Bobby Orr

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CanadaCanada  Bobby Orr Ice hockey player
Hockey Hall of Fame , 1979
Bobby Orr
Date of birth March 20, 1948
place of birth Parry Sound , Ontario , Canada
size 183 cm
Weight 90 kg
position defender
number # 4
Shot hand Left
Career stations
1962-1966 Oshawa Generals
1966-1976 Boston Bruins
1976-1988 Chicago Black Hawks

Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr , OC , (born March 20, 1948 in Parry Sound , Ontario ) is a retired Canadian ice hockey player . From 1966 to 1978 he played for the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Black Hawks in the National Hockey League (NHL) on the position of defender . Orr revolutionized the position of the defender through his strong offensive play and is widely considered to be one of the best players of all time. In his twelve seasons NHL career, he won the Stanley Cup twice with the Bruins . In the seasonsIn 1969/70 and 1974/75 he was awarded the Art Ross Trophy for the most points scored - he is still the only defender to win this award. In addition, he was honored three times in a row as Most Valuable Player of the NHL from 1970 to 1972 and named best defender in the league for eight seasons from 1968 to 1975.

At the international level, Orr won the Canada Cup in 1976 with the Canadian national team . Due to numerous injuries, especially to his left knee, Bobby Orr had to end his playing career in November 1978. The Hockey Hall of Fame then waived the usual minimum waiting period of three years and accepted him on September 12, 1979. The Boston Bruins honored Bobby Orr with the fact that his shirt number 4 has not been awarded since 1979.

Although Orr was the highest-paid player in the National Hockey League at the beginning of his career, a tax advisor revealed to him after his career that he was nearly bankrupt due to the criminal machinations of his longtime agent Alan Eagleson . After several lawsuits, he was given back part of his outstanding salary and Eagleson was sentenced to prison. Orr has been a player agent since 1996; In 2002 he founded The Orr Hockey Group . In addition, he has been a regular game trainer of a junior team as part of the CHL Top Prospects since 1996 .

Career

Early years (1948-1966)

Origin and first steps

Bobby Orr has Irish ancestry, his grandfather Robert Orr emigrated with his family to Canada at the beginning of the 20th century . His father Doug Orr was a good ice hockey player, he received a contract offer from the US ice hockey team Atlantic City Seagulls from the Eastern Hockey League in 1942 , but decided to join the Canadian Navy to serve his country in World War II .

On March 20, 1948, Bobby Orr was born in the small town of Parry Sound in the Canadian province of Ontario as the third of five children. At the age of four, his father gave him his first pair of ice skates , and a year later he took part in his first ice hockey tournament. As an adolescent, Bobby Orr first played as a striker . As an eleven year old Orr was coached by Wilfred "Bucko" McDonald , who had been active as a defender in the National Hockey League in the 1930s and 1940s . He discovered an extraordinary talent in Orr and motivated him - against the will of his father, who would have preferred to see his son continue to attack - to switch to defense, taught him the basics of defensive play and recommended that he should also use his offensive skills to use.

At a junior tournament in March 1960 in Gananoque , Ontario, NHL scouts first became aware of Orr. Subsequently, the Boston Bruins in particular wooed the young player. Wren Blair , a Bruins player agent, paid regular visits to the Orr family, and the Bruins tried to win his favor by donating funds to the local junior team. Although numerous other NHL clubs had tried to get him, the 14-year-old Bobby Orr finally signed on September 3, 1962 an amateur contract worth 2800 US dollars with the Boston Bruins.

Oshawa Generals

In 1962, Bobby Orr made his Metro Junior A League debut for the Oshawa Generals , the Boston Bruins' newly formed junior farm team . The 14-year-old had to prove himself against opponents who were up to six years older. In his first year he was nominated for the All-Star-Game . After the season, the Metro Junior A League broke up due to financial problems. The Oshawa Generals and the Toronto Marlboros were then accepted into the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). At the beginning of the season, Bobby Orr moved from his hometown of Parry Sound to Oshawa to live with a host family. The first season in the OHA was extremely successful for him. With 29 goals in the regular season, he set a new record for defenders. In the following seasons, his point yield increased, and he was nominated for the All-Star Team in each of his three years in the OHA .

His most successful season as a junior was the fourth and final season in 1965/66. He improved his own record with 38 goals, a total of 94 points scorer in 47 games. The Oshawa Generals finished the regular season in fourth place. In the following play-offs they defeated the St. Catharines Black Hawks , the Montréal Junior Canadiens and the Kitchener Rangers and finally won the J. Ross Robertson Cup . After further victories against the North Bay Trappers and the Shawinigan Bruins , the Generals earned the participation in the Memorial Cup .

