| Wendel Clark | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Clark in 2008 | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1966-10-25)October 25, 1966 (age 58) Kelvington,Saskatchewan, Canada | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Left wing/Defence | ||||||||||||||||
| Shot | Left | ||||||||||||||||
| Played for | Toronto Maple Leafs Quebec Nordiques New York Islanders Tampa Bay Lightning Detroit Red Wings Chicago Blackhawks | ||||||||||||||||
| National team |  Canada | ||||||||||||||||
| NHL draft | 1st overall,1985 Toronto Maple Leafs | ||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1985–2000 | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Wendel Lee Clark (born October 25, 1966) is aCanadian former professionalice hockey player. His professional career lasted from1985 until2000, during which time he played for theToronto Maple Leafs,Quebec Nordiques,New York Islanders,Tampa Bay Lightning,Detroit Red Wings andChicago Blackhawks. He was chosenfirst overall in the1985 NHL Entry Draft by the Maple Leafs, the team he played with on three occasions,captaining the team from1991 to1994. Clark is a fan favourite in Toronto, continuing to represent the Maple Leafs at public events.
A star junior hockey defenceman with theSaskatoon Blades of theWestern Hockey League, Clark was a member ofCanada's gold medal-winning team at the1985 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[1]
Clark was converted to forward after he was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the1985 NHL Entry Draft. Clark was known for his physical play and his offensive mind combined with scoring prowess. As tough as Clark was, his scoring touch and offensive ability was equal to his on-ice toughness. Clark's 227 PIM in his rookie season was the 1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs team-high, along with 34 goals which also led the team. After his rookie season, he was named to theNHL All-Rookie Team and finished third in voting for theCalder Memorial Trophy.
Clark was named captain of the team for the1991–92 season. During the1992–93 season, Clark's second year captaining the team, the Leafs set team records in wins (44) and points (99) and also made the playoffs for the first time in three years. The Leafs had a memorable run to the Campbell Conference Finals, but after leading the best-of-seven series three games to two coming within one game of advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals, they lost to theWayne Gretzky-ledLos Angeles Kings, who were coached by Clark's cousin,Barry Melrose.
Two career-defining moments happened in this series for Clark: his toe-to-toe fight in Game 1 of the series with enforcerMarty McSorley in retribution for a big hit McSorley made on Leafs starDoug Gilmour, and his hat-trick in Game Six of the seven-game series. "That series was probably the most excitement I saw around here," proclaimed Clark, who had a legendary series performance with 20 points (10 goals and 10 assists) in his 21 games during the '93 playoffs. "It was the furthest the Leafs had advanced in a long time, the team was coming together at the right time and everybody was doing their jobs."
Clark managed a career-high 46 goals in 64 games for the Leafs during the1993–94 season, playing on a line withDave Andreychuk andDoug Gilmour. In the playoffs, the Leafs made a second consecutive trip to the Conference Finals but fell 4–1 to theVancouver Canucks, who were coached by future Leafs coachPat Quinn.
In June 1994, with his value at an all-time high, Clark was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in a multi-player deal that notably involved a youngMats Sundin. He was succeeded as Maple Leafs captain by Gilmour. Clark played the lockout-shortened1994–95 NHL season in Quebec.
After the Nordiques became theColorado Avalanche, Clark became embroiled in a contract dispute with the team. As a result, shortly before the beginning of the1995–96 campaign, he was sent to theNew York Islanders in a three-way trade that broughtClaude Lemieux to Colorado andSteve Thomas to theNew Jersey Devils. Clark played 58 games with the Islanders but finished the season back in Toronto.
The Islanders received a first-round pick from the Leafs (4th overall in 1997) which turned out to beRoberto Luongo.
In 1998 Clark signed as a free agent with theTampa Bay Lightning, where he earned a spot on the North American All-Star team and went on to score 28 goals in 65 games. Despite his success in Tampa Bay, he was dealt at the trade deadline to theDetroit Red Wings, where he finished the1998–99 season. Clark signed with theChicago Blackhawks later in 1999 but only appeared in 13 games with the team.
Upon returning to the Leafs in 2000, after being benched by the Blackhawks, Clark was not particularly effective for the remainder of the regular season, but he found his form for the Leafs' playoff run. Leaf fans gave their former captain a 90-second standing ovation after Clark barreled into theNew Jersey Devils zone and hit the post in Game 1.[2] During Game 4, Clark assisted on the game-winning goal that gave the Leafs a 2–1 victory and tied the series with the Devils.
Clark is now employed by the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club as a community ambassador and public relations. He can be seen at virtually all Leaf home games, usually with his wife Denise and children. The Toronto Maple Leafs honoured the former captain by raising his legendary number 17 to the rafters on November 22, 2008, at theAir Canada Centre.[3] The number was officially retired by the team on October 15, 2016, during a homepre-game ceremony in which 17 players representing 11 sweater numbers were similarly honoured.[4] Prior to the Leafs'Hockey Day in Canada game against theOttawa Senators on Saturday, February 18, 2017, it was announced that statues of iconic LeafsCharlie Conacher,Red Kelly,Frank Mahovlich and Wendel would be added to the Leafs' Legends Row, located outside the Air Canada Centre, as part of the ongoing Maple Leafs' Centennial Anniversary.[5]
He owns Wendel Clark's Classic Grill and Sports Lounge, with four restaurants inSaskatoon,Saskatchewan;Brampton,Ontario;Oshawa, Ontario; andBurlington, Ontario.[6][7] He resides inKing City.[6][8]
Clark's first cousin is ex-NHLer andESPN commentatorBarry Melrose; he is also a cousin of formerDetroit Red Wing and Saskatoon Blades playerJoe Kocur.
Clark's younger brotherKerry Clark was also a professional hockey player; he was a career minor leaguer who is in the top 60 in minor league history in penalty minutes with 2812.[9] Clark's other brother, Donn Clark, is best known for being the head coach of thePrince Albert Raiders and theSaskatoon Blades.
Clark's son, Kody, played three seasons for theOttawa 67's of theOntario Hockey League beginning in 2016.[10] Kody was selected 47th overall in the2018 NHL Entry Draft by theWashington Capitals,[11] and played three seasons for theHershey Bears.
Though it was released very early in his career, arguably before he became well known as a player, Clark was celebrated by the Canadian bandThe Rheostatics in the song "The Ballad of Wendel Clark Parts I & II" on their debut album,Greatest Hits.
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1983–84 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 72 | 23 | 45 | 68 | 225 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 64 | 32 | 55 | 87 | 253 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | ||
| 1985–86 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 66 | 34 | 11 | 45 | 227 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 47 | ||
| 1986–87 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 80 | 37 | 23 | 60 | 271 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 38 | ||
| 1987–88 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 28 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 15 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 38 | 18 | 8 | 26 | 116 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 | ||
| 1990–91 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 63 | 18 | 16 | 34 | 152 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 43 | 19 | 21 | 40 | 123 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 66 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 193 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 51 | ||
| 1993–94 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 64 | 46 | 30 | 76 | 115 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 24 | ||
| 1994–95 | Quebec Nordiques | NHL | 37 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 45 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 1995–96 | New York Islanders | NHL | 58 | 24 | 19 | 43 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 13 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 1996–97 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 65 | 30 | 19 | 49 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 47 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 65 | 28 | 14 | 42 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 20 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| NHL totals | 793 | 330 | 234 | 564 | 1,690 | 95 | 37 | 32 | 69 | 201 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Canada | WJC | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Preceded by | NHL first overall draft pick 1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick 1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Toronto Maple Leafs captain 1991–94 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
