13. Don Lever —- 593GP | 186G | 221A | 407P | 1973-1980
Don Lever was born in the community of South Porcupine, Ontario on November 14, 1952. Lever played junior hockey as a forward with the Niagara Falls Flyers in the OHA-Jr. League. Lever played with the Flyers from 1969-1972. In 1972, he had 61-goals and 126-points across 63-games with the Flyers. Lever was recognized as the league MVP that season and was also a First-Team All-Star. He was then drafted by the Vancouver Canucks 3rd overall in the 1972 NHL Draft.
At 20-years old, Lever made the immediate jump to the NHL and played 78-games in his rookie season with 12-goals and 38-points. The following year, he was recognized as the team’s most exciting player by scoring 23-goals and 48-points through 78-games. In 1974-75, Lever led the team in scoring and tied the franchise record at the time with 38-goals. Lever tied the record with two games remaining in the season, but failed to score a goal in the final two games all while getting extra ice time. Lever also set a career-high in points that season with 68. In the 1975-76 season, Lever finished with 25-goals and 65-points by the end of the season.
Most impressive to this point in his career was Lever’s iron man streak. Lever had not missed a single game in the NHL since being drafted by Vancouver. He held that streak for the better part of six seasons when a deflected shot by teammate Dennis Ververgaert struck Lever in the face and fractured his cheekbone. His iron man streak ended at 437-games.
Lever was named Captain of the Vancouver Canucks on September 12, 1977. He assumed the role of captain for three seasons with the team. In 1978, Lever participated in the World Championships that were held in Prague where he had 4-goals and 7-points en route to Canada securing a Bronze Medal.
After 51-games in the 1979-80 season, Lever was traded by the Canucks to the Atlanta Flames in exchange for Darcy Rota and Ivan Boldirev. Lever finished the season in Atlanta and then stayed with the Flames for their first season in Calgary for the 1979-80 season.
In the 1981-82 season, the Calgary Flames moved Lever and teammate Bob MacMillan to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for future Flames legend Lanny McDonald. Interestingly, Lever played out the season with the Rockies and then became part of history as the team relocated and became the New Jersey Devils the following season. Lever goes down in the history books as he scored the first goal in Devils’ history on October 5, 1982 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lever was also the first Captain in Devils history and he held the title until midway through the 1984 season.
After a steep decline in production from 1983-85, Lever was moved by the Devils to Buffalo in exchange for future considerations. Lever bounced between the AHL and NHL in his final two seasons. In that span, he played in just 39-games with the Sabres, but played a prominent role with the Rochester Americans and was a catalyst for their Calder Cup winning season in 1987. Lever went out on top and retired following the end of the AHL Playoffs.
Lever retired from pro hockey after 15-years in the NHL. He played in 1020-games and registered 313-goals and 680-points. He currently ranks 13th all-time in franchise scoring for the Canucks.
After his playing career, Lever stayed in the AHL as a coach and eventually became the Head Coach of Rochester in 1990. After that, he got behind an NHL bench and was an assistant coach in Buffalo for a decade. He was a finalist for the head coaching position with the Sabres in 1997, but lost the job to Lindy Ruff. Lever then also was an Assistant Coach with the St. Louis Blues from 2002-04. He then took on the Head Coach position with the Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL. He led them to their first Calder Trophy in the 2006-07 season. Lever then had a stint in Montreal as an Assistant for the 2008-09 season. He then moved on to coach the Chicago Wolves for two seasons where he eventually transitioned to scouting for the Blackhawks and has been in a full-time scouting role since 2011.
jedzef
Is the black C on the jersey for captain? Never seen a captain’s patch styled like that before. Looks cool
47Up
Back when the Canucks were so cheap they used electricians tape for the « C » on his sweater.
maniccanuck
That was a fun trip down memory lane. Way to make us all hop on Hockey DB.
