Brian Spencer

Brian Roy "Spinner" Spencer (September 3, 1949 – June 3, 1988) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.[1]

For the American field hockey player, see Brian Spencer (field hockey).
Brian Spencer
Born (1949-09-03)September 3, 1949
Fort St. James, British Columbia, Canada
Died June 3, 1988(1988-06-03) (aged 38)
Riviera Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Islanders
Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft 55th overall, 1969
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1969–1980

Career

Brian Spencer was drafted in the fifth round, 55th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1969 NHL Entry Draft. On December 12, 1970, when Spencer was called up to play with the Leafs in what would be his first NHL game on television, he telephoned his father Roy in British Columbia to tell him to watch the game that night on Hockey Night in Canada. Spencer was to be interviewed between periods of the game. However, a game featuring the Vancouver Canucks versus the California Golden Seals was aired instead. Infuriated, Roy Spencer drove 135 kilometres (84 mi) to Prince George, where the closest TV station, CKPG-TV (then a CBC Television affiliate), is located. When he arrived, he ordered station staff, at gunpoint, to broadcast the Maple Leafs game instead. The station complied, but as Roy Spencer left the station, he was confronted by the RCMP. After a brief stand-off Roy Spencer was shot and killed.[2][3]

After several seasons with Toronto and the New York Islanders, Spencer was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres. Spencer had his best offensive production in a Sabres uniform when he scored 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 1974–75. Spencer played well in Buffalo and was extremely popular with the fans at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium. His hustle, aggressive play, and hitting ability were things the fans admired. Spencer developed into a solid two-way player. He would however be dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in September 1977.

His offensive production declined as he took on the role of a checking forward with the Penguins. Spencer's last NHL season came in 1978–79 when he played seven games for Pittsburgh. He then finished his playing career in the AHL (Binghamton, Springfield and Hershey) and retired after the 1979–80 season.

Death

After hockey, Spencer submerged himself in a life of alcohol and violence. In 1987, he was charged with kidnapping and murder and faced the death penalty.[4] Family and friends, including ex-teammates, gathered around him and tried to help. A former teammate from the Sabres, Rick Martin, tried to help by testifying as a character witness at his trial. The jury returned a not guilty verdict in March 1988 and Spencer vowed to change his life. Despite the acquittal and a move to Florida, Spencer's life continued to spiral out of control. Three months later, Spencer would die under similar circumstances to his father; he was fatally shot in a robbery following a crack cocaine purchase in Riviera Beach, Florida.

Spencer was survived by five children from two marriages, and his twin brother, Byron.

A book on Brian's life Gross Misconduct: The Life of Spinner Spencer, written by Martin O'Malley, was adapted in 1993 by Paul Gross and directed by Atom Egoyan into a made-for-television film in Canada, Gross Misconduct: The Life of Brian Spencer.

In 1999, Spencer's daughter and grandson were killed in a car accident in Oklahoma.

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1967–68 Calgary Centennials WCHL 3413102327 —————
1967–68 Regina Pats WCHL 2312312 —————
1968–69 Estevan Bruins WCHL 53192948120 431414
1968–69 Swift Current Broncos WCHL ————— —————
1969–70 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 900012 —————
1969–70 Tulsa Oilers CHL 66131932186 —————
1970–71 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 5091524115 601117
1970–71 Tulsa Oilers CHL 236814103 —————
1971–72 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 3615665 —————
1971–72 Tulsa Oilers CHL 207714115 —————
1972–73 New York Islanders NHL 7814243890 —————
1973–74 New York Islanders NHL 545162165 —————
1973–74 Buffalo Sabres NHL 133254 —————
1974–75 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7312294177 160448
1975–76 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7713263970 91014
1976–77 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7714152955 60000
1977–78 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 799112081 —————
1978–79 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 70000 —————
1978–79 Binghamton Dusters AHL 39591458 —————
1979–80 Springfield Indians AHL 91120 —————
1979–80 Hershey Bears AHL 3004423 —————
NHL totals 553 80 143 223 634 37 1 5 6 29

See also
  • List of unsolved murders

Notes
  1. "What really happened to Brian 'Spinner' Spencer?". The Buffalo News. July 2, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  2. Los Angeles Times: "Fabulous Forum: Sports Legend Revealed: A father of an NHL player held up a TV station to force them to show his son's game", June 1, 2010.
  3. Hockey's Tough Guys: Brian "Spinner" Spencer
  4. Sports Illustrated: "The Case Against Brian Spencer: One woman's testimony could mean a death sentence for a former hockey player accused of murder", May 11, 1987.

References
  • Players:The Ultimate A-Z Guide of Everyone Who Has Ever Played in the NHL by Andrew Podnieks, ISBN 0-385-25999-9
  • Penguin's Profiles: Pittsburgh's Boys of Winter. O'Brien, James P. 1994, Retrieved 17 Nov. 2006.
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