Gordie Dwyer
Lightning enforcer known for a 23-game suspension.
Gordie Dwyer, a Canadian who played left wing, spent five seasons in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, and Montreal Canadiens. He never scored a goal in 108 regular-season games, recording 5 assists and 394 penalty minutes. His most infamous moment came during a pre-season game on September 19, 2000, when he left the penalty box to join a brawl and verbally and physically abused officials. The resulting 23-game suspension remains one of the longest in league history. Dwyer now works as head coach and general manager of the Newfoundland Regiment in the QMJHL.
Drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Dwyer could not agree to a contract and re-entered the draft in 1998, where Montreal selected him in the sixth round. He played junior hockey in the QMJHL for the Hull Olympiques, Laval Titan, Beauport Harfangs, Drummondville Voltigeurs, and Quebec Remparts, and also played in the 1992 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Drummondville. After his NHL playing days, he signed with Carolina in 2004 but never appeared for them, instead playing for their AHL affiliate, the Lowell Lock Monsters. A shoulder injury limited him to 17 games in 2005–06. He later attended training camps with Vancouver and the New York Islanders but did not make either roster.
Dwyer finished his playing career overseas. In 2006–07, he joined the Örebro Vipers of Swedish Division 1, recording 15 points and 16 penalty minutes in 11 games. The next season, he split time between the AHL’s Portland Pirates and Germany’s SERC Wild Wings, then returned to Örebro for 2008–09, where he had 7 points and 79 penalty minutes in 13 games.
His coaching career began in 2009–10 as head coach and associate general manager of the Summerside Western Capitals of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. After a rebuilding season, he led the team to a league championship and was named coach of the year in 2010–11. In May 2011, he became head coach of the P.E.I. Rocket (later the Charlottetown Islanders) of the QMJHL. He was fired in April 2015 after four seasons, posting a 116–133–9–14 record. He then coached KHL Medveščak Zagreb, HC Ambrì-Piotta in Switzerland, HC Dinamo Minsk, the Shawinigan Cataractes, and the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Left wing
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 2
- Weight Lb
- 206
- Played For
- Tampa Bay Lightning / New York Rangers / Montreal Canadiens
- Birth Date
- 1978-01-25
- Birth Place
- Dalhousie, New Brunswick, Canada
- Draft
- 67th overall, 1996 / St. Louis Blues / 152nd overall
- Draft Year
- 1998
- Draft Team
- Montreal Canadiens
- Career End
- 2009
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Dwyer played as a youth in the 1992 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Drummondville. He attended Philemon Wright High School in Hull, Quebec, while playing for the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL. He also played for the Laval Titan, Beauport Harfangs, Drummondville Voltigeurs, and the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. Drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 3rd round, 67th overall, of the 1996 NHL entry draft, he was unable to reach a contract agreement and re-entered the 1998 draft, where he was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 6th round, 152nd overall. He was traded to Tampa Bay by Montreal for Mike McBain on November 26, 1999. While with the Lightning, he achieved notoriety for the 23-game suspension. He was later traded to the New York Rangers by Tampa Bay for Boyd Kane on October 10, 2002, and was claimed on waivers by Montreal from the Rangers on February 21, 2003.
Reader's Guide
Dwyer's NHL career is defined by his physical style of play and his inability to score a goal in 108 games, though he recorded 5 assists and 394 penalty minutes. His 23-game suspension for leaving the penalty box to engage in a brawl and abusing officials in a pre-season game remains one of the longest in NHL history. After his playing career, he transitioned to coaching, becoming head coach and associate general manager of the Summerside Western Capitals, where he led the team to a league championship and was named league coach of the year. He later coached in the QMJHL, KHL, and Swiss National League A, and served as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championship and the 2016 Spengler Cup, helping Canada win a bronze medal and a Spengler Cup title, respectively. He also assisted at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships. His coaching career includes stints with the P.E.I. Rocket/Charlottetown Islanders, KHL Medveščak Zagreb, HC Ambrì-Piotta, HC Dinamo Minsk, Shawinigan Cataractes, and Saint John Sea Dogs.
Did You Know?
- Dwyer never scored a goal in 108 NHL games, recording 5 assists and 394 penalty minutes.
- He was drafted twice: by the St. Louis Blues in 1996 and by the Montreal Canadiens in 1998.
- He was named one of the top 40 under the age of 40 in The Hockey News 2011 edition of the 100 Most Powerful People in ice hockey.
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