Tony Currie (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Currie is a retired Canadian ice hockey
forward
who spent 8 seasons in the National Hockey League
between 1977 and 1985.
Currie was a selected 63rd overall in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft
by the St. Louis Blues following a 73-goal season for the Portland Winter Hawks
of the WHL
. He would play 22 games for the Blues in 1977–78, and spend most of his first three professional seasons alternately dominating minor-pro and struggling to make an impact on the Blues. He would finally stake his claim to a roster spot in 1979–80, posting 19 goals in 40 games once called up to St. Louis. In 1980–81, he would have his finest NHL season recording 55 points in 61 games, helping the Blues to a 2nd place overall finish in the regular season. In the playoffs, he played the best hockey of his career, recording 16 points and a then franchise record 12 assists in 11 games. He has two sons, the eldest Tyler and the youngest name Kyle.
However, Currie struggled throughout his career to maintain a consistent roster spot as coaches felt his poor defensive game and lack of size and physical play overshadowed his ability to create offense . He continued to produce well in 1981–82, notching 40 points in 48 games, before being dealt to the Vancouver Canucks
at the trade deadline. He added 5 more goals for Vancouver to finish with 23 in just 60 games to match his career high from the previous season, but appeared in only 3 games in the playoffs as Vancouver went on a surprising run to the Stanley Cup
Finals.
Not a favourite of defensive-minded Canuck coach Roger Neilson
, and despite his high level of production to that point of his career, Currie found himself back in the minors for most of the next two seasons, appearing in only 26 more games for the team . Released by Vancouver mid-way through the 1983–84 season, Currie would get another chance to prove himself as he signed for the Hartford Whalers
. He would again provide instant offense, posting 14 goals and 28 points in just 32 games for the Whalers. Despite posting 11 points in 13 games to start the 1984–85 campaign, he was waived by the Whalers. He would toil for two more seasons in the minors before moving to Europe, where he would finally retire in 1990.
Currie finished his NHL career with totals of 92 goals and 119 assists for 211 points in 290 NHL games, along with 73 penalty minutes.
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...
forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
who spent 8 seasons in the National Hockey League
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...
between 1977 and 1985.
Currie was a selected 63rd overall in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft
1977 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1977 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft.Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:...
by the St. Louis Blues following a 73-goal season for the Portland Winter Hawks
Portland Winter Hawks
The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the...
of the 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...
. He would play 22 games for the Blues in 1977–78, and spend most of his first three professional seasons alternately dominating minor-pro and struggling to make an impact on the Blues. He would finally stake his claim to a roster spot in 1979–80, posting 19 goals in 40 games once called up to St. Louis. In 1980–81, he would have his finest NHL season recording 55 points in 61 games, helping the Blues to a 2nd place overall finish in the regular season. In the playoffs, he played the best hockey of his career, recording 16 points and a then franchise record 12 assists in 11 games. He has two sons, the eldest Tyler and the youngest name Kyle.
However, Currie struggled throughout his career to maintain a consistent roster spot as coaches felt his poor defensive game and lack of size and physical play overshadowed his ability to create offense . He continued to produce well in 1981–82, notching 40 points in 48 games, before being dealt to 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,...
at the trade deadline. He added 5 more goals for Vancouver to finish with 23 in just 60 games to match his career high from the previous season, but appeared in only 3 games in the playoffs as Vancouver went on a surprising run 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.
Not a favourite of defensive-minded Canuck coach Roger Neilson
Roger Neilson
Roger Paul Neilson, CM was a National Hockey League coach, and was responsible for many innovations in the game...
, and despite his high level of production to that point of his career, Currie found himself back in the minors for most of the next two seasons, appearing in only 26 more games for the team . Released by Vancouver mid-way through the 1983–84 season, Currie would get another chance to prove himself as he signed for the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
. He would again provide instant offense, posting 14 goals and 28 points in just 32 games for the Whalers. Despite posting 11 points in 13 games to start the 1984–85 campaign, he was waived by the Whalers. He would toil for two more seasons in the minors before moving to Europe, where he would finally retire in 1990.
Currie finished his NHL career with totals of 92 goals and 119 assists for 211 points in 290 NHL games, along with 73 penalty minutes.