In the game against Shawinigan, however, Orr injured his groin, which made participation in the final questionable. The Memorial Cup final was promoted by the Oshawa Generals as the last chance to see Bobby Orr play as a junior, with the team fearing for their star player to play. However, Bobby Orr and his parents insisted on participating in the final. The Boston Bruins, on the other hand, required the generals to refrain from using Orr in order to avoid a more serious injury. With this directive, the Bruins risked that Bobby Orr might never appear for the Bruins as he had not yet signed a professional contract. The final game against the Edmonton Oil Kings was lost. Oshawa's coach Bep Guidolin used Bobby Orr in this game and was subsequently fired.

Orr's shirt number 2 has not been awarded by the Oshawa Generals since his move to the National Hockey League and was officially banned from the club on November 27, 2008.

Alan Eagleson

After Doug Orr ran up to Wren Blair in 1964 asking for a higher salary for his son, he met Toronto attorney Alan Eagleson at a junior softball tournament in Parry Sound and asked him for help. Eagleson promised him that he would represent his interests free of charge until Bobby Orr's 18th birthday. Bobby Orr and Alan Eagleson built a close relationship during this time and discussed all future plans without Bobby's father Doug Orr being involved. In a 1990 interview, Bobby Orr later admitted that Eagleson was always in full control of his affairs and that he trusted him like a brother.

In 1966, Bobby Orr had reached the required age to play in the NHL. Eagleson wanted to negotiate the highest possible amount in the upcoming contract talks with the Boston Bruins. After long negotiations with the general manager of the Bruins, Hap Emms , Orr signed a two-year contract for 50,000 US dollars and received a signature bonus of 25,000 US dollars. This was the most expensive contract that a new professional in the NHL had ever signed, at the same time Orr was the highest-paid player in the entire league.

Eagleson later became a board member of the newly formed National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and managed all financial affairs of Orr and other clients. He did not shy away from criminal acts and diverted, among other things, the salaries of his players as well as funds from the NHLPA into his own pocket. In 1998 he was sentenced to prison for these and other offenses.

Boston Bruins (1966-1976)

The first years in the NHL

Bobby Orr's skates from the 1969/70 season .

Bobby Orr made his debut in the National Hockey League in the 1966–67 season . He was given the shirt number 27 by the Boston Bruins at the training camp before the start of the season , but switched to number 4 before the start of the season after he had rejected the shirt number 5, which was previously worn by Boston star Dit Clapper . The Bruins were initially not convinced to let Orr play as a defender, after which he was used as the center in the pre-season games. In the NHL, however, he played again on his trained position. Bobby Orr played his first NHL game on October 19, 1966 against the Detroit Red Wings , while he scored an assist. Three days later he scored his first goal in a game against the Montréal Canadiens in the Boston Garden with a slap shot , which was celebrated by the Boston audience with a standing ovation .

On December 4, 1966, Bobby Orr injured himself for the first time on his left knee after a body check along the gang of Marcel Pronovost of the Toronto Maple Leafs and had to pause the following nine games. The Boston Bruins finished the 1966/67 NHL season in last place, but the attendance increased sharply compared to the previous season. Orr finished his rookie season with 13 goals and 28 assists in 61 games, setting a new record for rookie defenders in the league. Following this season, Bobby Orr was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy for his achievements , which is given annually to the best new professionals in the NHL. In addition, Orr was nominated for the NHL All-Star Team . The James Norris Memorial Trophy for best defender in the league went to New York's Harry Howell this year , with Bobby Orr receiving the second-most votes in the election. Howell said at the awards ceremony that he was happy to win the trophy as it will belong to Bobby Orr for years to come.

During the 1967/68 NHL season , Orr suffered a broken collarbone and an ankle joint in December 1967 . After returning to the team in January 1968, he first took part in the NHL All-Star Game . After the pain in his left knee became too great, he had his left knee operated for the first time in February, during which a ligament was repaired and cartilage tissue was removed. He returned to the team during the current season, but had an operation again after the season due to osteochondrosis .

Due to his injuries, the defender only played 46 games in his second season. In addition to Orr, the new signings Phil Esposito , Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield , as well as rookie Derek Sanderson played a large part in Boston's first participation in the play-offs in nine years. The Boston Bruins were eliminated in the first play-off round against the Montréal Canadiens. Although Bobby Orr had to miss a large part of the preliminary round, he won his first of eight consecutive James Norris Memorial Trophies for the best defensive player in the NHL this season .

