Wendel Clark
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Wendel Clark (b. October 25, 1966 in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Canada), was a professional ice hockey player.
Clark was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1985 Entry Draft. His professional career lasted from 1985 until 2000 during which time he played for the Maple Leafs (during three separate stretches), Quebec Nordiques, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks.
He is known for his emotional, physical play combined with a moderate level of scoring prowess. The serious back injury that Clark suffered during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks in 1987 when he was cross-checked into the crossbar of his goal probably ruined his chances of being a true superstar.
While he was known for grit and physical play (1690 career penalty minutes) he did manage an impressive forty-six goals for the Leafs during the 1993-94 season.
The love Toronto has for their former captain could be seen in his 2000 return to the club. Indeed, when Wendel Clark returned to the Maple Leafs for that playoff run, he received a 4 minute standing ovation after Clark 'barreled into the New Jersey zone' and hit the post in Gane 1, marking likely the first time a player has received a standing ovation for almost scoring.
Career Statistics: 330 goals scored, 234 assists over 793 games played.
| Preceded by: Rob Ramage |
Toronto Maple Leafs Captains | Succeeded by: Doug Gilmour |
Sources
Internet Hockey Database biography of Clark (http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=00001018)