We battled. Even now, he stays very close with our family and he is always including his teammates, my dad and our family. Barclay Plager, a former National Hockey League defenseman for the St. Louis Blues who later coached the team, died of brain cancer today. See the article in its original context from. . You have permission to edit this article. But the person who Brian Sutter said was as tough of a man as Ive ever met, lasted more than three years, remaining on the bench as an assistant coach until shortly before his death in 1988. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. There was a piece of their era in the crowd, as Kevins son Jack, 13, was wearing one of Barclays original sweaters. St Louis Blues, stlouisblues.com and stlblues.com are trademarks of the St Louis Blues Hockey Club. "When it happened, you looked up (to the skies) at Barclay," Plager said. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. "I'd be remiss not to look into Baltimore," Poile said. Its super cool, Kevin said. On March 24, 1981, prior to a game with the New York Islanders, Barclay Plager Night was held and his No. Other Links. It was super exciting because we were all together, Karri said. Copyright 1999-2020 St. Louis Blues Hockey Club and the National Hockey League. Failed to delete memorial. "Thank you," Bob told the team in that moment. His number 8 has been retired by the Blues. Professional Hockey Player. Barclay Plager was 46 when he died Feb. 6, 1988, from a brain hemorrhage. He played all 614 games of his NHL career for the Blues. N.B. It just goes to show what they did back then and what they still mean to the city.. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Robert Bryant Plager (Saint Louis, Missouri), who passed away on March 24, 2021 at the age of 78. We got to celebrate with Barclay and Noel and their families. He went too soon, thats all., Brothers Bob and Barclay Plager have their numbers retired in the rafters of Enterprise Center. Plager, who lost a three-year battle to cancer, had been designated an honorary captain of the Campbell Conference team, along with brother Bob. 8 sweater was retired in 1981, after which he returned to the bench as an assistant coach and even filled in as the interim head coach. Doug MacLean, an assistant coach for St. Louis, played Tier Two hockey in Ontario when Bryan Murray was coaching at Pembroke. "I want the best place for our young players' development but we also must look at things from a financial standpoint. (AP Photo/Boston Herald American, Ray Lussier). Noel Picard, an original St. Louis Blue, dies at 78. Plager said winning the Cup has been very enjoyable for those who were involved with the original Blues. Barclay Plager last played in 1977. Edmonton's Glen Sather, the Campbell coach who played here with Plager, said today, "Barclay Plager was a friend, a teammate and a great competitor. You won't find many people the Blues' Stanley Cup title has more meaning to than the Plagers. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. That was the best hour and a half that weve ever had up there for my family, for my mom, for our Uncle Bob. On Sunday evening, Bob returned to visit his brother for the first time in awhile. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Post-Dispatch file photo, Billy McCreary (right), the new coach of the Blues, talks over old times with there players who played for him eight years ago when he was coaching at Omaha in the Central Hockey League on Nov. 2, 1971. Some of them could be a little crazy, but those were the true ones., Blues talk: The fans remember "One tough cookie". There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. . On March 24, 1981, the Blues retired Barclay Plager's No. Relevance is automatically assessed so some headlines not qualifying as Dnipro . Melissa Briggs, the daughter of Blues legend Bob Plager, placed the flag there back in June to let her uncle know that the Blues - the team both Bob and Barclay cherished so much and always represented with such pride - had finally done it. Barclay Plager and Bob Plager were kneeling on the ice alongside their kid brother Billy, who was dreaming sweet dreams and squirting blood from a gash over his left ear. Well, its a little promise you make yeah well, Ill tear up now that I would take care of his kids, he said. He played 11 seasons for St. Louis -- teaming for a stretch with brothers Barclay and Bill -- and later worked . by "He made a proposal, but he's a little more anxious than I am," Poile said. Plager played 645 games in 11 seasons for the Blues from 1967-78. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Add to your scrapbook. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. This account has been disabled. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Five for me, eight for Barc, and Barcs best friend, Noel, No. NHL officials said today that status would not change. Barclay Plager was born in KirklandLake, Canada. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). ST. LOUIS - At Bellerive Gardens Cemetery, a blue and gold flag bearing the St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup Champions logo flaps gently in the wind and marks the spot where Barclay Plager is buried. Photo by Steve Perille, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Steve Perille Many of the. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Kelly died almost exactly a year later, from cancer at the age of 52. Plager and St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong poured a drink from the Cup to toast Barclay, whose wife, Helen, was on hand for the visit at Bellerive Gardens Cemetery in Creve Coeur. This browser does not support getting your location. Jeremy Rutherford is the lead Blues beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. The only thing that might have made that moment more special is if Barclay and Billy had been there to hoist the Cup with him. All Rights Reserved. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. They put the little one there, but I knew if I got it and when I got it, that was an automatic, that was the first place it was going to go, Bobby said. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. I cant even tell you how excited I was, Karen said. All rights reserved. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. The Blues then claimed him in the expansion draft. Enter Search Term. (Scott Rovak / NHLI via Getty Images). His tireless work ethic and dedication was influential in establishing the identity of the Blues during the early years of the organization. And then just became a. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Rudderless ship of chaos: St. Louis judge advances Kim Gardner contempt case, Cardinals send prized prospect Jordan Walker to Class AAA in curious series of moves, What Oliver Marmols gamble in ninth vs. LA reveals about managing to spark Cardinals, How sending Jordan Walker to Class AAA is a bet clarity can correct muddled outfield: Cardinals Extra, Bud Light sales continue to plummet after transgender marketing controversy, The world watches (and makes donations) as St. Louis bald eagle raises eaglet from a rock, A closer on ice. Told about the impression hes left on his brothers family, Bobby briefly got choked up. Barclay became the Blues head coach in 1978, but resigned the following season because he said he wasnt getting the most out of the team. That included being swept 4-0 in the Stanley Cup Final each of their first three seasons (also Montreal Canadiens in 1968 and 1969). -- When Bob Plager got word of when his day with the Stanley Cup would be, there was no doubt where it was going. Cardinals latest, deflating loss compounds concerns, Man shot, killed near Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis, What was Andrew Knizner thinking? Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Edmonton center Wayne Gretzky had an interesting comment today about the upcoming Olympic hockey tournament: "I hope Canada wins the gold medal, because I know a lot of guys have put in a lot of hard work, but the best thing for hockey would be for the U.S. to win the gold medal, because of the extra attention that would be given to hockey in the U.S." . Bob Plager was supposed to be the muscle for the Rangers, but for whatever reason, that plan fell short - though he did fill the role of wise-cracking bruiser quite well. The Blues released the following statement Sunday: "The St. Louis Blues and the Blues Alumni organization are deeply saddened by the passing of Billy Plager. People send me cards and pictures in Montreal and I sign them all the time., Noel Picard looks on as Bobby Orr goes airborne after scoring the goal that won the Stanley Cup for the Boston Bruins on May 10, 1970, against the St. Louis Blues at Boston Garden. They said it was the hardest toll theyd ever seen a year take on Bobby. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. As the group giggled, Sgt.Wetzel, who led the police escort, stood nearby pinching himself. "Barc and Jimmy Roberts and Al Arbour, the Solomons, there are so many Blues up there enjoying this. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. (Photo courtesy of St. Louis Blues / blues.nhl.com) Billy Plager, one of three Plager. "I go up in the stands after the fan, and the next thing I know Barclay is behind me and Billy is behind him," Bobby remembered. To those who have gone before us. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Billy Plager, right wing.". In 1981, Plager was named assistant coach of the Blues, and save for another stint as interim head coach in the 1983 season, served as such until his death from cancer in 1988. Hockeydb.com - Hockey Statistics and History for the NHL and more! (Jeremy Rutherford / For The Athletic). If that didnt give you chills, the specific hour and minutes on the clock would have. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. "Barclay Plager, center ice. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Cardinals latest, deflating loss compounds concerns, Man shot, killed near Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis, What was Andrew Knizner thinking? They didnt get to really enjoy their dad that much. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. So Colton Parayko was on hand to help with his grandson Jacob and Jacob's Chesterfield Falcons teammates. At least 6 people killed in crashes on I-55 south of Springfield, Illinois, Man dies after crashing into construction site in O'Fallon, St. Louis forecast: Gusty winds again Tuesday, Storm damages a 'labor of love' in Jefferson County, Blues take 3-0 victory over Winnipeg Jets, 32 years ago: Blues retire Bernie Federkos No. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Members of the St. Louis Blues just before their first home game in October 1967, left to right, goalie Seth Martin, defensemen Al Arbour, and Noel Picard, center Terry Crisp and forwards Jim Roberts and Bill McCreary. Unimaginable just unbelievable, Karen replied. I was busy with four kids and never really thought about what it meant until the years kept going by and by and by and my kids were getting older, Helen said. On March 1, 1969, former Blues coach Scotty Bowmanput the three Plager brothers, all defensemen, in the starting lineup at forward and played them on the same line together in a game against the Montreal Canadiens. Professional Hockey Player. After Barclay, it was Bobbys turn to drink from the Cup. Barclay Plager had 231 points over his career. But the trio of Plager brothers were better known for their physical play and willingness to stick up for teammates, and that was no better illustrated than in a game in Philadelphia. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/XBWWz2yKom. Barclay Plager Overview. Kelly and his family cut short their vacation to Punta Gorda, Fla., and had just made the 19-hour drive home the day before. He received a text message from the Blues that it would be Sept. 1 and passed that along to his daughter, Melissa Briggs, who began the planning. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. . All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Bobby spent his entire run with the St. Louis Blues alongside his brother Barclay Plager. Oh, absolutely, 100 percent, without a doubt, Karri said. Plager became a leader for the team and was named the second captain in team history in 1970. I thought, Oh, man, we could have won it way back when.. Billy Plager, the youngest of the Plager brothers, played parts of four seasons with the Blues - more than any other team in his NHL career - and passed away more recently in 2016. Tom Timmermann is a City SC beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He reunited with his brothers Barclay and Billy in heaven on March 24, 2021 at age 78. Barclay Plager had 44 goals over his career. In 1981, he was named assistant coach and had another stint as interim head coach in 1983. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/07/obituaries/barclay-plager-hockey-player-46.html. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Meanwhile, a magical moment, one that would eclipse all others, was unfolding in front of them. Learn more about merges. At the All-Star Game February 9, 1988, a moment of silence was held at the St. Louis Arena in his memory. Do you have a blog? A police escort led by Ballwin Sgt. It was truly unique and Im really blessed to have that experience. He retired with 231 points (44 goals and 187 assists) in 614 games, all with the Blues. I couldnt believe that this was actually happening., As the van doors opened, Helen turned and said: I dont know what to expect whatever happens, happens. (Post-Dispatch file photo). My uncle Bob gave it to me years and years ago, Karen said. He reunited with his brothers Barclay and Billy in heaven on March 24, 2021 . He is survived by his wife, Helen, and four children. Well be talking about that forever.. Join our linker program. There was a problem saving your notification. Kelly thought he had lost his lone opportunity. Plager's day with the Cup included visits to daughter Melissa Briggs' home and the new Maryville University Hockey Center, where he surprised grandson Jacob Briggs' team, the Chesterfield Falcons, and got an assist from Blues defenseman Colton Parayko hoisting the trophy. Make sure that the file is a photo. based on information from your browser. Bud Light, the Gloria beer, came out in an eight-pack. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. There were a few tears, for sure.. You talk to some of the players and tell them to enjoy it now because you never know when this will happen again.". Billy Plager, brother of Bobby and Barclay Plager, played 127 games for the Blues in the early 1970s. The playoffs were a blur.. by Capitals Search for Farm. The day after the Blues won, they went to OB Clarks, he said. One of the most important parts of the team in the early days was Noel Picard. There was a problem saving your notification. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. I should have went there right after work, but I didnt, I went home. The three Plager brothers played together for four seasons in St. Louis, with Barclay and Bob together on the Blues' defence for eleven seasons, then widely seen as the "Plagers' team". Thanks for your help! An outfield in flux. It was an emotional moment to be sure, one that was in stark contrast to the triumphant emotions Bob felt following Game 7 in Boston. The family attended several postseason games, and after the Blues 5-1 loss in Game 6, the clan gathered at Kevins house to watch Game 7. Plager died on Feb. 6, 1988. So perhaps Sept. 1 did have some significance after all. More Plager Pages. Blues forward on track to return after All-Star break at end of this month. Additional Pages for this Player. Barclay Plager was 46 when he died Feb. 6, 1988, from a brain hemorrhage. Bobby mentioned the name of seven former Blues, including his brother, during the tribute. 