In the following season , Orr did without the usual pre-season to spare his knee. On December 14, 1968 he scored his first hat trick in a game against the Chicago Black Hawks , in the same game he contributed two assists. Orr played 67 games in the regular season, scoring 21 goals and a total of 64 points, setting new scoring records for defenders in both categories. In the first round of the play-offs in 1969, the Bruins faced the Toronto Maple Leafs with defender Pat Quinn , with whom Orr had been involved in fights during a preliminary round match. After Quinn performed an illegal elbow check against Orr's head, Orr initially remained unconscious on the ice and was taken to the locker room, where he was recovering from a traumatic brain injury . The Bruins won this game 10-0 and ultimately defeated the Maple Leafs in four games. In the next play-off round, Boston met the Montréal Canadiens, against which the team lost in six games.

Stanley Cup successes

Orr Trip.jpg
Bobby Orr scored the winning goal in 1970 while Noël Picard's bat caught in his left foot ...
Bobby Orr Statue.jpg
... causing Orr to fall. A larger than life statue of this goal celebration was unveiled in front of the TD Garden in Boston in 2010 .

In the 1969/70 season Orr was able to almost double his points yield from the previous season, his 120 points were only six fewer than the then NHL record of center forward and teammate Phil Esposito, who had scored 126 points in the previous season. It was the first time in NHL history that a defender scored more than 100 points in one season. To date, apart from Orr, only Paul Coffey , Denis Potvin , Al MacInnis and Brian Leetch have made it . Bobby Orr finished the season as the most successful scorer and was awarded the Art Ross Trophy , which is awarded annually to the best points collector in the preliminary round. To date, Orr is the only defender in National Hockey League history to top the league in these statistics. He repeated this success in 1975 . In addition to the renewed award as best defender, Orr was honored for the first time with the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player of the regular season.

In the first round of the play-offs in 1970, the Boston Bruins defeated the New York Rangers in the best-of-seven series with 4-2 games, the next round the Bruins won against Chicago 4-0. In the Stanley Cup finals, the championship finals, Boston was in the lead with 3-0 games against the St. Louis Blues . In the fourth game in the Boston Garden it was a 3: 3 draw at the end of regular time. In the extra time played in sudden death mode , Bobby Orr scored the decisive goal, which is still considered one of the most famous goals in the history of the NHL. After a one-two with teammate Derek Sanderson, Orr stood free in front of opposing goalkeeper Glenn Hall and shot the puck past Hall into the net. He was dropped by St. Louis' defense attorney Noël Picard when his bat caught Orr's left foot. The photo of the 'flying' Bobby Orr, who stretched his arms up in celebration of the goal, is considered the most famous in the history of the National Hockey League. On May 10, 2010 , a larger than life statue of this moment was unveiled in front of what is now the Bruins' venue, the TD Garden . For the Boston Bruins it was the first championship since 1941 and the fourth overall. Orr was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after the season , which is given annually to the most valuable player in the play-offs.

The Boston Bruins set numerous offensive records in the following season and Bobby Orr also achieved some records that are still valid today. His 102 assists in 78 games and 139 points have not been surpassed by any other defender to date and the 26th most points ever scored by any player during the regular season. The plus / minus value of the defender of +124 has also been unmatched since then. The Bruins went as the overall first in the play-offs, but there they were eliminated in the first round against the Montréal Canadiens. Orr's expiring contract was extended for five years in August 1971 and paid $ 200,000 per year. Orr was the first player in NHL history to be awarded a million dollar contract.

At the end of the regular season of the 1971/72 NHL season , the Bruins were again in first place and Bobby Orr scored more than 100 points for the third time in a row in a season. In the play-offs, Boston played in the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who they defeated 4-1 after five games. In the championship semifinals, the Bruins met the St. Louis Blues, which they defeated without defeat. In the Stanley Cup final, the team met the New York Rangers. The Bruins won the series with 4-2 victories, Orr scored the decisive goal in the sixth and final game. With 24 points in 15 matches, the defender was the most successful scorer in the play-offs together with his teammate Phil Esposito . Following the season, Bobby Orr was again awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, making him the first player to win the trophy twice. To date, the defender is the only player to have succeeded alongside Bernie Parent , Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux . Only goalkeeper Patrick Roy won the trophy a third time. During the season, Orr realized that his left knee was getting worse and worse and that he would not be able to play for many more years.

Last years in Boston

There was a big upheaval for the Bruins in the 1972/73 season . Before the start of the season, the head coach Harry Sinden was appointed general manager, his successor was Tom Johnson . The players Gerry Cheevers , Derek Sanderson and John McKenzie left the club to play in the newly formed World Hockey Association . The new coach Tom Johnson was sacked after 59 games and replaced by Bep Guidolin , who had already coached Bobby Orr in Oshawa. In addition, the owner of the Bruins also changed. The season-off overtook the defending champions in the first round of the play-offs when the Bruins lost the best-of-seven series against the New York Rangers 4-1.

In the 1973/74 season, the Bruins again qualified first for the play-offs. Bobby Orr scored three goals and four assists in a game against New York on November 15, 1973 , setting a new record for defenders in a single game. In the 1974 play-offs, after winning over Toronto and Chicago, the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup final for the third time in five years, in which they met the Philadelphia Flyers . The Flyers defeated Boston 4-2 after six games and secured their first Stanley Cup. In the following season Orr scored 46 goals and a total of 135 points, for which he was awarded his second Art Ross Trophy for the most successful scorer. Boston reached the play-offs, but the team was eliminated in the first round against the Chicago Black Hawks.

Moved to Chicago (1976–1978)

The 1975/76 NHL season would be Bobby Orr's last as a player for the Boston Bruins . The defender's contract expired at the end of the season and contract negotiations between the Bruins, Orr and his agent Alan Eagleson turned out to be difficult as the Bruins insurer refused to insure Orr because of his knee problems. In addition, according to the doctors, Orr would probably not be able to play much longer after another operation in September 1975. Orr returned to the team on November 8, 1975 and completed ten more games for Boston before he had to undergo another operation on his left knee after persistent complaints. He then returned to his homeland Parry Sound , the 1975/76 season was over for Orr after just ten games. Since the defender would become a player without a contract, a so-called free agent , at the end of the season , speculation about a change arose. The Bruins wanted to keep Orr until the end of his career despite his injuries.

The franchise made Orr several offers via Alan Eagleson, which in addition to the salary also provided for the acquisition of an 18.5% stake in the Bruins after his retirement. However, Bobby Orr never saw these offers because Eagleson did not discuss them with him. He therefore had the impression that the club did not want to keep him. Orr and Eagleson agreed on the Chicago Black Hawks or the St. Louis Blues as potential new clubs. The five-year contract offered by the Black Hawks with a guaranteed fee of 3 million US dollars was signed by Bobby Orr on June 8, 1976. The then head coach of the Bruins, Don Cherry , later summed up that the main reason for the change was Orrs Eagleson's blind trust has been. Orr has strictly refused to speak to the President of the Bruins, fearing that he could drive a wedge between him and Eagleson. This gave Eagleson enough leeway to misrepresent or hide the Boston extension offer to Orr.

After the move, the defender played at the Canada Cup in 1976 for the first and only time for the Canadian national team . Orr's good performance at this tournament made the Black Hawks euphoric, but then injuries limited his playing time during the 1976/77 NHL season . After twelve games this season, Orr had to undergo another treatment that flushed fragments of bone from his left knee. On his return in January 1977, Bobby Orr completed another eight games before deciding to take a break for the rest of the season. During his entire time in Chicago, Orr refused to cash the Black Hawks' paychecks and returned amounts that had already been transferred.

International

After Bobby Orr Although the Summit Series in 1972 was nominated, but due to a knee injury had been unable to attend, he received in 1976, despite his problems with his left knee, his new team Chicago Blackhawks the release, with the Canadian national ice hockey team at Canada Cup to participate. Alan Eagleson later described this decision as poorly thought out and attributed Orr's premature retirement to participation in this tournament. Orr himself later said that he knew before the tournament that he would not be able to play much longer and that he did not regret his decision to take part. The Canadians won the gold medal at the Canada Cup, and Orr was together with Denis Potvin with nine points in seven games the most successful scorer of the Canadians. In addition, he was nominated to the competition's All-Star Team and named Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Teammate Bobby Clarke said that Orr was barely able to walk in the morning and afternoon during the Canada Cup, but that evening he was still the best player on a team full of superstars, the best player of the tournament, at every game. Teammate Darryl Sittler added that Orr is better on one leg than everyone else on both. Bobby Orr himself described winning the Canada Cup as his personal career highlight, which for him counts more than the two Stanley Cup successes with the Boston Bruins .

End of career

After another operation in the summer of 1977, the doctors advised him to stop playing ice hockey for a year to spare his knees. The doctors described the condition of his left knee after the numerous injuries and operations that the bones would rub against each other. Orr followed this recommendation in the hopes that his knee would recover completely. In the summer of 1978, Bobby Orr made his comeback, although despite the break he still struggled with walking and ice skating. After only six games in the 1978/79 season , the defender came to the conclusion that he could no longer play. Bobby Orr announced the end of his career on November 8, 1978 in tears. At the time of his retirement, Orr was ranked number one for most goals, assists and points ever scored by a defender. To date, only three players have a better point average per NHL game: Wayne Gretzky , Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy , all of them forwards .

Ice hockey idol and hockey Hall of Fame member Gordie Howe described Bobby Orr's resignation as the greatest blow of fate the National Hockey League has ever suffered. On January 9, 1979, the Boston Bruins blocked his shirt number 4, it has not been given to any other Bruins player since then. The Hockey Hall of Fame waived the usual waiting period of at least three years and accepted Bobby Orr on September 12, 1979. To date, at the age of 31, he is the youngest player ever to be accepted into the Hall of Fame.

Career statistics

Regular season Play-offs
season team league GP G A. Pts +/- PIM GP G A. Pts PIM
1962-63 Oshawa Generals Metro Jr. A 34 6th 15th 21st 45 - - - - -
1963-64 Oshawa Generals OHA 56 29 43 72 142 6th 0 7th 7th 21st
1964-65 Oshawa Generals OHA 56 34 59 93 112 6th 0 6th 6th 10
1965-66 Oshawa Generals OHA 47 38 56 94 92 17th 9 19th 28 14th
1966-67 Boston Bruins NHL 61 13 28 41 102 - - - - -
1967-68 Boston Bruins NHL 46 11 20th 31 +30 63 4th 0 2 2 2
1968-69 Boston Bruins NHL 67 21st 43 64 +65 133 10 1 7th 8th 10
1969-70 Boston Bruins NHL 76 33 87 120 +54 125 14th 9 11 20th 14th
1970-71 Boston Bruins NHL 78 37 102 139 +124 91 7th 5 7th 12 10
1971-72 Boston Bruins NHL 76 37 80 117 +86 106 15th 5 19th 24 19th
1972-73 Boston Bruins NHL 63 29 72 101 +56 99 5 1 1 2 7th
1973-74 Boston Bruins NHL 74 32 90 122 +84 82 16 4th 14th 18th 28
1974-75 Boston Bruins NHL 80 46 89 135 +80 101 3 1 5 6th 2
1975-76 Boston Bruins NHL 10 5 13 18th +10 22nd - - - - -
1976-77 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 20th 4th 19th 23 +6 25th - - - - -
1977-78 Chicago Black Hawks NHL not played because of a knee injury
1978-79 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 6th 2 2 4th +2 4th - - - - -
OHA total 193 107 173 280 346 29 9 32 41 45
NHL overall 657 270 645 915 +597 953 74 26th 66 92 92

International

year team event result GP G A. Pts +/- PIM
1972 Canada Summit Series - not played because of a knee injury
1976 Canada Canada Cup gold 7th 2 7th 9 +8 8th
Men overall 7th 2 7th 9 8th +8

( Legend for player statistics: Sp or GP = games played; T or G = goals scored; V or A = assists scored ; Pkt or Pts = scorer points scored ; SM or PIM = penalty minutes received ; +/− = plus / minus balance; PP = overpaid goals scored ; SH = underpaid goals scored ; GW = winning goals scored; 1  play-downs / relegation )

After the career

Bobby Orr Community Center in Parry Sound .

After his career as a player Orr worked briefly for the Chicago Black Hawks as an assistant coach and for the National Hockey League and the Hartford Whalers as a consultant. Some time later, an independent tax advisor revealed to Orr that his expenses exceeded his income and that he was essentially bankrupt despite being one of the highest paid players in the National Hockey League. In addition, his tax payments were under scrutiny as Alan Eagleson hired a corporation to collect Orr's income and pay him his salary. However, this agreement has been declared illegal by the US and Canadian tax authorities. In July 1980, his spending was about $ 13,000 more than his income. Eagleson, who once said that Orr had provided for a lifetime, criticized Orr for living beyond his means and ignoring his investment advice. Orr eventually broke all ties with Eagleson in April 1980. Following a court settlement, Eagleson agreed to purchase Orr assets worth $ 650,000. After the Black Hawks failed to pay the salary promised in Bobby Orr's player contract, he took his former club to court. In 1983 the court sentenced the Chicago Black Hawks to pay $ 450,000, one-third of Orr's outstanding salary. Orr used that money to pay $ 200,000 in taxes and legal costs.

Orr later played a role in publishing Alan Eagleson's wrongdoings over the years. In addition to withholding and misleading contract offers, Eagleson used the union's funds to enrich himself in his role as a board member of the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) . Alan Eagleson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 1998 for fraud, embezzlement and criminal business. After the guilty verdict, Orr and 18 other players called on the Hockey Hall of Fame to remove Eagleson from the Hall of Fame , otherwise they would withdraw from the Hall of Fame in protest. Eagleson got there beforehand and resigned from the Hall of Fame of his own free will.

Bobby Orr (4th from left) at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games .

In 1979, Bobby Orr was appointed officer in the Order of Canada . The Bobby Orr Hall of Fame was established in Parry Sound and the local community center was named after him. A star bears his name on Canada's Walk of Fame . At the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics , Orr was one of eight Canadian personalities who carried the Olympic flag into the stadium.

In 1996, Orr bought an agency with the help of investors that represents the financial interests of ice hockey players. To avoid his own conflicts of interest, Orr sold his shares in the ice hockey team Lowell Lock Monsters and ended a sponsorship with a credit card company that was in cooperation with the NHLPA. Bobby Orr became a certified player agent but never negotiated directly with ice hockey teams. Player agent Rick Curran merged with Orr in 2000 and in February 2002 they co-founded The Orr Hockey Group with Paul Krepelka . The company now represents NHL players such as Jason Spezza , Eric Staal and Tomáš Kaberle .

Play style

Orr at the 2010 NHL Winter Classic .

Bobby Orr is considered one of the best players of all time. He inspired the sport of ice hockey with his outstanding two-way game, as a defender to create danger even on the offensive. Orr revolutionized the offensive game of defenders. Before him, there was no defender who ran from goal to goal through the opposing defense with the puck and either sought the goal himself or brought his teammates into action with precise passes. Before Orr joined the National Hockey League in 1966, no defender had scored more than 20 goals in a season for more than two decades. Orr did this seven times in a row between 1969 and 1975; he scored five times more than thirty and 1974/75 46 hits. Orr paved the way for many more defenders to imitate the way he played. His acceleration and top speed, as well as his way of moving on the ice, delighted the fans across the league. When the Boston Bruins played away, the home team's venue was usually sold out. Orr's longtime teammate Phil Esposito describes him as a very fast player who used his speed to his advantage, especially when opposing outnumbered attacks. Ken Dryden , former Montreal Canadiens goalkeeper , said Orr inspired his teammates by including them in his offensive actions.

Orr's style of play was particularly demanding on his left knee, which he said had been operated on 13 or 14 times. Orr was a left-shooter who was mostly used as a right defender. During his offensive actions along the right wing, he shielded the puck from opposing players with his left arm and knee, leaving his left knee unprotected from opposing body checks. He also often collided with the left knee first with goalkeepers, the goal and the edge of the field behind the opposing goal, which exposed it to additional stress. His right knee was virtually uninjured during his career. After the end of his career, Orr had two knee prostheses implanted, which means that he no longer has pain.

Don Cherry , Orr's former coach with the Boston Bruins , also recalled Orr's negative side. When the Bruins lost to the Los Angeles Kings , Orr had taken on shortly before the end of the game, only to attack an opponent. When Cherry asked why, Orr replied that the player laughed at his team. Bobby Orr was also often involved in fistfights on the ice. In a game between the Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1967, Orr was hit and injured in the face by the bat of Toronto's Brian Conacher . Bobby's teammate John McKenzie then attacked Conacher. Orr, who was cut and bleeding, freed Conacher from McKenzie only to hit Conacher himself. Since that day, Orr has been booed by Toronto fans every time he played with the Bruins in Toronto.

Personality and private

Orr was the most in-demand player for interviews during his time in Boston . Most of the time the defender preferred to stay in the locker room. He was described by his companions as withdrawn, who wanted to draw attention to his teammates, which is why there is still no authorized biography. Terry O'Reilly describes Orr as a very shy person and Nate Greenberg, public relations officer for the Boston Bruins, said one of his toughest jobs was getting Orr out of the locker room so he could talk to the press. The reason he didn't always do it willingly was because he wanted to give his teammates proper praise, whereas everyone else wanted him to get the praise.

Orr is very loyal to former Boston teammates. When his teammate Derek Sanderson ran out of money due to an alcoholic disease and drug abuse, Orr paid for his medical rehabilitation, even after Sanderson relapsed several times. Decades later, Orr and Sanderson became business partners and formed a company to manage the financial affairs of ice hockey players. Orr also helped John Forristall , with whom he shared an apartment early in his bachelor career and who had been fired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1994 for alcoholism. Forristall returned to Boston unemployed and was diagnosed with a brain tumor a short time later . Bobby took him into his home for a year before Forristall died of his illness in 1995. Bobby Orr was one of the pallbearers at Forrystal's funeral.

