Cam Neely

Michael Cameron "Cam" Neely ( born June 6, 1965 in Comox, British Columbia ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played during his playing career 1983-1996 for the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. Neely is still considered a prime example of the so-called position of power forwards. Since 2007, Neely was active in the management of his former clubs Boston Bruins, before he was appointed in June 2010 as President of the franchises.

Career

After a successful season with the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League, he was selected in the NHL Entry Draft in 1983 in ninth place of the Vancouver Canucks. In Vancouver, he played three pretty disappointing seasons. After that, the Canucks traded it and their first franchise for the NHL Entry Draft in 1987 against Barry Pederson of the Boston Bruins one. In the first year with the Bruins Neely was with 36 gates leading scorer of his club and was its balance sheet from the previous season to more than double with 72 points scorer.

Neelys strengths were his hard, accurate shot, his quick wit and his militant commitment, coupled with enormous physique. At just 1.85 meters and 100 kg, it might as well hand out body checks and fists shoot like gates. He was the prototype of the power forward, who was in great demand in the NHL; was sought on a search for "Cam Neely " types.

During his ten seasons for the Bruins, who were influenced by his increasing problems with injuries, he recorded notable statistics. Only the absolute superstars Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Brett Hull ever achieved a better goals - per - game average than Cam Neely in the 1993/94 season with 50 goals in 49 games. In addition, there were only ten players ever, who had a higher goals - per - game average in their entire career. This is all the more remarkable when one considers Neelys serious injury. Three times he reached the 50 - goal mark, he played in five All-Star games and was elected four times as the second best right winger in the league.

50 goals in 50 games is considered the benchmark at all for the best scorer in NHL history. Maurice Richard, Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull and Mario Lemieux are the only ones who managed this. Cam Neelys 50 goals in 44 games were not entered in the official statistics, since these " 50 goals in a maximum of 50 games for the team" calls, but Neely was a large part of the 1993/94 season hurt, so he was only in his 50th goal 66 game his team was able to achieve.

For his special strength of will and endurance, after severe injuries to return again and again on the ice, he was in season 1993/94 awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. A hip ailment forced him to end his career after the 1995/96 season at the age of only 30 years. His shirt number 8 is no longer awarded in his honor at the Bruins. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.

Off the pitch he is involved heavily in the social field. Because his parents both died of cancer, he founded the Cam Neely Foundation, which operates in conjunction with a hospital, the " Neely House", where cancer patients can be accommodated during their treatment with their families.

In September 2007, Neely was appointed Vice - President of the Boston Bruins. 2010 Neely received the Lester Patrick Trophy, which is awarded for outstanding service to the sport of ice hockey in the United States or the NHL.

He also had some small roles as an actor, including a cameo appearance in the film Dumb and Dumber as " Seabass ".

Awards and achievements

Career Stats

( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )