Bob Gassoff
Robert Allen Gassoff (April 17, 1953 – May 29, 1977) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He played parts of four seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), all for the St. Louis Blues.
| Bob Gassoff | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 17, 1953 Quesnel, British Columbia, CAN |
| Died | May 29, 1977 (aged 24) near Gray Summit, Missouri, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) |
| Position | Defence |
| Shot | Right |
| Played for | St. Louis Blues |
| NHL Draft | 48th overall, 1973 St. Louis Blues |
| WHA Draft | 33rd overall, 1973 Minnesota Fighting Saints |
| Playing career | 1973–1977 |
Career
Before playing in the NHL, Gassoff played parts of two seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Gassoff was drafted 48th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1973 NHL Entry Draft. He would also be drafted by the 33rd overall by the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the 1973 WHA amateur draft.
On January 23, 1974, Gassoff made his NHL debut in a 4–1 defeat against the Pittsburgh Penguins.[1] His first point would be an assist on a Pierre Plante goal in a 7–1 victory against the Atlanta Flames on February 19. Gassoff scored his first NHL goal in a 5–1 victory against the California Golden Seals on December 3, 1974.[2]
Personal life
Gassoff's brother Brad also played in the National Hockey League (NHL). His son would also play hockey before retiring and becoming a Navy SEAL.[3]
On May 29, 1977, Gassoff's career and life were cut short after he was killed in motorcycle accident. He was riding downhill without a helmet and crashed head-on with a car near the property of Blues teammate Garry Unger. Unger had questioned Gassoff if it was a good idea to drive since he had been drinking earlier in the day.[4]
References
- ↑ "St. Louis Blues vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Box Score: January 23, 1974". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ↑ "California Golden Seals vs. St. Louis Blues Box Score: December 3, 1974". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ↑ "The bond between Bobby Gassoff Jr. And his dad's Blues led to an improbable post-hockey career as a Navy SEAL". The Athletic. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ↑ "Unger's hunger: St. Louis remains special place for former Blues glamour boy". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
Other websites
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or ESPN.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
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