Club 1974:
Edmonton Oilers

 
Bruce MacGregor
# 20, Team CANADA 1974

Club: Edmonton Oilers
Position: C  Shoots: Right
Height: 5-10 Weight: 180
Born: 4/26/1941 in Edmonton, Alberta

Bruce MacGregor was another product of the tough Western Canadian junior hockey system. Early in his junior career he was scouted by the Detroit Red Wings and joined the big team to stay in 1961-62. As a member of the Red Wings he made his mark in the NHL by becoming a dependable goal scorer, lightning quick skater, and excellent defensive player. He rarely took penalties and was well known for being able to keep his cool and stay disciplined even in the most intense situations.

Midway through he 1970-71 season the Red Wings sent Bruce to the New York Rangers. In the Big Apple Bruce became a key member of the Rangers Stanley Cup finalist team in the spring of 1972. After an explosive playoff in the spring of 1974, where he helped the Rangers to the 7th game of the semi-finals, Bruce received a generous offer from the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA. Bruce was happy to receive the chance to play pro hockey in his home town.

Billy Harris was counting heavily on Bruce MacGregor when he put Team Canada 74 together. He knew Bruce was the ideal type of player for International play…good skater, strong defensively, and not prone to taking penalties. Harris put MacGregor on a line with Mike Walton and Paul Henderson. Offensively the line contributed little. Walton had an awful series, Henderson didn't come close to his scoring heroics of 1972 and Bruce scored only once (a short handed goal in game 3.) However he and Paul Henderson did a truly outstanding job killing penalties. Bruce became embroiled in controversy when the series moved to Moscow. He became ill during Team Canada's exhibition games in Scandinavia and missed game 5. He returned to the lineup for game 6 and while killing a penalty in the 2nd period was upended by Soviet defenseman Valery Vasiliev. Macgregor hurt by the hit tried to get to the Canadian bench. He became "tangled up" with Vasiliev, who then dropped his gloves and began punching the shocked Team Canada forward. At no point did Bruce MacGregor drop his gloves or throw a punch. When the "fight" was broken up Macgregor was given a fighting major along with Vasiliev. MacGregor was stunned along with all his teammates. International rules called for automatic ejection for fighting and a 10-minute instigator penalty to the player who throws the first punch. (A two-minute delayed penalty had already been signaled by Soviet referee Victor Dombrowski against Vasiliev for his hit on MacGregor.) Vasiliev should have been ejected and Canada should have received over 10 minutes of power play time. Instead referee Dombrowski seemingly "threw the game" and gave both players majors. Canadian hockey fans commented they had never seen Bruce MacGregor so angry as he was at this point. He screamed at Dombrowski and almost had to be restrained. This bizarre call against MacGregor probably Canada at least a tie in game 6 and removed any chance they had of winning the series.

 

CAREER HIGHLIGTS:

- Played in the professional hockey leagues: 1960-76
- Pro hockey clubs:
NHL: Detroit, NYR; WHA: Edmonton

PERFORMANCE IN THE 1974 SUMMIT

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