Blazers Memorial Cup anniversary – Doug Bodger was a key early building block that led to Blazers dynasty

After one losing season the seed began to sprout in the 1982-83 season —– and by the following year was in full bloom. ‘

A 16-year old defenseman from Chemainus, B.C. was a key player in the turnaround from worst in the league to league champions two years later.

Doug Bodger played two seasons with the Kamloops Junior Oilers.

From his first game in the fall of 1982 it was obvious he was going to be something special — and not long after his first season, that the team around him was on the path to something special.

“It was our balance of players.” says Bodger, who is now an assistant coach with the Victoria Royals. “We had some great top line forwards, we had some grit, we had toughness, we had goaltending, we had everything. It was a complete team effort.”

The Junior Oilers also had Bill LaForge —– a no nonsense, tough as nails, old time coach in a different era.

“Well, he liked me.” says Bodger. “That was good (chuckle) because he did’nt like a lot of guys — but he liked me, he played me a lot, he had confidence in me, he pushed my buttons —- sometimes the wrong way and sometimes the right way. But he always backed me —- every scout that came in, he always built me up.”

In his second season, as a 17-year old, Bodger was high on every NHL teams draft charts.

The Detroit Red Wings, with the 7th overall pick, are said to have told Bodger that they were 90% sure they were going to take him with that pick, and ask him to wear a red tie to the draft to match the Red Wings colours.

But on the draft floor that other 10% kicked in.

The Red Wings took Shawn Burr with their 7th pick.

Two picks later at number nine, Bodger was drafted by Pittsburgh.

It was the Penguins second pick in round one.

With the first, and first overall in the draft, Pittsburgh took some guy named….Mario.

“At training came it was all Mario. It wasn’t really much about me.” says Bodger. I was just left to play my game and the coach called me in and said ‘we’re going to go with our young guys.’ I did’nt expect to stay, I thought I’d be back here.” (in Kamloops)

October 11, 1984 19 year old Mario Lemieux and 18 year old Doug Bodger, on the ice together, on the first shift for both players in the NHL.

Lemieux took a pass, walked around Ray Bourque, and scored on Pete Peeters.

Did you get an assist on that? “I got a plus.” laughs Bodger. “But I got the puck for him I think.”

Thirty six years later and looking back, Bodger says it was the two years here (in Kamloops) that were the springboard to a 16 season NHL career — and he’s proud to have been a part of something that was the start of one of the most storied franchises in junior hockey history.

“Give credit to the scouts and the GM’s in place at the time.” says Bodger. “We got some top end players out of Alberta and B.C. — you look at the Niedermeyers, the Doans, the Iginla’s —- there were some pretty good players that were selected here. You don’t find those guys very often.”

by Earl Seitz

Blazers Memorial Cup anniversary – Doug Bodger was a key early building block that led to Blazers dynasty

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