Gerry Brisson
Encyclopedia
Gerald Brisson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
Left Winger
. He was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba.
organization at age 16, Brisson came up through the minor hockey ranks in St. Boniface, Canada to star with the St. Boniface Canadiens in the Manitoba Junior Hockey league and later another Montreal Canadiens farm team, the Peterborough TPT's
of the Ontario Junior Hockey Association where he led the team in scoring with 51 points in 52 games. He started his professional hockey career in 1958 in the Western Hockey League
playing for the Winnipeg Warriors
where he was one of the League's top rookies earning 83 points in his premier season and compiling 91 goals and 103 assists in 3 full seasons with the Warriors. He next played for the WHL Spokane Comets
for two seasons matching his best season with another 83 points and earning a call up to the Montreal Canadiens
where he played four games in the 1963 playoffs earning two assists
. He made his NHL debut in the Montreal Forum
against the Boston Bruins
. He then went on to play in the WHL for the San Francisco Seals where he won a WHL Championship (1963–64), the Seattle Totems
and again with the San Francisco Seals. He had a short stint in the AHL with the Quebec Aces
and led MSHL St. Boniface Mohawks to a MSHL championship (1968–69) as a player-coach
. Brisson was selected to numerous WHL Allstar Teams during his career.
West Kildonan North Stars for one season (1969–70), made his Western Canada Hockey Leaque coaching debut with the Brandon Wheat Kings
(1970–71), returned to the MJHL for one season to coach the Winnipeg Monarchs (1971–72), then back to the Western Canada Hockey League
to coach the Winnipeg Junior Jets (1972–73), Winnipeg Clubs(1973–76), Winnipeg Monarchs(1976–77) and finally the Calgary Wranglers
(1977–78).
in 1972. In order to differentiate from the newly formed Winnipeg Jets of the WHA he renamed the team the Winnipeg Clubs (1973–76) and later the Winnipeg Monarchs (1976–77). In 1977 he moved his Winnipeg
WCHL franchise to Calgary
, Alberta and the Calgary Wranglers
were born. The Calgary Wranglers
remained active in the WCHL
until 1987. He sold the Calgary Wrangler franchise in 1979 and retired from Hockey to pursue other business interests.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
Left Winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
. He was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba.
Playing career
Signed by the Montreal CanadiensMontreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
organization at age 16, Brisson came up through the minor hockey ranks in St. Boniface, Canada to star with the St. Boniface Canadiens in the Manitoba Junior Hockey league and later another Montreal Canadiens farm team, the Peterborough TPT's
Peterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team has played in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, since 1956, and is the oldest continuously operating team in the league.-History:...
of the Ontario Junior Hockey Association where he led the team in scoring with 51 points in 52 games. He started his professional hockey career in 1958 in the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
playing for the Winnipeg Warriors
Winnipeg Warriors
The Winnipeg Warriors were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League. They were founded as an expansion team in 1980, but suffered from attendance problems competing with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League and ultimately moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1984,...
where he was one of the League's top rookies earning 83 points in his premier season and compiling 91 goals and 103 assists in 3 full seasons with the Warriors. He next played for the WHL Spokane Comets
Spokane Comets
The Spokane Comets are a defunct minor professional ice hockey team that was located in Spokane, Washington. They played in the Western Hockey League from 1960 to 1963.The 1962-63 team was coached by Roy McBride who piloted the team to a 30-38-2 record....
for two seasons matching his best season with another 83 points and earning a call up to the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
where he played four games in the 1963 playoffs earning two assists
Assist (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
. He made his NHL debut in the Montreal Forum
Montreal Forum
The Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
against the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. He then went on to play in the WHL for the San Francisco Seals where he won a WHL Championship (1963–64), the Seattle Totems
Seattle Totems
The Seattle Totems were a professional ice hockey franchise in Seattle, Washington. They were a member of various minor professional and semi-professional leagues between 1945 and 1975. They played their home games in the Mercer Arena and later at the Seattle Center Coliseum...
and again with the San Francisco Seals. He had a short stint in the AHL with the Quebec Aces
Quebec Aces
The Quebec Aces, also known in French as Les As de Québec, were an amateur and later a professional men's ice hockey team from Quebec City, Quebec. The Aces were founded in 1928, and played until 1971. The team played home games at the Quebec Coliseum from 1930 to 1971.The Aces were Allan Cup...
and led MSHL St. Boniface Mohawks to a MSHL championship (1968–69) as a player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
. Brisson was selected to numerous WHL Allstar Teams during his career.
Coaching career
After an 11 year career as a professional hockey player Brisson embarked on a 10 year career as a Coach, General Manager and WCHL Franchise Owner. He began his coaching career as a player-coach for the St. Boniface Mohawks (1968–69), then coached the Manitoba Junior Hockey LeagueManitoba Junior Hockey League
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The MJHL is one of eleven Junior 'A' Hockey Leagues in Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League ....