Love_Your_Faces
Helmet and sweater so clean, not a logo or brand to be seen
5 Comments
13. Don Lever —- 593GP | 186G | 221A | 407P | 1973-1980
Don Lever was born in the community of South Porcupine, Ontario on November 14, 1952. Lever played junior hockey as a forward with the Niagara Falls Flyers in the OHA-Jr. League. Lever played with the Flyers from 1969-1972. In 1972, he had 61-goals and 126-points across 63-games with the Flyers. Lever was recognized as the league MVP that season and was also a First-Team All-Star. He was then drafted by the Vancouver Canucks 3rd overall in the 1972 NHL Draft.
At 20-years old, Lever made the immediate jump to the NHL and played 78-games in his rookie season with 12-goals and 38-points. The following year, he was recognized as the team’s most exciting player by scoring 23-goals and 48-points through 78-games. In 1974-75, Lever led the team in scoring and tied the franchise record at the time with 38-goals. Lever tied the record with two games remaining in the season, but failed to score a goal in the final two games all while getting extra ice time. Lever also set a career-high in points that season with 68. In the 1975-76 season, Lever finished with 25-goals and 65-points by the end of the season.
Most impressive to this point in his career was Lever’s iron man streak. Lever had not missed a single game in the NHL since being drafted by Vancouver. He held that streak for the better part of six seasons when a deflected shot by teammate Dennis Ververgaert struck Lever in the face and fractured his cheekbone. His iron man streak ended at 437-games.
Lever was named Captain of the Vancouver Canucks on September 12, 1977. He assumed the role of captain for three seasons with the team. In 1978, Lever participated in the World Championships that were held in Prague where he had 4-goals and 7-points en route to Canada securing a Bronze Medal.
After 51-games in the 1979-80 season, Lever was traded by the Canucks to the Atlanta Flames in exchange for Darcy Rota and Ivan Boldirev. Lever finished the season in Atlanta and then stayed with the Flames for their first season in Calgary for the 1979-80 season.
In the 1981-82 season, the Calgary Flames moved Lever and teammate Bob MacMillan to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for future Flames legend Lanny McDonald. Interestingly, Lever played out the season with the Rockies and then became part of history as the team relocated and became the New Jersey Devils the following season. Lever goes down in the history books as he scored the first goal in Devils’ history on October 5, 1982 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lever was also the first Captain in Devils history and he held the title until midway through the 1984 season.
After a steep decline in production from 1983-85, Lever was moved by the Devils to Buffalo in exchange for future considerations. Lever bounced between the AHL and NHL in his final two seasons. In that span, he played in just 39-games with the Sabres, but played a prominent role with the Rochester Americans and was a catalyst for their Calder Cup winning season in 1987. Lever went out on top and retired following the end of the AHL Playoffs.
Lever retired from pro hockey after 15-years in the NHL. He played in 1020-games and registered 313-goals and 680-points. He currently ranks 13th all-time in franchise scoring for the Canucks.
After his playing career, Lever stayed in the AHL as a coach and eventually became the Head Coach of Rochester in 1990. After that, he got behind an NHL bench and was an assistant coach in Buffalo for a decade. He was a finalist for the head coaching position with the Sabres in 1997, but lost the job to Lindy Ruff. Lever then also was an Assistant Coach with the St. Louis Blues from 2002-04. He then took on the Head Coach position with the Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL. He led them to their first Calder Trophy in the 2006-07 season. Lever then had a stint in Montreal as an Assistant for the 2008-09 season. He then moved on to coach the Chicago Wolves for two seasons where he eventually transitioned to scouting for the Blackhawks and has been in a full-time scouting role since 2011.
Is the black C on the jersey for captain? Never seen a captain’s patch styled like that before. Looks cool
Back when the Canucks were so cheap they used electricians tape for the « C » on his sweater.
That was a fun trip down memory lane. Way to make us all hop on Hockey DB.
Helmet and sweater so clean, not a logo or brand to be seen