Gord Lane

Gordon Thomas Lawrence Lane (born March 31, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders from 1975 to 1986. With the Islanders Lane won the Stanley Cup four times, from 1980 to 1983.

Gord Lane
Born	(1953-03-31) March 31, 1953 Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Washington Capitals New York Islanders
NHL draft	134th overall, 1973 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	1973–1987

Playing career

Lane played junior in the WCHL, first with the Brandon Wheat Kings and, after a trade, with the New Westminster Bruins.

Originally selected in the 1973 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Lane was signed to a minor league contract with the Fort Wayne Komets. He was subsequently traded to the Dayton Gems, farm team to the Washington Capitals. After winning the Turner Cup with the Dayton Gems, coach Tom McVie and several Gems players were promoted to the Washington Capitals. Signed by the Capitals in 1976, Lane played parts of five seasons, leading the team in penalties in three of those seasons. Unhappy about his playing time with the Caps, he threatened retirement during the 1979–80 season. He was eventually traded to the New York Islanders for forward Mike Kaszycki on December 7, 1979, remaining with that club for the rest of his NHL career.

Lane's first game for the Isles was against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, a 5–4 loss. Lane immediately made his presence known during the game, throwing several hits while also getting involved in several scrums. Lane's tough, defensive abilities did not go unappreciated by Islanders head coach Al Arbour, who, like Lane, was a stay-at-home defenceman during his own playing career. Lane helped guide the Islanders steady defence during their four straight Stanley Cup championships (1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983).

Early in the 1984 playoffs, Lane was injured and missed most of the Islanders' playoff run, and the Islanders lost in the Finals to the Edmonton Oilers.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970–71	Brandon Wheat Kings	WCHL		20	0	4	4	53		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Brandon Wheat Kings	WCHL		63	7	16	23	106		11	1	2	3	19
1972–73	New Westminster Bruins	WCHL		36	2	13	15	115		5	0	0	0	29
1973–74	Fort Wayne Komets	IHL		67	1	14	15	214		4	0	1	1	27
1974–75	Dayton Gems	IHL		50	6	10	16	225		14	1	3	4	31
1975–76	Washington Capitals	NHL		3	1	0	1	12		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Hampton Gulls	SHL		12	1	7	8	58		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Dayton Gems	IHL		55	12	22	34	227		15	0	11	11	85
1976–77	Washington Capitals	NHL		80	2	15	17	207		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Washington Capitals	NHL		69	2	9	11	195		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Hershey Bears	AHL		4	0	1	1	8		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Washington Capitals	NHL		64	3	15	14	147		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Hershey Bears	AHL		5	0	1	1	48		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Washington Capitals	NHL		19	2	4	6	53		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	New York Islanders	NHL		55	2	14	16	152		21	1	3	4	85
1980–81	New York Islanders	NHL		60	3	9	12	124		12	1	5	6	32
1981–82	New York Islanders	NHL		51	0	13	13	98		19	0	4	4	61
1982–83	New York Islanders	NHL		44	3	4	7	87		18	1	2	3	32
1983–84	New York Islanders	NHL		37	0	3	3	70		4	0	0	0	2
1984–85	New York Islanders	NHL		57	1	8	9	83		1	0	0	0	2
1986–87	Springfield Indians	AHL		62	2	6	8	117		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				539	19	94	113	1228		75	3	14	17	214

Awards and achievements

• Turner Cup (IHL) championship (1976)
• Stanley Cup championships (1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983)
• Honoured member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com
• Gord Lane's biography Archived 2012-02-26 at the Wayback Machine at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame