Gary Bergman

Gary Bergman
Born	Template:Birth date Kenora, Ontario, Canada
Died	December 8, 2000(2000-12-08) (aged 62)
Occupation	Ice hockey defenseman
Years active	1964–1976
Known for	NHL player mainly with Detroit Red Wings; member of Team Canada in 1972 Summit Series

Gary Gunnar Bergman (October 7, 1938 – December 8, 2000) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman who competed in the National Hockey League between 1964 and 1976, mainly with the Detroit Red Wings. He also took part as a member of Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series.

Early professional years

Bergman first attracted professional notice in 1957 while playing junior hockey for the Winnipeg Braves, then joining the Winnipeg Warriors of the Western Hockey League. After two seasons there, he progressed to the American Hockey League, where he played for four different teams: the Buffalo Bisons, Cleveland Barons, Quebec Aces, and Springfield Indians. His reliable defensive play caught the attention of the Detroit Red Wings, who selected him in the 1964 NHL Intra-League Draft.

Career in the NHL

Bergman made his NHL debut with Detroit during the 1964–65 campaign, establishing himself as a defense-focused player and gradually becoming a key contributor. He played an important role during Detroit’s journey to the 1966 Stanley Cup Finals, which ended in a loss to Montreal. One of the series’ defining moments involved Bergman in a disputed overtime goal that ultimately decided the championship.

In the early 1970s, Bergman evolved into a flexible player, effective on both power-play and penalty-killing squads. Despite a decline in Detroit’s fortunes following Gordie Howe’s departure, Bergman increased his community involvement through significant charitable activities aimed at supporting disabled children and adults. His humanitarian contributions earned him a share of the Charlie Conacher Humanitarian Award in 1973.

After spending roughly ten years with Detroit, Bergman was traded to the Minnesota North Stars in November 1973 in exchange for veteran Ted Harris. This transaction came after public disagreements between Bergman and then-general manager Ned Harkness. During the 1973–74 season with Minnesota, he tallied 26 points.

In May 1974, Alex Delvecchio—Bergman’s former teammate—assumed Detroit’s general manager position and reacquired Bergman in October by trading a third-round draft pick. That season Bergman scored 30 points before being moved again in August 1975 to the newly established Kansas City Scouts. In what would be his final NHL season (1975–76), he achieved his second-best point total with 38.

Concluding his nearly fifteen-year NHL tenure, Bergman retired having amassed 367 points over 838 regular-season contests and participating in only 21 playoff games.

1972 Summit Series

In 1972, Bergman received an invitation from Harry Sinden and John Ferguson to join Team Canada for the 1972 Summit Series. Reflecting on that moment, Bergman stated:

"Harry phoned me on Sunday morning just as Janie and our children were preparing to leave for church. Janie urged me to hang up, but it was Harry Sinden asking if I would join the squad."

He played a crucial defensive role throughout all eight games against the Soviets, contributing three assists.

Bergman died on December 8, 2000, following an eight-month fight with cancer. In recognition of their defensive efforts, the entire team was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

Awards and distinctions

• Winner of the Turnbull Cup (Manitoba Junior Hockey League) in 1959
• Memorial Cup titleholder in 1959
• Chosen to represent Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series
• Participant in the 1973 NHL All-Star Game
• Inducted as an Honoured Member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
• Recognized as an Honoured Member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

Regular season and playoff performance

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1957–58	Winnipeg Braves	MJHL		30	4	2	6	73		5	1	2	3	14
1957–58	Winnipeg Warriors	WHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1958–59	Winnipeg Braves	MJHL		29	15	15	30	114		24	4	20	24	46
1959–60	Winnipeg Warriors	WHL		58	1	9	10	147		—	—	—	—	—
1960–61	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		67	5	14	19	104		4	0	0	0	12
1961–62	(Cleveland Barons)	(AHL)		68	10	30	40	164		6	1	2	3	14
(Quebec Aces)	(AHL)	8		get1	get2	get3	get14
(1962–63)	(Cleveland Barons)	(AHL)		get47	get4	get19	get23	get127		get7	get1	get5	get6	get10
(Springfield Indians)	(AHL)	get60		get13	get24	get37	get106
(1964–65)	(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL)		get58	get4	get7	get11	get85		get5	get0	get1	get1	get4
(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL)	get61		get3	get16	get19	get96	get12		get0	get3	get3	get14
(1965–66)	(Memphis Wings)	(CPHL)		get5	get2	get3	get5	get4
(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL)	get70		get5	get30	get35	get129
(1967–68)	(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL)		get74	get13	get28	get41	get109
(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL)	get76		get7	get30	get37	get80
(1969–70)	(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL)		get69	get6	get17	get23	get122		get4	get0	get1	get1	get2
(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL)	get68		get8	get25	get33	get149
(1971–72)	(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL)		get75	get6 @get31 @get37 @get138
(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL) @get68 @get3 @get28 @get31 @get71
(1973–74)	(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL) @get11 @get0 @get6 @get6 @get18
(Minnesota North Stars)	(NHL) @get57 @get3 @get23 @get26 @get66
(1974–75)	(Detroit Red Wings)	(NHL) @get76 @get5 @get25 @get30 @get104
(Kansas City Scouts)	(NHL) @get75 @get5 @get33 @get38 @get82
NHL career totals !838 !68 !299 !367 !1249 !21 !0 !5 !5 !20 |} International Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM 1972 Canada SS 8 0 3 3 13 External links Gary Bergman’s profile at the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame Biography of Gary Bergman featured by the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame