Jody Gage
AHL legend and Rochester Americans all-time leading scorer.
Joseph William "Jody" Gage (born November 29, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He spent the majority of his career in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he became the Rochester Americans' all-time leader in games played (653), points (728), goals (351), and assists (377). Gage won the Les Cunningham Award in 1987–88 after scoring 60 goals, becoming only the second player in league history to do so. He was the third AHL player to reach 1,000 points, the fifth to play 1,000 games, and the fifth to join the AHL's 500-goal club. Gage led Rochester to a Calder Cup in 1986–87 and later to the Calder Cup Finals in 1989–90, 1990–91, and 1992–93.
Known as "Mr. Amerk," Gage retired during the 1995–96 season. His AHL career totals include 504 goals, 1,048 points, seven 40-goal seasons, and 51 playoff goals. In 68 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres, he recorded 14 goals, 15 assists, and 26 penalty minutes. After retiring, he immediately became assistant general manager and helped the Amerks win the 1995–96 Calder Cup championship against the defending champion Portland Pirates.
Gage was born in Toronto, Ontario, one of four children; his father John worked two jobs to support the family. Growing up in North York, he originally played as a goaltender before switching to forward. As a youth, he played in the 1972 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a Toronto minor team. He later played for the Toronto Young Nationsis midget team before being drafted by the St. Catharines Fincups in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL). A scout initially came to watch another player but was urged by Gage's father to also watch him. Drafted in the fifth round of the 1976 OMJHL draft, the Fincups head coach described him as "probably the best fifth-rounder in the history of the league." Shortly after joining the Fincups for 1976–77, Gage suffered a knee injury and missed over a month. Returning on December 7, he scored a goal and two assists against the Kitchener Rangers. He played for the Fincups in St. Catharines and Hamilton before being traded to the Rangers during 1977–78.
Gage began his professional career in 1979–80, splitting time between the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League (IHL) and the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL.
- Born
- November 29, 1959
- Birthplace
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Nhl draft
- Third round, 45th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1979 NHL entry draft
- Ahl games played
- 1,000+
- Ahl goals
- 504
- Ahl points
- 1,048
- Nhl games played
- 68
- Nhl goals
- 14
Lore & Background
Gage began his professional career in the 1979–80 season, splitting time between the Kalamazoo Wings of the IHL and the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL. He made his AHL debut on October 11, 1979, scoring four goals in an 8–3 win over the Hershey Bears. After several seasons in the Detroit Red Wings organization, he signed with the Buffalo Sabres as a free agent in July 1985 and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Gage scored four goals in his Amerks debut on October 18, 1985, and finished the regular season second on the team in scoring with 99 points. He experienced a dip in scoring during the 1986–87 season but rebounded to lead the team with 65 points and helped the Amerks win the Calder Cup, tying the league record with 14 playoff goals. The following season, Gage scored 60 goals, becoming the second player in league history to accomplish that feat, and won the Les Cunningham Award.
Reader's Guide
Gage's significance lies in his extraordinary AHL career, where he became the third player in league history to score 1,000 points, the fifth to play 1,000 games, and the fifth member of the 500-goal club. He led the Rochester Americans to a Calder Cup in 1986–87 and back to the finals in 1989–90, 1990–91, and 1992–93. Dubbed 'Mr. Amerk,' he retired during the 1995–96 season with 504 goals, 1,048 points, seven 40-goal seasons, and 51 playoff goals. Immediately after retiring, he accepted a position as assistant general manager and helped the Amerks capture the 1995–96 Calder Cup championship. His NHL career was limited to 68 games with Detroit and Buffalo, totaling 14 goals and 15 assists, as Detroit's general manager said he was 'too good for the AHL but not good enough for the NHL.'
Did You Know?
- Gage originally played as a goaltender before switching to a forward position.
- He scored four goals in his AHL debut on October 11, 1979.
- He won the Les Cunningham Award in 1987–88 after a 60-goal season.
- He is the Rochester Americans' all-time leader in games played, points, goals, and assists.
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