Kerry Clark (ice hockey)

Kerry Clark (born August 21, 1968) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player, notable as one of the most penalized players in minor league history.

For the New Zealand lawn bowls player, see Kerry Clark.
Kerry Clark
Born (1968-08-21) August 21, 1968
Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Right
Played for Springfield Indians
Phoenix Roadrunners
Salt Lake Golden Eagles
Portland Pirates
Orlando Solar Bears
Milwaukee Admirals
NHL Draft 206th overall, 1986
New York Islanders
Playing career 1988–1998

History

Junior career

Clark began his major junior career in 1984 with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. Seeing minimal action his first two seasons, he was traded in the middle of the 85-86 season to the Saskatoon Blades, the team for which his older brother, future National Hockey League star Wendel Clark, had starred the previous two seasons. Joining a squad with a number of notably rough players - his teammates included Kelly Chase, Tony Twist and Kevin Kaminski - he skated a more regular shift and played credibly for the Blades for two and a half seasons.

Professional career

Drafted in the tenth round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders, Clark reported to their minor league affiliate, the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League, for the 1989 season. Playing for a team which won more fights than games, Clark's hardnosed style made him a fan favorite in Springfield.[1] Aside from his fighting prowess - - although he scored only seven goals that season, he became noted for performing the Michael Jackson "moonwalk" on the ice after scoring a goal, first seen in a training camp exhibition match against the New York Rangers,[2] a habit that throughout his career proved as unpopular with opposing players as it was popular with hometown fans.[3]

The following season, a more powerful Indians team that went on to win the 1990 Calder Cup championship had little room for Clark, and he finished the year with the Phoenix Roadrunners of the International Hockey League, amassing 262 penalty minutes in only 38 games. He remained in the IHL for the next three seasons, with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles. Clark played his best seasons in Utah, averaging 13 goals a year.

Clark returned to the AHL with the Portland Pirates, signing a minor league deal, in 1993, playing two seasons with that club before moving on to the Orlando Solar Bears of the IHL in 1995. Clark finished his career with the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL in 1998. Clark retired after a vicious hit left him with a broken neck that almost paralyzed him.

Clark retired as one of the most penalized players of all time; he is 15th in International Hockey League history in penalty minutes and remains in the top 60 in minor league history in penalty minutes with 2812.[4] He has spent time since as a hockey coach, being an assistant coach for the Prince George Cougars of the WHL in the mid-2000s.

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References
  1. "Indians Upset Nighthawks". Meriden Record-Journal. March 18, 1989.
  2. "Rangers Get Better Of a Split". Newsday. September 23, 1987.
  3. "Eagles Drop Wings For 2nd Straight Win". The Deseret News. October 31, 1991. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  4. Top 50 All-Time Minor League Penalty Minutes
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