Bob Plager

Robert Bryant Plager (March 11, 1943 – March 24, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1964 until 1978, primarily for the St. Louis Blues. He was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, where his father, Gus, served as chief official in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Plager played junior hockey with the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters and the Guelph Royals, and his aggressive, highly physical style was reflected in 1961–62 when he broke the Ontario Hockey Association record for penalty minutes in a season. He signed a professional contract with the New York Rangers in 1964 but appeared in only 29 games over three years, spending most of his time with the minor-league Baltimore Clippers. NHL expansion provided his opportunity to become a regular, and on June 6, 1967, he was traded to St. Louis along with Gary Sabourin, Tim Ecclestone, and Gord Kannegiesser in exchange for Rod Seiling. With the Blues he was reunited with his brother Bill. Plager spent over half a century with the St. Louis organization in various capacities.