Gary Roberts (ice hockey)
Power forward who returned from career-threatening neck injury.
Gary R. Roberts (born May 23, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who spent 21 seasons in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Known throughout his playing days for his exceptional physical conditioning, Roberts now works as a high-performance trainer for hockey players at every level. He won the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989 and represented the team in two of his three NHL All-Star Game appearances.
Roberts grew up in Whitby, Ontario, where his childhood best friend was future NHL teammate Joe Nieuwendyk. The two played minor hockey together in winter and box lacrosse in summer. Roberts won a Minto Cup as Canadian junior lacrosse champion with the Whitby Warriors. In junior hockey, he played for the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL, winning the Memorial Cup in 1984. The Calgary Flames selected him 12th overall in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. After returning to Ottawa for another season—where he served as captain and made the OHL second All-Star Team—Roberts split his final junior year between the 67’s and the Guelph Platers, winning a second Memorial Cup with Guelph in 1986. He also played for Canada at the 1986 World Junior Championships, finishing with six goals and a silver medal.
Roberts made his NHL debut on November 11, 1986, scoring his first goal against the Vancouver Canucks. He split his rookie season between Calgary and the AHL’s Moncton Golden Flames. In 1987–88, he played his first full NHL season, recording 28 points and a career-high 282 penalty minutes. Playing on a line with Nieuwendyk and Håkan Loob, Roberts scored 22 goals in 1988–89 and added 12 playoff points, including two goals in the Smythe Division final series-clinching win over the Los Angeles Kings. The Flames went on to defeat the Montreal Canadiens for the Stanley Cup. The following season, Roberts scored 39 goals, including his first career hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers. After a 22-goal season in 1990–91, he exploded for career highs of 53 goals and 90 points in 1991–92, leading the Flames in both categories. His 53 goals remain the second-highest single-season total in franchise history, and he became one of the first two NHL players to score 50 goals and record 200 penalty minutes in the same season. He played in his first All-Star Game that year.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1966-05-23
- Birth Place
- North York, Ontario, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 2
- Weight Lb
- 215
- Position
- Left wing
- Shoots
- Left
- Played For
- Calgary Flames / Carolina Hurricanes / Toronto Maple Leafs / Florida Panthers / Pittsburgh Penguins / Tampa Bay Lightning
- Draft
- 12th overall
- Draft Year
- 1984
- Draft Team
- Calgary Flames
- Career Start
- 1986
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Roberts grew up in Whitby, Ontario, and his best friend was future NHL teammate Joe Nieuwendyk; they played minor hockey together in winter and box lacrosse in summer. He played Junior A lacrosse with the Whitby Warriors, winning a Minto Cup. In junior hockey, Roberts played for the Ottawa 67's and later the Guelph Platers, winning Memorial Cup championships in 1984 and 1986. He was selected 12th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1984 NHL entry draft.
Roberts made his NHL debut in 1986–87 and scored his first NHL goal in his first game. He developed into a power forward, recording 53 goals and 90 points in 1991–92, becoming one of the first two players in NHL history to score 50 goals and record 200 penalty minutes in the same season. A serious neck injury forced him to miss most of two seasons; after two surgeries, he returned in 1995–96 and won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. However, the neck problems persisted, and he retired in June 1996 at age 30.
After sitting out the 1996–97 season, Roberts resumed his career with the Carolina Hurricanes following an August 1997 trade. He later played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Tampa Bay Lightning, ending his career in 2009. He played 11 seasons after his comeback, finishing with 1,224 games, 438 goals, and 910 points.
Reader's Guide
Gary Roberts' significance lies in his remarkable comeback from a career-threatening neck injury that required two surgeries and left him unable to lift a 2 lb dumbbell above his shoulder. After retiring at age 30, he was put in touch with a chiropractor whose active release technique led to immediate improvement, and after a full season away from the game, he returned to the NHL in 1997. He played 11 more seasons, totaling 1,224 games, 438 goals, and 910 points. His perseverance earned him the 1996 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. Roberts also became a high performance trainer for players at all levels, leveraging the physical fitness for which he was renowned during his career. His legacy includes being a two-time Memorial Cup champion in junior hockey and a Stanley Cup champion with the Flames in 1989. He made two of his three NHL All-Star Game appearances as a Flame and set a franchise record with goals in eight consecutive games in 1992–93. His 53-goal season in 1991–92 remains the second-highest single-season total in Flames history.
Did You Know?
- Roberts won the Minto Cup as a Canadian junior box lacrosse champion with the Whitby Warriors.
- He scored his first NHL goal in his NHL debut on November 11, 1986, against the Vancouver Canucks.
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