8 was retired. Plager wore No. "I thought about him a lot," Bob said of Barclay following the Blues' Game 7 victory against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. Noel Picard was one of the best friends and teammates I had here, Blues defenseman Bob Plager told the team's website on Wednesday night. Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, he played as Defenseman in the National Hockey League for ten seasons (1967 to 1977) with the St. Louis Blues. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The way it worked out and how special it was in Boston the last time we were there (in 1970), and I was on the ice in Boston, and I had to watch them hoist the Stanley Cup. The operation was successful but a new tumor was discovered later that year. Billy Plager was claimed by Atlanta and later had a second stint with Minnesota before wrapping up his career following the 1975-76 season. Dan Kelly gave the eulogy. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. There were also framed photos of Barclay and one of all three brothers, including Billy Plager. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Kirkland Lake, Timiskaming District, Ontario, Canada, Creve Coeur, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Robert "Bobby" Bryant Plager was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario on March 11, 1943. I love you guys.". An original member of the St. Louis Blues, Plager would take the trophy to the burial place of his older brother, Barclay, who also played for the expansion Blues. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Failed to delete flower. He was 78. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Hes flying high up there right now, Helen chimed in. Here's what comes next. "We go up there and start pushing and shoving. He had 12 goals and 46 assists in his seasons with the Blues and, more in keeping with his style, 540 penalty minutes. Barclay Plager Death - Obituary / Passed Away : We mourn with the family of Barclay Plager, we understand how disheartening they could be right now, so we are sending our thoughts and prayers to the. From left, Barclay Plager, Ernie Wakely, and Noel Picard all were members of Omaha's CHL championship team of 1963-64. You have permission to edit this article. / NHL.com Independent Correspondent. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Plager's day with the Cup included visits to daughter Melissa . With his career winding down, Plager was named player-coach of the Blues' Kansas City CHL farm team in 1977, leading his club into the finals and being named the league's most valuable player. Its sort of like a payback. And what Bobby still means to Barclays family. Please try again later. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. We were just hanging out, telling a couple of stories.. stlouisblues.com is the official Web site of the St Louis Blues. "I honestly don't have words for it," she said. He was also welcomed by his parents, Gus and Edith Plager Carrying on Bobby's legacy are his daughter, Melissa Plager Briggs, son, Bobby, Jr., and son-in-law David Briggs. Leave your condolences and send flowers to the family to show you care. Oops, something didn't work. Search above to list available cemeteries. Billy spent more time with the Blues than any other franchise and engrained himself in the St. Louis community during his tenure. Here was a guy who was a respected NHL player that gave up his NHL playing days to go down and actually play in the minors and coach at the same time. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour. "Bobby" Bryant Plager was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario on March 11, 1943. Bally Sports Midwest's parent company filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. He played with his other two brothers, Bill and Bob, in St. Louis for a total of four seasons. Those are the people that got the chance like me but didn't win it. Suffering from dizzy spells thought to be the result of an old head injury, Plager was examined by a doctor following his stepping down as coach. I was like, I hope I didnt miss my chance to swig out of the Cup. "It was Barclay, Noel, Jimmy Roberts, Dan Kelly, who announced our games, the Solomons owned us. And think about it, he's obviously been there for 52 years and he's the only person throughout the entire organization that's talked to every single player. Born: March 26,1941 inKirklandLake,Ontario ca, As Coach: 4Yrs, 499633,131Pts. They got to watch us, and I got to lift the Cup on the ice in Boston. Bill Armstrong, the team's Assistant General Manager and Director of Amateur Scouting, brought the Stanley Cup to Bob and helped him lift it above his head. Helen Plager, the widow of former Blues player and coach Barclay Plager, stood near the chapel of Bellerive Gardens Cemetery last Sunday and recalled what she whispered to her late husband during this years Stanley Cup playoffs. Then Allen was embarrassed again, because he lost the thread of his speech and, since he was not wearing his glasses, could not read it, either . Seeing the Cup coming up with a police escort was it brought tears to my eyes. Noel was such a big, happy-go-lucky guy and enjoyed life. Bobby joked, however, that the stain on the sweater wasnt from Barclay. She had a lot of that stuff down in the basement, and they started clearing it out, and lo and behold, theres a jersey., That was the one thing he wanted, and I said, You can have it, Helen said. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). I had no idea how it was going to go are we just going to meet and take some pictures ? Resend Activation Email. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. (Photo courtesy of St. Louis Blues / blues.nhl.com). I didnt expect that at all and I got the chills.. The Blues released the following statement on the passing of Bobby Plager: "It is unimaginable to imagine the St. Louis Blues without Bobby Plager. Barclay Plager, a former National Hockey League defenseman for the St. Louis Blues who later coached the team, died of brain cancer today. It is . Id say, Hey, your boys really need it tonight. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Maybe theyre trying to tell us something from up above, Bobby said. Sign up for the 5 On Your Side Sports Plus newsletter. The crowd erupted as the replica was replaced by the real thing. The Blues had the Stanley Cup, and following a time-honored tradition, current members of the teams management, coaching staff and players began passing it around the U.S., Canada and Europe. The oldest of three hockey playing brothers (with Bill and Bob), Plager played junior league hockey with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey Association before spending six seasons in the minor leagues, cementing a reputation as a hard-nosed defensive defenceman. I had the feeling Its not going to happen its not looking good, said Kelly Plager, 54, their other son. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Try again. Rough and tumble Barclay Plager came to the Blues via the 1967 NHL expansion draft. "For me, this is very special, but sitting here and looking at the kids and thinking, 'This is the toughest trophy to win.' We were an expansion team. 1967-68; 1968-69; 1969-70; 1970-71; 1971-72 . Debuting with his brother in 1967 and retiring a year before Bob in 1977, Barclay scored 44 career goals . Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The gravesite of Barclay Plager was decorated with Blues signs and pictures when the family visited with the Stanley Cup. Yeah, but Im pretty sure Im 30 years older than you, dude. Billy Plager, brother of Bobby and Barclay Plager, played 127 games for the Blues in the early 1970s. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Dnipro News. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. The defenseman retired following the 1977-78 season after two seasons in the CHL. The Plager family, bonded by Barclays younger brother Bobby, is as close-knit as the stitching on the Blues sweater. There was no way we were going to win. He was 46 years old and was an assistant coach with the Blues at the time of his death. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? Plager, the youngest brother of Barclay and Bobby Plager, was involved in two memorable moments in Blues' history. Billy was preceded in death by his brother Barclay Plager, who died in 1988 at age 46 of cancer. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. It was the first day of the ninth month, so the date didnt have numerical significance, but little did the family know then, the timing would. Moments before, Billy had caught Ray Cullen of the Vancouver Canucks skating with his head down just inside the St. Louis blue line and, like a good Plager, had upended Cullen . This year, it was payback, and it was great. Along with his brothers Barclay and Bobby, Billy was a part of the beloved Plager brothers trio that played together with the Blues from 1968 to 1972. Then, 42 years after Barclay played his last game as a Blue, Bobby, accompanied by Blues general manager Doug Armstrong, carried the Cup to where the miniature version had sat just three months earlier. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2023. They were forever proud of that day, lining up together with the Blues. The players erupted into arguably one of the loudest cheers of the night at ice level - and that's saying something considering the elation they had shown immediately after the clock ran out on Game 7. Keith Allen, Fred Cusick and Bob Johnson were presented the Lester Patrick Award for service to U.S. hockey at a luncheon here today. Some hockey portraits on this site are licensed from Images on Ice, Hockeys Photo Agency. We did it! Try again later. We present them here for purely educational purposes. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list.
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