Bobby Orr's wife, Louise, is from Detroit and worked as a speech therapist in Fort Lauderdale , where they first met Orr while on vacation. They got engaged at Christmas 1972 and were married in September 1973 at a private ceremony in Orr's hometown of Parry Sound . Together they have two sons, Darren and Brent . Darren works as a player agent for The Orr Hockey Group . Bobby Orr's mother Arva died in 2000 of cancer , his father Doug 2007. Since 2009, Orr grandfather, a second grandson was born 2,011th

Orr has been a passionate fisherman since childhood and has a talent for putting puzzles together quickly. His fashion taste is also mentioned positively. When he shared an apartment with his teammate Forristall at the beginning of his career, he always made sure to keep the apartment clean and not to smoke, drink or go to nightclubs late at night . Orr always strived for a clean image .

Awards, successes and records

Ontario Hockey Association

  • 1963 OHA Second All-Star Team
  • 1964 OHA First All-Star Team
  • 1965 OHA First All-Star Team

National Hockey League

International

  • 1976 gold medal at the Canada Cup
  • 1976 Canada Cup All-Star Team

Others

Records

National Hockey League records not surpassed to date:

Web links

Commons : Bobby Orr  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

literature

  • Stephen Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. Random House, 2003, ISBN 0-676-97651-4 .
  • Russ Conway: Game Misconduct. Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 1995, ISBN 0-921912-78-1 .
  • David Cruise, Alison Griffiths: Net Worth: Exploding the Myths of Pro Hockey. Viking, 1991, ISBN 0-670-83117-4 .
  • Ralph Dinger: National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2011. Dan Diamond & Associates, 2010, ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4 .
  • Steve Dryden: The Top 100 NHL Players of All Time. McClelland & Stewart, 1998, ISBN 0-7710-4175-6 .
  • Stan Fischler, Shirley Fischler: Everybody's hockey book. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1983, ISBN 0-684-18022-7 .
  • Susan Foster: The Power of Two: Carl Brewer's Battle with Hockey's Power Brokers. Fenn Publishing, 2006, ISBN 978-1-55168-289-1 .
  • Craig MacInnis: Remembering Bobby Orr. Stoddart Publishing, 1999, ISBN 0-7737-3196-2 .
  • Bob McKenzie: Full Speed ​​Ahead. In: Steve Dryden: Century of Hockey. McClelland & Steward, 2000, ISBN 0-7710-4179-9 , pp. 8-13.
  • Andrew Podnieks: The Goal: Bobby Orr and the most famous goal in Stanley Cup history. Triumph Books, 2003, ISBN 1-57243-570-4 .
  • Rob Simpson: Black and Gold: Four decades of Boston Bruins photographs. John Wiley & Sons, 2008, ISBN 978-0-470-15473-1 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Orr brought more offense to defense. ESPN , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m One On One With Bobby Orr. Hockey Hall of Fame , accessed August 24, 2011 .
  3. ↑ a b c Bobby Orr Biography, p. 1. bobbyorr.com, accessed March 1, 2011 (English).
  4. ^ Wilfred "Bucko" McDonald. hockeydb.com, accessed March 1, 2011 .
  5. ^ Bucko Kennedy McDonald. Hockey Hall of Fame , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  6. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 104.
  7. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, pp. 103-107.
  8. ↑ Oshawa Generals retire Bobby Orr's No. 2 jersey. Toronto Star , accessed March 23, 2011 .
  9. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, pp. 89-99.
  10. ↑ a b The Ever Elusive, Always Inscrutable And Still Incomparable Bobby Orr, p. 4. Sports Illustrated , accessed on March 1, 2011 (English).
  11. ↑ a b The Ever Elusive, Always Inscrutable And Still Incomparable Bobby Orr, p. 3. Sports Illustrated , accessed on March 1, 2011 (English).
  12. ^ A b Foster: The Power of Two: Carl Brewer's Battle with Hockey's Power Brokers. 2006, p. 287.
  13. ^ A b McKenzie: Full Speed ​​Ahead. 2000, p. 10.
  14. ↑ a b Orr's great goal. ESPN , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  15. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 120.
  16. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, pp. 121-122.
  17. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 125.
  18. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, pp. 142-146.
  19. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 157.
  20. ↑ We wish it hadn't ended this way. ESPN , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  21. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, pp. 164-166.
  22. ^ A b This Day In Sports: Bobby Orr Changes The Game. ESPN , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  23. ^ Podnieks: The Goal: Bobby Orr and the most famous goal in Stanley Cup history. 2003, p. 33.
  24. ↑ Photo ( Memento of the original from February 24, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. by Orr's winning goal in 1970. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bobbyorrhalloffame.com
