Everybody in this city had Noel Picard stories. NHL officials said today that status would not change. For the players and coaches in the all-star game, it's tough to be here now, especially those of us who played with him." Jeremy Rutherford is the lead Blues beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. My uncle Bob gave it to me years and years ago, Karen said. "So really, that's what I wanted, and that's what I got. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. We believed we could have won. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Barclay Plager was born on March 26, 1941. Well be talking about that forever.. She sent out the emails to warn us, Save the date! Helen said. 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. 1 for sure, Karen added. Catchers once in a lifetime lunge saves Cardinals, Four young people die in Old Monroe head-on crash, Governor threatens to keep Missouri lawmakers in session over transgender rules, Barat Academy in Chesterfield to close after years of financial troubles, Court records online include private information for thousands of Missouri residents, Why some St. Louis-area Roman Catholics are looking forward to parish reorganization. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. But its still incredible that to this day, people hear the Plager name and say Are you related? 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. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Please reset your password. Frequently Asked Questions about the NHL and Hockey, Subscribe to Stathead Hockey: Get your first month FREE. The crowd erupted as the replica was replaced by the real thing. He was 46. He reunited with his brothers Barclay and Billy in heaven on March 24, 2021 at age 78. Some of them could be a little crazy, but those were the true ones., Blues talk: The fans remember "One tough cookie". ROBERT (BOBBY) PLAGER OBITUARY. Bobby then gathered everyone around for a toast, which the Blues captured in the tweet below. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Plager wore No. Billy was preceded in death by his brother Barclay Plager, who died in 1988 at age 46 of cancer. The laughter aside, the Plagers truly felt that Barclay was soaking it up. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. It ended up to be an awesome celebration for all of us. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. But after we came out of the first period with the two-goal lead, it was pretty solid. In 1933, Dnipropetrovsk State University was . NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Want more local sports delivered straight to your inbox? In 263 NHL games from 1967-76, including 127 with the Blues from 1967 to 1972, Billy Plager had four goals, 38 points . NHL President John Ziegler said the NHL spent almost $2 million in legal fees to keep Ralston Purina from moving the Blues to Saskatoon in 1983 . Complete record of every goal scored or assisted by the player. In addition, he is the Blues Insider for 101 ESPN in St. Louis. Bob Plager was supposed to be the muscle for the Rangers, but for whatever reason, that plan fell short - though he did fill the role of wise-cracking bruiser quite well. 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 . Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 4:58AM. Barclay Plager, a former National Hockey League defenseman for the St. Louis Blues who later coached the team, died of brain cancer today. 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. Transaction information may be incomplete. See the article in its original context from. Billy Plager, the youngest of the Plager brothers, played parts of four seasons with the Blues - more than any other team in his NHL career - and passed away more recently in 2016. (AP Photo/Boston Herald American, Ray Lussier). Plager became a leader for the team and was named the second captain in team history in 1970. He passed away in 1988 from an inoperable brain tumor. 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 away in 1988 from a cancerous brain tumor. 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. "We need to talk about where the International League is going. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? ST. LOUIS - At Bellerive Gardens Cemetery, a blue and gold flag bearing the St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup Champions logo flaps gently in the wind and marks the spot where Barclay Plager is buried. "Barc and Jimmy Roberts and Al Arbour, the Solomons, there are so many Blues up there enjoying this. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. ). This year, it was payback, and it was great. Hes flying high up there right now, Helen chimed in. [1] He played the majority of the next three seasons with the Springfield Indians of the AHL. The players erupted into arguably one of the loudest cheers of the night at ice level - and that's saying something considering the elation they had shown immediately after the clock ran out on Game 7. The day after the Blues won, they went to OB Clarks, he said. Try again later. Plager's day with the Cup included visits to daughter Melissa . Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Hockey-Reference utilizes Official NHL data for current NHL seasons. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/07/obituaries/barclay-plager-hockey-player-46.html. Then, 42 years after Barclay played his last game as a Blue, Bobby, accompanied by Blues general manager Doug Armstrong, carried the Cup to where the miniature version had sat just three months earlier. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Try again later. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Barclay Plager was then a Blues assistant coach. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Try again later. 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. Originally his rights were held by the New York Ranges, but were acquired with future star Red Berenson by the newly enfranchised Blues in 1967. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21142/barclay-plager. Billy Plager, brother of Bobby and Barclay Plager, played 127 games for the Blues in the early 1970s. Barclay Plager has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. "It was Barclay, Noel, Jimmy Roberts, Dan Kelly, who announced our games, the Solomons owned us. by Enter Search Term. That was the best hour and a half that weve ever had up there for my family, for my mom, for our Uncle Bob. Its super cool, Kevin said. Debuting with his brother in 1967 and retiring a year before Bob in 1977, Barclay scored 44 career goals . Here's what comes next. Maybe theyre trying to tell us something from up above, Bobby said. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? The years and the decades would go by and the Plager kids and grandkids would hear the courageous stories about their father. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Additional Pages for this Player. 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. 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. Kirkland Lake, Timiskaming District, Ontario, Canada, Creve Coeur, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Hockeydb.com - Hockey Statistics and History for the NHL and more! Sign up for the 5 On Your Side Sports Plus newsletter. Here was a guy who was a respected NHL player that gave up his NHL playing days to go down and actually play in the minors and coach at the same time. The playoffs were a blur.. The gravesite of Barclay Plager was decorated with Blues signs and pictures when the family visited with the Stanley Cup. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. You look around, you see the smiles, how everybody is taking this all in. There was no words to even describe that, Karri said. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Barclay Plager had 44 goals over his career. Barclay Plager was born in KirklandLake, Canada. There have been hundreds of visits to Bellerive Gardens Cemetery over the years, but none like last week. Try again. Last chance! / NHL.com Independent Correspondent. If things don't work out, though, we have an option to stay in Binghamton for two more years.". I love you guys.". but oh my gosh, there were tears of happiness the whole time. Barclay Plager last played in 1977. "I remember Scotty saying the lineup in the dressing room," Bobby Plager once told the Post-Dispatch. Learn more about managing a memorial . You talk to some of the players and tell them to enjoy it now because you never know when this will happen again.". In the postseason, they took turns visiting his gravesite, leaving "Let . 8 sweater was retired in 1981, after which he returned to the bench as an assistant coach and even filled in as the interim head coach. At his age (37), being a player-coach, that was not done a lot, Blues Hall of Famer Bernie Federko, who played for Barclay in Kansas City, once said. Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, he played as Defenseman in the National Hockey League for ten seasons (1967 to 1977) with the St. Louis Blues. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Thanks for your help! The fans recall one of the great characters in Blues history. Id say, Hey, your boys really need it tonight. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He was survived by both of his brothers. At the All-Star Game February 9, 1988, a moment of silence was held at the St. Louis Arena in his memory. 8 during nine seasons as a player with St. Louis and Saturday night, after news of his death, the Blues tried to extend their winning streak to eight games in his honor. He retired with 231 points (44 goals and 187 assists) in 614 games, all with the Blues. Theres a connection, he said. Yeah, but Im pretty sure Im 30 years older than you, dude. Photo by Steve Perille, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Steve Perille Many of the. It is . Leave your condolences and send flowers to the family to show you care. An outfield in flux. Not long after the last player took a lap with the trophy hoisted high above his head at TD Garden, the team gathered at center ice to witness a moment 52 years in the making. He was also . Barclay Plager weighed 175 lbs (79 kg) when playing. On Sunday, Bob was accompanied to the cemetery by his daughter, his grandchildren, Barclay's wife, Helen, and their children and grandchildren. He gave our star players room to be star players. 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. We were an expansion team. Year should not be greater than current year. 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. Bud Light, the Gloria beer, came out in an eight-pack. Billy Plager was claimed by Atlanta and later had a second stint with Minnesota before wrapping up his career following the 1975-76 season. It's been great. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? stlouisblues.com is the official Web site of the St Louis Blues. He is the author of "Bernie Federko: My Blues Note" and "100 Things Blues Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die." And then just became a. Photo by Steve Perille, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Many of the Blues, who call The Arena home, get their first look at the plush Arena Club in 1967, the team's inaugural season in the NHL. Were just very lucky to be there.. Player Overview & Base Stats; Game Finder; Streak Finder; Span Finder; News; Career Splits. cemeteries found in Creve Coeur, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Search above to list available cemeteries. Dan O'Neill picks the top 10 enforcers who have worn the Bluenote. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. It just goes to show what they did back then and what they still mean to the city.. Sorry! Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. He reunited with his brothers Barclay and Billy in heaven on March 24, 2021 at age 78. As the final seconds ticked off the clock in the Blues 4-1 victory, Helens thoughts were immediately with her late husband. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Bob Plager's day with the Cup included a visit to his brother Barclay's grave and a house party with families of former Blues who have passed. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Plager played 645 games in 11 seasons for the Blues from 1967-78. A blur! said Helen, who delayed her summer trip to a cottage just outside of Toronto, where she spends every June. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. However, the emotion proved too much and the Blues were beaten by Philadelphia, 4-2. "We go up there and start pushing and shoving. Death The family attended several postseason games, and after the Blues 5-1 loss in Game 6, the clan gathered at Kevins house to watch Game 7. (FullRecord), Relatives: BrothersBillPlager, BobPlager. Noel was such a big, happy-go-lucky guy and enjoyed life. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Copyright 1999-2020 St. Louis Blues Hockey Club and the National Hockey League. Bobby mentioned the name of seven former Blues, including his brother, during the tribute. Plager, the youngest brother of Barclay and Bobby Plager, was involved in two memorable moments in Blues' history. On March 24, 1981, prior to a game with the New York Islanders, Barclay Plager Night was held and his No. It feels special.. Along with his brothers Barclay and Bobby, Billy was a part of the beloved Plager brothers trio that played together with the Blues from 1968 to 1972. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? There are no volunteers for this cemetery. An eight-pack of beer! by As somebody that is so accomplished with the organization, he just always treated me way better than I deserved.. Capitals Search for Farm. Robert Wetzel, a former Blues employee, drove ahead of a van carrying the Stanley Cup. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. It was super exciting because we were all together, Karri said. Or write about sports? To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Those are the people that got the chance like me but didn't win it. They're talking about putting franchises in Phoenix and Sacramento and Erie {Pa.} and that could affect everybody's costs.". Video: Plager mic'd up as Blues win Stanley Cup. Barclay Plager had 231 points over his career. You look up and you know that theyre there and theyre watching, so you give them a little wink and a thumbs-up.. And what Bobby still means to Barclays family. 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. CHESTERFIELD, Mo. . For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2023. It's tough to hear. But like the rest of the city, the family was swept up by the second-half turnaround. All rights reserved. Originally his rights were held by the New York Ranges, but were acquired with future star Red Berenson by the newly enfranchised Blues in 1967. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. (Scott Rovak / NHLI via Getty Images). They were guests of Goalkeepers Inc., an organization formed to boost hockey in the area. Plager died on Feb. 6, 1988. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 5 for Bobby, the numbers they wore with the Blues and are now retired. All Rights Reserved. This is a carousel with slides. 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. #stlblues #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/9NfgNVHfDv, St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 2, 2019. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? It was a dream season, said Kevin Plager, 48, one of Barclay and Helens two sons. People send me cards and pictures in Montreal and I sign them all the time., Noel Picard looks on as Bobby Orr goes airborne after scoring the goal that won the Stanley Cup for the Boston Bruins on May 10, 1970, against the St. Louis Blues at Boston Garden. I didnt expect that at all and I got the chills.. Noel Picard, an original Blue who played a supporting role in one of the most famous moments in NHL history, died on Wednesday. "My career was kind of at a standstill," Ramage said. (Jeremy Rutherford / For The Athletic). Try again later. He played in 127 regular-season games and 19 playoff games with the team before being claimed by Atlanta in the 1972 expansion draft. The Plagers werent getting their hopes up last season, with the Blues sitting in last place in the NHL standings in January. Told about the impression hes left on his brothers family, Bobby briefly got choked up. Barclay Plager Overview. The oldest of three hockey playing brothers (with Bill and Bob), Plager played junior league hockey with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey Association before spending six seasons in the minor leagues, cementing a reputation as a hard-nosed defensive defenceman. Professional Hockey Player. If you think we're going to party down here, they're partying up there, too.". Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. It was great for me, but it was their day, too.. On March 24, 1981, prior to a game with the New York Islanders, Barclay Plager Night was held and his No. Plager was a member of the inaugural Blues team on Day 1 in 1967, finished his playing career with the Blues in 1977-78 and then hung on in a variety of roles, including a brief stint as head.