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Uncovering the Surprising Legacy of John Ferguson Sr.

John Ferguson Sr. was one of the most influential figures in the history of the NHL. He was a fierce competitor, a skilled scorer, a successful coach and executive, and a respected scout. He left an indelible mark on the game of hockey and inspired generations of players and fans. A Tough Player Ferguson was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on September 5, 1938. He lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother near the Pacific National Exhibition grounds. He loved horses and lacrosse, but his passion was hockey. He started his career as a stick boy for the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League, where he learned the importance of standing up for his teammates. He played junior hockey in Western Canada with the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. He turned pro in 1959 with the Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League and then moved to the American Hockey League with the Cleveland Barons. In 1963, he got his chance to play in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, who needed an enforcer to protect their star captain, Jean Beliveau, from aggressive defenders. Ferguson wasted no time establishing himself as one of the toughest players in the league. In his first NHL game, he fought Ted Green of the Boston Bruins just 12 seconds after the opening faceoff. He won the fight and earned the respect of his opponents and teammates. Ferguson was not just a fighter, though. He was also a talented scorer who played on a line with Beliveau. He led all NHL rookies in scoring in his first season and finished as runner-up for the Calder Trophy. He scored 145 goals and 158 assists in 500 regular-season games and added 20 goals and 18 assists in 85 playoff games. He also scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1969, during a season that saw him score a career-high 29 goals with a plus-30 rating. Ferguson won five Stanley Cups with the Canadiens in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, and 1971. He was also selected to play in two All-Star Games, in 1965 and 1969. He retired from playing in 1971 at the age of 32, but his impact on the game was far from over. A Successful Coach and Executive After retiring from playing, Ferguson became a coach and a general manager. He coached the Sorel Titans of the Quebec Lacrosse League, where he showed his love for another sport. He then joined the New York Rangers as their general manager and head coach for two seasons, from 1976 to 1978. He then became the general manager of the Winnipeg Jets, both in the World Hockey Association and later in the NHL, from 1979 to 1988. He helped build a competitive team that featured players like Dale Hawerchuk, Thomas Steen, Paul MacLean, Dave Babych, and Dave Ellett. He also drafted future Hall of Famers Teemu Selanne and Keith Tkachuk. Ferguson left hockey for a while to manage the Windsor Raceway, where he indulged his interest in horses. He returned to the game as the director of player personnel for the Ottawa Senators from 1992 to 1995. He helped shape a young team that included players like Alexei Yashin, Daniel Alfredsson, Radek Bonk, and Alexandre Daigle. A Respected Scout Ferguson's final role in hockey was as a senior scout for the San Jose Sharks from 1995 until he died in 2007. He was instrumental in finding and developing players like Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo, Evgeni Nabokov, Milan Michalek, Christian Ehrhoff, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Ferguson was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2005. He fought bravely against the disease for almost two years but succumbed to it on July 14, 2007, at the age of 68. He was survived by his wife Joan and their five children, including John Ferguson Jr., who followed his father's footsteps as a general manager in the NHL. Ferguson was mourned by many people in the hockey world who admired his spirit, character, class, and love for the game. He was one of the most beloved figures ever representing the Sharks and the NHL. His legacy lives on in all those touched by his life and work. John Ferguson Sr. was a legend of the NHL.