West Kildonan North Stars for one season (1969–70), made his Western Canada Hockey Leaque coaching debut with the Brandon Wheat Kings
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They compete in the Western Hockey League, and joined the league in the 1967–68 season. Prior to that they played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and were known as the Brandon Elks for a short time in the...
(1970–71), returned to the MJHL for one season to coach the Winnipeg Monarchs (1971–72), then back to the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
to coach the Winnipeg Junior Jets (1972–73), Winnipeg Clubs(1973–76), Winnipeg Monarchs(1976–77) and finally the Calgary Wranglers
Calgary Wranglers
The Calgary Wranglers were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League from 1977 until 1987. The Wranglers played their home games in Calgary, Alberta, at the Stampede Corral.-Season-by-season Record:...
(1977–78).
Owner / Builder Career
Brisson was an owner in the Western Canada Hockey Leaque for 6 years. After one year as coach, Brisson bought the Winnipeg Junior Jets of the Western Canada Hockey LeagueWestern Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
in 1972. In order to differentiate from the newly formed Winnipeg Jets of the WHA he renamed the team the Winnipeg Clubs (1973–76) and later the Winnipeg Monarchs (1976–77). In 1977 he moved his Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
WCHL franchise to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta and the Calgary Wranglers
Calgary Wranglers
The Calgary Wranglers were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League from 1977 until 1987. The Wranglers played their home games in Calgary, Alberta, at the Stampede Corral.-Season-by-season Record:...
were born. The Calgary Wranglers
Calgary Wranglers
The Calgary Wranglers were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League from 1977 until 1987. The Wranglers played their home games in Calgary, Alberta, at the Stampede Corral.-Season-by-season Record:...
remained active in the WCHL
WCHL
WCHL may refer to:* Western Canada Hockey League * Western Canada Hockey League * Western Hockey League , also known as the Western Canada Hockey League* West Coast Hockey League...
until 1987. He sold the Calgary Wrangler franchise in 1979 and retired from Hockey to pursue other business interests.
Awards and achievements
- WHLWestern Hockey League (minor pro)The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
Prairie Division First All-Star Team (1959)
Player
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1957–58 | Peterborough TPT's Peterborough Petes The Peterborough Petes are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team has played in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, since 1956, and is the oldest continuously operating team in the league.-History:... |
WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
52 | 28 | 23 | 51 | 0 | |||||||
| 1957–58 | Montreal Royals | QHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 1957–58 | Winnipeg Warriors | WHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1958–59 | Winnipeg Warriors | WHL | 62 | 38 | 45 | 83 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 1959–60 | Winnipeg Warriors | WHL | 66 | 24 | 32 | 56 | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1960–61 | Winnipeg Warriors | WHL | 70 | 29 | 26 | 55 | 35 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1961–62 | Spokane Comets Spokane Comets The Spokane Comets are a defunct minor professional ice hockey team that was located in Spokane, Washington. They played in the Western Hockey League from 1960 to 1963.The 1962-63 team was coached by Roy McBride who piloted the team to a 30-38-2 record.... |
WHL | 70 | 44 | 39 | 83 | 60 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 16 | ||
| 1962–63 | Spokane Comets | WHL | 66 | 26 | 21 | 47 | 44 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1962–63 | Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1963–64 | San Francisco Seals | WHL | 50 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 4 | ||
| 1963–64 | Quebec Aces Quebec Aces The Quebec Aces, also known in French as Les As de Québec, were an amateur and later a professional men's ice hockey team from Quebec City, Quebec. The Aces were founded in 1928, and played until 1971. The team played home games at the Quebec Coliseum from 1930 to 1971.The Aces were Allan Cup... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
12 | 0 | 1 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1964–65 | Seattle Totems Seattle Totems The Seattle Totems were a professional ice hockey franchise in Seattle, Washington. They were a member of various minor professional and semi-professional leagues between 1945 and 1975. They played their home games in the Mercer Arena and later at the Seattle Center Coliseum... |
WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
63 | 19 | 19 | 38 | 35 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1965–66 | San Francisco Seals | WHL | 65 | 22 | 15 | 37 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1966–67 | San Francisco Seals | WHL | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1968–69 | St. Boniface Mohawks | MSHL | ||||||||||||
| NHL totals | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Coach
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Result | ||||||
| 1968–69 | St. Boniface Mohawks | MSHL | 24 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 0 | |||||||
| 1969–70 | West Kildonan North Stars | MJHL | 34 | 12 | 18 | 4 | 0 | |||||||
| 1976–77 | Winnipeg Monarchs | WCHL | 72 | 31 | 34 | 7 | 0 | Lost Round 2 | ||||||
| 1977–78 | Calgary Wranglers Calgary Wranglers The Calgary Wranglers were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League from 1977 until 1987. The Wranglers played their home games in Calgary, Alberta, at the Stampede Corral.-Season-by-season Record:... |
WCHL | 72 | 18 | 40 | 4 | 0 | Did Not Qualify | ||||||