Randy Gregg (ice hockey)

Last updated
Randy Gregg
Born (1956-02-19) February 19, 1956 (age 68)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver Canucks
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 1981–1992

Randall John Gregg (born February 19, 1956) is a Canadian physician and former professional ice hockey defenceman who spent 10 seasons in the National Hockey League. He is best known for his time with the Edmonton Oilers, where he spent most of his career and won five Stanley Cups, in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990.

Contents

Early life

Gregg was born in Edmonton. He attended the University of Alberta to work toward a medical degree, and playing hockey was a secondary priority. However, he became one of the top players in Canadian university hockey, leading the Golden Bears to two Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union (CIAU) championships, and was CIAU Player of the Year in 1979.

Career

Gregg received a contract offer from the New York Rangers but rejected it to spend the year with David Bauer and the Canadian national team, [1] and captained Canada's entry at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. [2]

Following the 1980 Olympics, Gregg signed in Japan as a player-coach and spent two full seasons playing there. He was at last convinced to accept an NHL offer by his hometown Edmonton Oilers, and joined the team for the 1982 playoffs, appearing in four games.

In 1982–83, Gregg emerged as a regular on the Oilers' blueline, appearing in all 80 games and registering 6 goals and 28 points. Receiving as much notoriety from the fact that he had a medical degree as he did for his solid play on the blueline, he helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup finals in 1983. In 1983–84, he would have his finest NHL season, as he recorded career highs of 12 goals and 40 points, and then contributed 10 points in 19 playoff games to help Edmonton win their first Stanley Cup. Following the season, he was selected to represent Canada at the 1984 Canada Cup tournament. [3]

Gregg retired after the Oilers' disappointing loss in the 1986 playoffs but returned to the team six weeks into the season and helped Edmonton win their third championship in 1986–87. [4] He retired from professional hockey again after the 1987–88 campaign to enter a residency program in orthopedic surgery and Canada at the 1988 Winter Olympics, but re-joined Edmonton for the playoffs to win another Stanley Cup.

Gregg spent two more years with the Oilers as a depth defender, helping the team win their fifth Stanley Cup in seven years in 1990. He was one of seven players to play for all five championship teams. Exposed in the 1990 NHL Waiver Draft, he was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks but decided again to retire. However, after a year away from the sport, he signed with the Canucks for the 1991–92 campaign, appearing in 21 games, before retiring for good following the season. [5]

Gregg appeared in 474 NHL games, recording 41 goals and 152 assists for 193 points along with 333 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 137 playoff games, totaling 13 goals and 40 assists for 53 points.

Following his retirement, Gregg completed his residency training program at the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. He is a family physician, operating a successful sports medicine practice in Edmonton. [6] He briefly worked at TSN as the third string color commentator for NHL games in 1994–95.

Personal life

Gregg married American-born Canadian Olympic speed-skater Kathy Vogt [7] on June 9, 1984, in Edmonton. [8] They have four children, including speed-skaters Jessica Gregg and Jamie Gregg. Gregg and his family reside in Edmonton, Alberta. [9] His brother, Gary, is a former member of the Edmonton Investors Group (EIG), the limited partnership that owned the Edmonton Oilers.

In 2024 he was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Alberta "as a physician, philanthropist and role model". [10]

Legacy

The Dr. Randy Gregg Award is presented annually by Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) to reward excellence in the student-athlete. The Canadian University ice hockey player who receives this award has exhibited outstanding achievement in ice hockey, academics, and community involvement. [11]

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1975–76 University of Alberta CWUAA 313202349—————
1976–77University of AlbertaCWUAA3410233345—————
1977–78University of AlbertaCWUAA308263443—————
1978–79University of AlbertaCWUAA4111263767—————
1979–80 Canada Intl567172436—————
1980–81 Kokudo Keikaku JPN 3512183030—————
1981–82 Kokudo KeikakuJPN3612203225—————
1981–82 Edmonton Oilers NHL —————40000
1982–83 Edmonton OilersNHL8062228541624613
1983–84 Edmonton OilersNHL801327405619371021
1984–85 Edmonton OilersNHL5732023321706612
1985–86 Edmonton OilersNHL6422628471010112
1986–87 Edmonton OilersNHL5281624421836917
1987–88CanadaIntl3726837—————
1987–88 Edmonton OilersNHL1512381918924
1988–89 Edmonton OilersNHL57315182871014
1989–90 Edmonton OilersNHL4842024422026816
1991–92 Vancouver Canucks NHL211452470118
NHL totals47441152193333137133851127

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1980 Canada OLY 61122
1984 Canada CC 30114
1988 CanadaOLY81238
Senior totals1724614

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References

  1. ↑ "Randy John Gregg". hhof.com. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  2. ↑ Ogle, Andy (May 1, 1987). "Dr. Randy Gregg: operating with finesse, but in a different theatre". Canadian Medical Association Journal. 136 (9): 974–976. PMC   1491972 . PMID   3552177.
  3. ↑ "Edmonton Oilers history: Randy Gregg scores overtime winner to complete comeback in Game 2 win over Winnipeg Jets, April 5, 1984". Edmonton Journal. April 5, 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Randy John Gregg". hhof.com. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  5. ↑ Brownlee, Robin (July 7, 2017). "Top 100 Oilers: Randy Gregg". oilersnation.com. Oilers Nation. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Dr. Randy Gregg – Primary Care Physician". edmontonsportinstitute.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "Kathy Vogt" Sports Reference accessed August 5, 2015
  8. ↑ "Tieing the Knot" Edmonton Journal June 11, 1984, p. D5 accessed August 5, 2015 note: source mis-identifies Ms. Vogt as a figure skater
  9. ↑ Starkman, Randy (October 21, 2009). "Entire Gregg clan has been built for speed". The Toronto Star . Toronto Star. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  10. ↑ Townsend, Sean (26 September 2024). "Two leading community builders to receive honorary degrees this fall". Folio. University of Alberta. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "Stingers captain earns national recognition - Concordia University". www.concordia.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
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