  25. ↑ Honored Members: Bobby Orr. (No longer available online.) Canada's Sports Hall of Fame , archived from the original on March 16, 2017 ; accessed on March 16, 2017 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.sportshall.ca
  26. ^ Podnieks: The Goal: Bobby Orr and the most famous goal in Stanley Cup history. 2003, p. 15.
  27. ^ Career Stats, Regular Season - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders - Career Points. National Hockey League , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  28. ^ Career Stats, Regular Season - All Skaters - Single Season Leaders - Career Plus / Minus. National Hockey League , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  29. ↑ a b Who's the greatest-ever No. 4? USA Today , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  30. ↑ a b c d Bobby Orr Biography, p. 2. bobbyorr.com, accessed March 1, 2011 (English).
  31. ↑ Conn Smythe Trophy. National Hockey League , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  32. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 261.
  33. ^ Dinger: National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2011. 2010, p. 171.
  34. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, pp. 262-265.
  35. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 262.
  36. ^ Conway: Game Misconduct. 1995, p. 146.
  37. ↑ a b Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 267.
  38. ↑ a b 1976 Canada Cup champions honored in Halifax. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  39. ↑ a b c d e Bobby Orr Biography, p. 3. bobbyorr.com, accessed on March 1, 2011 (English).
  40. ↑ Orr refuses his paychecks. The Palm Beach Post , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  41. ^ A b McKenzie: Full Speed ​​Ahead. 2000, pp. 12-13.
  42. ^ A b McKenzie: Full Speed ​​Ahead. 2000, p. 13.
  43. ^ Dinger: National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2011. 2010, p. 173.
  44. ↑ Boston's Four Biggest Sports Legends Tale of the Tape. New England Sports Network , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  45. ↑ cf. HJ Anderson: The Canada Cup of Hockey - Fact and Stat book. P. 35.
  46. ^ Conway: Game Misconduct. 1995, p. 148.
  47. ^ Cruise & Griffiths: Net Worth: Exploding the Myths of Pro Hockey. 1991, p. 238.
  48. ↑ a b Conway: Game Misconduct. 1995, p. 149.
  49. ^ Foster: The Power of Two: Carl Brewer's Battle with Hockey's Power Brokers. 2006, p. 169.
  50. ^ Foster: The Power of Two: Carl Brewer's Battle with Hockey's Power Brokers. 2006, p. 226.
  51. ↑ Olympics: Triumph, tragedy mark ceremonies. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , accessed March 23, 2011 .
  52. ^ The Ever Elusive, Always Inscrutable And Still Incomparable Bobby Orr, p. 1. Sports Illustrated , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  53. ↑ NHL legend Orr honored in hometown. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation , July 18, 2003, accessed May 4, 2012 .
  54. ↑ MacInnis: Remembering Bobby Orr. 1999, p. 2.
  55. ^ Fischler, Fischler: Everybody's hockey book. 1983.
  56. ↑ Orr: How Great Was He? in MacInnis: Remembering Bobby Orr. 1999, p. 78.
  57. ↑ The Ever Elusive, Always Inscrutable And Still Incomparable Bobby Orr, p. 2. Sports Illustrated , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  58. ^ McKenzie: Full Speed ​​Ahead. 2000, p. 11.
  59. ↑ a b The Ever Elusive, Always Inscrutable And Still Incomparable Bobby Orr, p. 6. Sports Illustrated , accessed on March 1, 2011 (English).
  60. ↑ a b MacInnis: Remembering Bobby Orr. 1999, p. 101.
  61. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, pp. 149-150.
  62. ^ Simpson: Black and Gold: Four decades of Boston Bruins photographs. 2008, p. 61.
  63. ^ Simpson: Black and Gold: Four decades of Boston Bruins photographs. 2008, pp. 59-60.
  64. ↑ The Ever Elusive, Always Inscrutable And Still Incomparable Bobby Orr, p. 5. Sports Illustrated , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  65. ↑ Rosie DiManno: Portrait of the Artist As A Young Bachelor. in MacInnis: Remembering Bobby Orr. 1999, p. 43.
  66. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 137.
  67. ↑ Certified Agents: Darren Orr. (No longer available online.) National Hockey League Players' Association , archived from the original on September 16, 2012 ; accessed on August 17, 2012 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / nhlpa.com
  68. ^ For Bobby Orr, family tops glory days on ice. Boston Herald , accessed March 1, 2011 .
  69. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 16.
  70. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 81.
  71. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 135.
  72. ↑ Brunt: Searching for Bobby Orr. 2006, p. 134.
  73. ↑ Orr Is The Greatest. The Deseret News , accessed March 1, 2011 .
personal data
SURNAME Orr, Bobby
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Orr, Robert Gordon
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian ice hockey player
DATE OF BIRTH March 20, 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH Parry Sound , Ontario
This version was added to the list of articles worth reading on September 22, 2011 .