Glenn Anderson

Lore & Background

Anderson was born on October 2, 1960, in Vancouver, and raised in Burnaby, British Columbia. His father, Magnus, was a Norwegian immigrant and his mother, Anne, was of Ukrainian origin. As a young child, Anderson did not enjoy ice hockey; his first-ever goal was in his own net. By age 12 he felt he had a gift and honed his skills, with his love of the game increasing with his joy of powerful skating. Growing up, his hockey idol was Alexander Yakushev of the Soviet team, whom he watched during the 1972 Summit Series. Anderson eventually produced the acclaimed documentary 'To Russia With Love', released in September 2012, about how Russia changed the Canadian ice hockey game.

Reader's Guide

Anderson's significance lies in his reputation as a 'money' player who performed especially well in important games. His five playoff overtime goals rank third in NHL history, while his 17 playoff game-winning goals put him fifth all-time. During the playoffs, he accumulated 93 goals, 121 assists, and 214 points, ranking fourth, ninth, and fourth most in NHL history. He is first all-time in regular season game-winning goals in Oilers history with 72. Anderson was part of six Stanley Cup-winning teams (five with the Oilers, one with the Rangers) and is one of only seven Oilers players to have won all five Cups in franchise history. He won gold at the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cup and a silver medal at the 1989 Ice Hockey World Championships. In 1996, despite having the flu with a high fever, he was voted unanimously as MVP of the Spengler Cup Tournament. His jersey number 9 was retired by the Oilers on January 18, 2009.

Did You Know?

• Anderson's first-ever hockey goal was in his own net.
• Anderson's idea to take a lounging photo on the ice surrounding the Spengler Cup originated when the Oilers won their first Stanley Cup and has since become a tradition.

A Six-Cup Career Across Four Franchises

Glenn Anderson's sixteen-year NHL journey took him through four franchises — the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and St. Louis Blues — but it was his tenure in Edmonton that defined his legacy. Drafted 69th overall in 1979, he arrived as a late pick who would become a cornerstone. His rookie season produced 53 points in 58 games, and his sophomore year set career highs with 67 assists and 105 points, helping the Oilers leap from fourth to first in their division. By his third season he had posted 104 points and carried the team to its first-ever Stanley Cup Final. Over his Oilers years, Anderson amassed 72 regular-season game-winning goals, a franchise record that still stands. He lifted six Stanley Cups in total — five with Edmonton and one with New York — and was selected to four All-Star Games. Remarkably, he is one of only seven players in Oilers history to have won all five of the franchise's championship banners, a testament to his sustained excellence across a decade in the northwest.

The Money Player: Playoff Pedigree

Few NHL players earned the "money player" label more authentically than Glenn Anderson. His postseason numbers speak to a consistent ability to elevate his game when the stakes were highest: 93 playoff goals (fourth all-time), 121 assists (ninth), and 214 total points (fourth). His 17 playoff game-winning goals rank fifth in league history, and his five overtime goals in the postseason place him third all-time. That reputation was forged early. In his 1980 playoff debut, he posted 12 points across nine games, including a three-game sweep of the Montreal Canadiens who had finished eleven spots above Edmonton in the standings. The 1983 Stanley Cup Final against the New York Islanders showcased his physical edge, with multiple heated confrontations with goaltender Billy Smith — a slashing penalty on Anderson's knee in Game One and a five-minute major called on him after a collision in Game Four. Even in 1996, long after his NHL career, Anderson demonstrated that competitive fire: battling through the flu with a high fever, he skated to a unanimous MVP award at the Spengler Cup, the tournament often called the Stanley Cup of Europe.

International Pride and Lasting Legacy

Anderson's connection to international hockey ran deeper than most of his NHL peers. A young fan of the Soviet style he witnessed during the 1972 Summit Series, he actively sought out global competition throughout his career. When the Oilers drafted him in 1979, he chose to represent Team Canada at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics rather than report to Edmonton immediately — a decision that Father David Bauer, the national program's architect, accepted and that Anderson later credited as pivotal to his development. He went on to win gold at the 1984 and 1987 Canada Cups and silver at the 1989 World Championships. His legacy in Edmonton extends beyond statistics: the iconic photo of players lounging on the ice after their first Cup win was Anderson's idea, and it became a lasting tradition. The Oilers retired his number 9 on January 18, 2009, and the Hockey Hall of Fame inducted him on November 10, 2008. He also produced the 2012 documentary "To Russia With Love," exploring how Soviet hockey shaped the Canadian game.

From Burnaby to the Bench: Life Beyond the Rink

Born in Vancouver on October 2, 1960, and raised in Burnaby, British Columbia, Glenn Anderson grew up in a multicultural household — his father Magnus was a Norwegian immigrant and his mother Anne was of Ukrainian origin. He had two brothers, Allan and David, and a sister, Pam. Contrary to what his future would suggest, childhood Anderson did not initially love hockey; his very first goal was scored in his own net. By age twelve, however, a growing love for powerful skating and a sense of natural ability took hold. He and a young teammate Ken Berry competed in the 1972 Quebec Pee-Wee Tournament with a Burnaby minor team. His hockey idol was Soviet forward Alexander Yakushev, whom he watched during the Summit Series. After his playing days, Anderson returned to the game in a new capacity: on December 11, 2023, he was named head coach and general manager of the Powell River Kings in the BCHL, bringing his deep understanding of the game back to the junior ranks in British Columbia.

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