked up 802 penalty minutes. He appeared in the Stanley Cup final three-times (1968-69-70) with the Blues. In 74 playoff encounters, Plager scored 2 goals and 17 helpers, for 19 points. He was in the sin-bin for 195 minutes. 

Noted for his long sideburns and wearing turtleneck sweaters, Plager was known for his sense of humour and pranks.

When his lack of conditioning got the best of him and his weight was up, Plager said, "There was one coach who told the players if they were ever late for practice, they would have to skate 10 laps around me."

In 1986, St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher, John Tudor, met Plager in the Blues' dressing room. Tudor told a story about taking out an electrical fan after being removed from a World Series contest. Plager chimed in with, "I used to hit fans too, but they were in the stands."

One time on the road, Scotty Bowman asked Plager about his sleeping schedule. "I took him outside and showed him the street lights," began Plager. "I told him, 'When they go on, I go out. The they go off, I go to the rink. They're like alarm clocks, and they're all over town.'"

Once, Plager was asked about his endorsements when he played. "I got $5,000 from every company. $5,000 not to wear their skates. $5,000 not to wear their gloves. $5,000 not to use their sticks."

A statement, from the St. Louis Blues, read in part, "It is unimaginable to imagine the St. Louis Blues without Bobby Plager. He was an original 1967 member of the St. Louis Blues, but also an original in every sense of the word. Bobby's influence at all levels of the Blues organization was profound and everlasting, and his loss to our city will be deep."