Neil Belland
Encyclopedia
Neil G. Belland is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
player.
of the OMJHL from 1978–1981, putting up some solid numbers, as he recorded 182 points (43 goals-139 assists) in 171 games, including a huge 1980–81 season where Belland had 82 points (28G-54A) in only 53 games. He added on 16 points (8G-8A) in 25 career playoff games. Belland went undrafted, but was signed by the Vancouver Canucks
as a free agent on October 1, 1980.
Belland would start the 1981–82 season with the Dallas Black Hawks
of the CHL
, where in 27 games he put up 22 points (2G-20A) before being called up by the Canucks. Belland would play 28 games with Vancouver, earning 9 points (3G-6A). He would help the Canucks in the playoffs to the tune of 8 points (1G-7A) in 17 games as Vancouver would make it to the Stanley Cup
finals before losing to the powerhouse New York Islanders
. Belland would split the 1982–83 season between Vancouver, where in 14 games he had 6 points (2G-4A), and the Fredericton Express
of the AHL
, as he had 21 points (4G-17A) in 46 games, then chipped in with 3 points (1G-2A) in 7 playoff games. Once again in 1983–84, Belland would split time between the Express, where in 17 games he registered 18 points (3G-15A), before getting 20 points (7G-13A) in 44 games with Vancouver. He then added 3 points (1G-2A) in 4 playoff games with the Canucks. 1984–85 would be more of the same for Belland, as he would again spend time with both Fredericton, getting 41 points (7G-34A) in 57 games, along with 2 assists in 6 playoff games, and Vancouver, earning 6 assists in 13 regular season games, and then again in 1985–86, where Belland put up 3 points (1G-2A) in 7 games with the Canucks, and 24 points (6G-18A) in 36 games with Fredericton, then helping out with 7 points (1G-6A) in 6 playoff games with the Express. After the season, Belland became a free agent, and signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins
on September 29, 1986.
Belland would spend most of the 1986–87 season with the Penguins AHL affiliate, the Baltimore Skipjacks
, where in 61 games, Belland recorded 24 points (6G-18A), while in 3 games with the Penguins, he would earn an assist. He would become a free agent once again after the season, and decided to head over to Finland
to play with Lukko Rauma in the SM-liiga
. Belland would get 22 points (8G-14A) in 44 games before going pointless in 8 playoff games, then would join the Hershey Bears
of the AHL
for a playoff game, getting no points.
He would then sign with Innsbruck EV
of the Austrian League for the 1988–89 season, putting up 56 points (17G-39A) in 46 games, then returned for the 1989–90 season, earning 53 points (15G-38A) in 34 games. Belland would split the 1990–91 season with Innsbruck, getting 12 points (5G-7A) in 17 games, and the Canadian National Hockey Team
, where in 9 games he would garner 4 assists. Belland returned to Austria
in 1991–92 to play with ATSE Graz
, earning 22 points (11G-11A) in 28 games, then play 1 game for EC Graz in 1992–93, getting no points, before returning for the 1993–94 season, picking up 37 points (8G-29A) in 57 games. Belland would then retire from playing hockey in the summer of 1994.
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...
player.
Playing career
Neil Belland played his junior hockey with the Kingston CanadiansKingston Canadians
The Kingston Canadians were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1973 to 1988. The team played home games at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
of the OMJHL from 1978–1981, putting up some solid numbers, as he recorded 182 points (43 goals-139 assists) in 171 games, including a huge 1980–81 season where Belland had 82 points (28G-54A) in only 53 games. He added on 16 points (8G-8A) in 25 career playoff games. Belland went undrafted, but was signed by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
as a free agent on October 1, 1980.
Belland would start the 1981–82 season with the Dallas Black Hawks
Dallas Black Hawks
The Dallas Black Hawks were a minor-league professional ice hockey team in Dallas, Texas. They were a member of the Central Hockey League and played home games at State Fair Coliseum....
of the CHL
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
, where in 27 games he put up 22 points (2G-20A) before being called up by the Canucks. Belland would play 28 games with Vancouver, earning 9 points (3G-6A). He would help the Canucks in the playoffs to the tune of 8 points (1G-7A) in 17 games as Vancouver would make it to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
finals before losing to the powerhouse New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Belland would split the 1982–83 season between Vancouver, where in 14 games he had 6 points (2G-4A), and the Fredericton Express
Fredericton Express
The Fredericton Express were a professional ice hockey team based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. They played in the American Hockey League between 1981 and 1988. The Express were affiliated with the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
of the 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...
, as he had 21 points (4G-17A) in 46 games, then chipped in with 3 points (1G-2A) in 7 playoff games. Once again in 1983–84, Belland would split time between the Express, where in 17 games he registered 18 points (3G-15A), before getting 20 points (7G-13A) in 44 games with Vancouver. He then added 3 points (1G-2A) in 4 playoff games with the Canucks. 1984–85 would be more of the same for Belland, as he would again spend time with both Fredericton, getting 41 points (7G-34A) in 57 games, along with 2 assists in 6 playoff games, and Vancouver, earning 6 assists in 13 regular season games, and then again in 1985–86, where Belland put up 3 points (1G-2A) in 7 games with the Canucks, and 24 points (6G-18A) in 36 games with Fredericton, then helping out with 7 points (1G-6A) in 6 playoff games with the Express. After the season, Belland became a free agent, and signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
on September 29, 1986.
Belland would spend most of the 1986–87 season with the Penguins AHL affiliate, the Baltimore Skipjacks
Baltimore Skipjacks
The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor professional ice hockey team in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena.-History:...
, where in 61 games, Belland recorded 24 points (6G-18A), while in 3 games with the Penguins, he would earn an assist. He would become a free agent once again after the season, and decided to head over to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
to play with Lukko Rauma in the SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
. Belland would get 22 points (8G-14A) in 44 games before going pointless in 8 playoff games, then would join the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
of the 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...
for a playoff game, getting no points.
He would then sign with Innsbruck EV
Innsbruck EV
Innsbrucker EV is a former ice hockey team. They played their games in Innsbruck, Austria at Olympiahalle Innsbruck....
of the Austrian League for the 1988–89 season, putting up 56 points (17G-39A) in 46 games, then returned for the 1989–90 season, earning 53 points (15G-38A) in 34 games. Belland would split the 1990–91 season with Innsbruck, getting 12 points (5G-7A) in 17 games, and the Canadian National Hockey Team
Canadian national hockey team
The Canadian national Hockey team may refer to:*Canadian national women's hockey team*Canadian national men's hockey team*Canada women's national field hockey team*Canada men's national field hockey team...
, where in 9 games he would garner 4 assists. Belland returned to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 1991–92 to play with ATSE Graz
ATSE Graz
ATSE Graz is an ice hockey team in Graz, Austria. They play in the Austrian Hockey League, the second level of ice hockey in Austria.-History:...
, earning 22 points (11G-11A) in 28 games, then play 1 game for EC Graz in 1992–93, getting no points, before returning for the 1993–94 season, picking up 37 points (8G-29A) in 57 games. Belland would then retire from playing hockey in the summer of 1994.