(Photo courtesy Rachel Hecht). The Blues released the following statement on the passing of Bobby Plager: "It is unimaginable to imagine the St. Louis Blues without Bobby Plager. Failed to report flower. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/XBWWz2yKom. He reunited with his brothers Barclay and Billy in heaven on March 24, 2021 at age 78. It was No. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Armstrong declared that Barclay would be the first to drink from the Cup, so after some champagne was poured, he and Bobby tilted it directly over the ground where Barclay has been buried for the past 31 years and gave him a long-awaited sip. Were just very lucky to be there.. Suffering from dizzy spells thought to be the result of an old head injury, Plager was examined by a doctor following his stepping down as coach. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Rudderless ship of chaos: St. Louis judge advances Kim Gardner contempt case, Cardinals send prized prospect Jordan Walker to Class AAA in curious series of moves, What Oliver Marmols gamble in ninth vs. LA reveals about managing to spark Cardinals, How sending Jordan Walker to Class AAA is a bet clarity can correct muddled outfield: Cardinals Extra, Bud Light sales continue to plummet after transgender marketing controversy, The world watches (and makes donations) as St. Louis bald eagle raises eaglet from a rock, A closer on ice. He grew up playing hockey with Kevin and working as a stickboy for Kellys Junior Blues team and he also worked with the Blues from 1990-95, setting up the locker room among some other duties. On March 1, 1969, former Blues coach Scotty Bowmanput the three Plager brothers, all defensemen, in the starting lineup at forward and played them on the same line together in a game against the Montreal Canadiens. He retired as a player during the following season when he was named as head coach of the Blues, succeeding Leo Boivin. He was 46 years old and was an assistant coach with. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. After Barclay, it was Bobbys turn to drink from the Cup. "I knew it was going to the grave, that was going to be the first thing for my brother Barclay," Plager said. [3] In 1920 Ekaterynoslavsky University was transformed into Ekaterynoslavsky (later in Dnipropetrovsk) Institute of Education, which operated until 1933. Kelly died almost exactly a year later, from cancer at the age of 52. (Post-Dispatch file photo). You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Edmonton center Wayne Gretzky had an interesting comment today about the upcoming Olympic hockey tournament: "I hope Canada wins the gold medal, because I know a lot of guys have put in a lot of hard work, but the best thing for hockey would be for the U.S. to win the gold medal, because of the extra attention that would be given to hockey in the U.S." . 8 was retired. He is survived by his wife, Helen, and four children. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. If things don't work out, though, we have an option to stay in Binghamton for two more years.". The laughter aside, the Plagers truly felt that Barclay was soaking it up. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. I was busy with four kids and never really thought about what it meant until the years kept going by and by and by and my kids were getting older, Helen said. Weve updated the security on the site. He was survived by both of his brothers. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Plager's brothers, Barclay and Billy, were also part of those Blues teams. The defenseman retired following the 1977-78 season after two seasons in the CHL. Together, the family held a toast to Barclay and each sipped champagne from the Stanley Cup. The Plagers werent getting their hopes up last season, with the Blues sitting in last place in the NHL standings in January. Well be talking about that forever.. I didnt really realize who my dad was, as far as like people saying, Oh my gosh, your dad is Barclay Plager? said Karen, who was 20 when he died. You have permission to edit this article. 8 was retired. A police escort led by Ballwin Sgt. General Manager David Poile of the Washington Capitals met today with David Welker, owner of the Fort Wayne Komets of the International League, to discuss the possibility of Fort Wayne becoming the Capitals' sole farm outlet next season. This is a carousel with slides. Plager came to the Blues from the New York Rangers when the NHL expanded in 1967-68. There was a problem saving your notification. St Louis Blues, stlouisblues.com and stlblues.com are trademarks of the St Louis Blues Hockey Club. "I knew I was going to get my grandson involved with his kids and the kids there, the hockey team, and we had Jimmy Roberts and Noel Picard, Dan Kelly and their family, and the Gassoffs, I wanted them over at the house," said Plager, an ambassador for the Blues who has been with the franchise since it entered the NHL. (Jeremy Rutherford / For The Athletic). You know what I found this year? And that's what the 76-year-old did Sunday. If you think we're going to party down here, they're partying up there, too.". . The way it worked out and how special it was in Boston the last time we were there (in 1970), and I was on the ice in Boston, and I had to watch them hoist the Stanley Cup. Armstrong picked it up and said, Here we go. So we gave Barclay a little drink there, and then I look and everybody is pouring beers and saying, Heres to you, Barc! I said, I dont know whos buried beside him, but if he ever wakes up, hes going to have one heck of a hangover.. . Barclay Graham Plager (March 26, 1941 February 6, 1988) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach for the St. Louis Blues. "It meant a lot because our first years, those were the guys that were there. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. He said, Its got grandpas blood all down here.. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. He was 78. [1] He played the majority of the next three seasons with the Springfield Indians of the AHL. Barclay Plager was 46 when he died Feb. 6, 1988, from a brain hemorrhage. Those attending are: (back row, left to right) Don McKenney, Al Arbour, Noel Picard, Bill McCreary, Gerry Melnyk, Frank St. Marseille, Ray Fortin, Glenn Hall, Tim Ecclestone, Ron Schock, Fred Hucul, Gordon Kannegiesser, and Larry Keenan. Try again later. "He made a proposal, but he's a little more anxious than I am," Poile said. Oh, absolutely, 100 percent, without a doubt, Karri said. Cardinals latest, deflating loss compounds concerns, Man shot, killed near Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis, What was Andrew Knizner thinking? Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. In 263 NHL games from 1967-76, including 127 with the Blues from 1967 to 1972, Billy Plager had four goals, 38 points . Your Scrapbook is currently empty. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. As the group giggled, Sgt.Wetzel, who led the police escort, stood nearby pinching himself. They got to watch us, and I got to lift the Cup on the ice in Boston. Plager, who lost a three-year battle to cancer, had been designated an honorary captain of the Campbell Conference team, along with brother Bob. He survived the operation, but when a new and rapidly growing tumour was discovered later that year, he refused treatment because he was informed that extensive brain damage might occur. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. He was also welcomed by his parents, Gus and Edith Plager Carrying on Bobby's legacy are his daughter, Melissa Plager Briggs, son, Bobby, Jr., and son-in-law David Briggs. ). In a playing career that spanned 10 seasons, Barclay played 614 games with the Blues from their inaugural season in 1967 until 1977. Id say, Hey, your boys really need it tonight. Plager said winning the Cup has been very enjoyable for those who were involved with the original Blues. (Photo courtesy of St. Louis Blues / blues.nhl.com) Billy Plager, one of three Plager. You have permission to edit this article. "So really, that's what I wanted, and that's what I got. In 1984, it was announced that Barclay had an inoperable brain tumor and just six months to live. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. All rights reserved. Everyone who pulled up began hugging siblings, cousins and grandkids while they waited. Bobby spent his entire run with the St. Louis Blues alongside his brother Barclay Plager. He was also . Sign up for the 5 On Your Side Sports Plus newsletter. Picard was a defenseman for six seasons for the Blues before being let go in the 1972-73 season and finishing his career with Atlanta. The time would also pass without a Stanley Cup, and despite being a member of the three Blues teams to play in the Cup final, including the last one in 1970, the family would never get a chance to celebrate one. It just goes to show what they did back then and what they still mean to the city.. "I want the best place for our young players' development but we also must look at things from a financial standpoint. Do you have a blog? 8 during a night in his honor against the New York Islanders. Or write about sports? Plager wore No. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Dnipro News. In the postseason, they took turns visiting his gravesite, leaving Lets Go Blues signs and rally towels on his headstone. Buy his book. by This account has been disabled. Bobby has been here since day one, so hes been a fixture this whole time, Kevin said. Barclay Plager had 44 goals over his career. But its still incredible that to this day, people hear the Plager name and say Are you related? Then Allen was embarrassed again, because he lost the thread of his speech and, since he was not wearing his glasses, could not read it, either . His reputation was established while still in juniors, when he had a notable fight with his own brother Bob, who was playing for the rival Guelph Royals. He played all 614 games of his NHL career for the Blues. (FullRecord), Relatives: BrothersBillPlager, BobPlager. Moments before, Billy had caught Ray Cullen of the Vancouver Canucks skating with his head down just inside the St. Louis blue line and, like a good Plager, had upended Cullen . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. In his one full season as Blues' coach, 1979, however, the Blues had their worst season in franchise history, and he was relieved of duties the following season. You look around, you see the smiles, how everybody is taking this all in. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. It's just been great. He gave our star players room to be star players. Its usually a six-pack or 12-pack. He was 46 years old and was an assistant coach with the Blues at the time of his death. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2023. There were a few tears, for sure.. As the final seconds ticked off the clock in the Blues 4-1 victory, Helens thoughts were immediately with her late husband. Barclay Plager was then a Blues assistant coach. All Rights Reserved. Barclay and Bob were together on the Blues' defense for a total of 11 seasons. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Helen Plager, the widow of former Blues player and coach Barclay Plager, stood near the chapel of Bellerive Gardens Cemetery last Sunday and recalled what she whispered to her late husband during this years Stanley Cup playoffs. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. Professional Hockey Player. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Tweet from @lkorac10: Bob Plager said with his bad shoulder, he can't be lifting the Cup over his head. When you say that, right away you think of our team before: Barclay, Noel, Jimmy Roberts. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Barclay Plager I found on Findagrave.com. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. . Mr. Plager, who was with the New York Rangers briefly in the fall of 1967, played for St. Louis for 10 seasons and appeared in four All-Star Games. There have been hundreds of visits to Bellerive Gardens Cemetery over the years, but none like last week. An outfield in flux. Barclay became the Blues head coach in 1978, but resigned the following season because he said he wasnt getting the most out of the team. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. "For me, this is very special, but sitting here and looking at the kids and thinking, 'This is the toughest trophy to win.' As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. From left, Barclay Plager, Ernie Wakely, and Noel Picard all were members of Omaha's CHL championship team of 1963-64. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Rudderless ship of chaos: St. Louis judge advances Kim Gardner contempt case, Cardinals send prized prospect Jordan Walker to Class AAA in curious series of moves, What Oliver Marmols gamble in ninth vs. LA reveals about managing to spark Cardinals, How sending Jordan Walker to Class AAA is a bet clarity can correct muddled outfield: Cardinals Extra, Bud Light sales continue to plummet after transgender marketing controversy, The world watches (and makes donations) as St. Louis bald eagle raises eaglet from a rock, A closer on ice. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Picard, who did broadcasting work for the Blues after his retirement, had played one season for Montreal, getting in 16 games for a team that won the Stanley Cup in 1964-65. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. At least 6 people killed in crashes on I-55 south of Springfield, Illinois, Man dies after crashing into construction site in O'Fallon, St. Louis forecast: Gusty winds again Tuesday, Storm damages a 'labor of love' in Jefferson County, Blues take 3-0 victory over Winnipeg Jets, 32 years ago: Blues retire Bernie Federkos No. / St. Louis Blues. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Barclay Plager was 46 when he died Feb. 6, 1988, from a brain hemorrhage. More Plager Pages. (Scott Rovak / NHLI via Getty Images). However, the emotion proved too much and the Blues were beaten by Philadelphia, 4-2. It was great for me, but it was their day, too.. Resend Activation Email. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The day after the Blues won, they went to OB Clarks, he said. He entered the hospital late in January 1988, and died on February 6, 1988, of a brain hemorrhage.[2]. In 1981, Plager was named assistant coach of the Blues, and save for another stint as interim head coach in the 1983 season, served as such until his death from cancer in 1988. Verify and try again. (Top photo of Bobby Plager courtesy of the St. Louis Blues). Bob Plager is the only one of three still living; Barclay Plager died in 1988. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Debuting with his brother in 1967 and retiring a year before Bob in 1977, Barclay scored 44 career goals . They must have given them out at a game one night and he had a bunch of them., So Rachel went and put the Stanley Cup up there, said Karri Solimando, 43, Barclay and Helens other daughter. It's been great. . "Barc got a hold of me, gave me some tough love initially. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. In early 1987, Plager had an operation to remove a brain tumour with a heat treatment. Billy Plager, right wing.". In 1981, Plager was named assistant coach of the Blues, and save for another stint as interim head coach in the 1983 season, served as such until his death from cancer in 1988. There was an error deleting this problem. Learn more about merges. Billy Plager, brother of Bobby and Barclay Plager, played 127 games for the Blues in the early 1970s. I didnt expect that at all and I got the chills.. Barclay played 10 seasons with the Blues from 1967-77 and remained with the organization after his retirement as a player in various roles, including two stints as a head coach, until he passed. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. You look up and you know that theyre there and theyre watching, so you give them a little wink and a thumbs-up.. She sent out the emails to warn us, Save the date! Helen said. They didnt get to really enjoy their dad that much. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Robert Wetzel, a former Blues employee, drove ahead of a van carrying the Stanley Cup. Bill Armstrong, the team's Assistant General Manager and Director of Amateur Scouting, brought the Stanley Cup to Bob and helped him lift it above his head. One of the most important parts of the team in the early days was Noel Picard. It was super exciting because we were all together, Karri said. He had 12 goals and 46 assists in his seasons with the Blues and, more in keeping with his style, 540 penalty minutes. He has covered the team since the 2005-06 season, including a dozen years at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Make sure that the file is a photo. Enter Search Term. We finally did it! she said. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Barclay Plager last played in 1977. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/07/obituaries/barclay-plager-hockey-player-46.html. We did it! They were guests of Goalkeepers Inc., an organization formed to boost hockey in the area. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Billy was preceded in death by his brother Barclay Plager, who died in 1988 at age 46 of cancer. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code.