Canadian • Born October
1, 1949 in Fernie, British Columbia • Hometown:
Fernie, B.C.
Career Highlights
Also played left wing. ... Played on first Houston
Aeros team in WHA's inaugural season of 1972-73 and scored winning goal in
team's first game on Oct. 12, 1972, vs. Chicago. His goal at 18:24 of
the third period broke a 2-2 tie. ... Represented Houston in 1974 WHA
All-Star Game. ... Played on 1973-74 Houston team that won WHA
regular-season title. ... Led Houston with 42 goals and 13 power-play goals
in 1973-74. ... Won WHA AVCO World Trophy with Houston in 1974. ...
Represented Houston in 1975 WHA All-Star Game, where he had two assists. ...
Played on 1974-75 Houston team that won WHA regular-season title. ... Set
Houston (WHA) single-season goals records for goals (48) and power-play
goals (15) in 1974-75. Both records still stood when the franchise folded in
1978. ... Won WHA AVCO World Trophy with Houston in 1975. ... On 1975-76
Houston team that won WHA regular-season title. ... Played 27 games for
1976-77 Houston team that went on to win WHA regular-season title. ... Left
Houston (WHA) as team's all-time
leader in goals (150), total goals including playoffs (174), power-play
goals (44), and hat tricks (5). All records still stood when team folded. ...
On 1977-78 Phoenix team that shared PHL regular-season title with San
Francisco. ... Led PHL in goals (33), assists (41), and points (74) with
Phoenix in 1977-78. ... Named PHL MVP with Phoenix in
1977-78. ... Named to PHL All-Star First Team with Phoenix in 1977-78.
Transaction History
June 8, 1971 -- Claimed by
California from Toronto in NHL Intra-league Draft.
June 6, 1972 -- Claimed by Atlanta
from California in NHL Expansion Draft.
September 1972 -- Signed WHA contract with Houston.
December 1976 -- Traded by Houston
(WHA) with Andre Hinse to Phoenix in exchange for John Gray, Al McLeod,
and Neil Lyseng. July 1977 -- Signed
with Houston (WHA) as an unrestricted free agent after Phoenix franchise
folded in April 1977.
Life Outside
the NHL
Other Post-Draft Teams: Phoenix (WHL); Houston, Phoenix (WHA); Phoenix, Tucson (PHL);
Elk Valley (WIHL)
Career Beyond Hockey: Was a pro
golfer in early 1980s and eventually became a real estate broker in his
hometown of Fernie, British Columbia, after his retirement -- working as
a sales representative for
Royal LePage.
Family: Former husband of
motorcycle daredevil Debbie Lawler, who was the female Evel Knievel of
the 1970s, setting records for motorcycle jumping. Known as "The
Flying Angel" and the "Queen of Motorcycle Jumpers", she once jumped 16 cars
at the Houston Astrodome on Feb. 3, 1974.
