Eric Vail

Eric Douglas Vail ( born September 16, 1953 in Timmins, Ontario ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played from 1973 to 1983 for the Atlanta Flames and Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League.

Career

Vail played during his time in the junior class at the Niagara Falls Flyers, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey Association. His physical strength earned him the nickname " Big Train " one, the former NHL legend Lionel Conacher also held. In the NHL Amateur Draft 1973 it chose the Atlanta Flames in the second round by 21 point.

The 1973/74 season began, the striker at the Omaha Knights of the Central Hockey League, but managed in the course of the season made ​​it into the NHL. In his 23 appearances for the Flames he scored eleven points scorer. With less than 25 completed games he was in the following season 1974/75 even as a rookie. Now he was a regular player in the squad of the Flames and scored 39 goal for his team. This earned him the distinction of having the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie in the league. He was the first player in the Flames, who received such an award. During this time he was one of the few positive signs in the rather disappointing team Atlanta. He represented the team at the 1977 NHL All-Star Game. This year, he represented Canada also he at Ice Hockey World Championship 1977 in Vienna. With 83 points, the 1978/79 season was the most successful in his career. He moved with the team in 1980 to Calgary. Shortly after beginning his second season with the Calgary Flames, he was discharged to the Detroit Red Wings. Here he had sporadically in his first year in the American Hockey League farm team of the Adirondack Red Wings. After he had to spend the entire next season there, he finished his career in 1983.

NHL stats

Sporting successes

Personal Awards

  • Calder Memorial Trophy: 1975
  • Participate in the NHL All-Star Game: 1977
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