Dennis Ververgaert
| Dennis Ververgaert | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
March 30, 1953 Grimsby, ON, CAN |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for |
Vancouver Canucks Philadelphia Flyers Washington Capitals |
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| NHL Draft | 3rd overall, 1973 Vancouver Canucks |
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| WHA Draft | 67th overall, 1973 New York Golden Blades |
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| Playing career | 1973–1981 | ||
Dennis Andrew Ververgaert (born March 30, 1953) is a retired professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League from 1973 until 1981. He is best known for his time with the Vancouver Canucks, where he was one of the club's top players in their first decade of existence. He was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game in 1976 and 1978.
Ververgaert had a dominant junior career with the London Knights, scoring 147 points in 1972–73, including a franchise record 89 assists (surpassed by Sergei Kostitsyn in 2005–06), and was selected 3rd overall in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. Blessed with size and skill together with a booming shot, Ververgaert was thought to have the potential to be the first true star player in the history of the young franchise.
In his first NHL season, Ververgaert did not disappoint, stepping straight into the Canucks' roster and recording a team-leading 26 goals along with 31 assists for 57 points. He led all rookies in goals and was second in points to Tom Lysiak, and finished 4th in Calder Trophy voting as the league's top rookie. His 26 goals remained the Canuck rookie record until broken by Trevor Linden in 1988–89.
In 1974–75 Ververgaert was even better, recording 51 points in 57 games despite missing substantial time due to a serious shoulder injury. His production was a key factor in the team's improvement, as they won their division and made the playoffs for the first time. He would have his finest season in 1975–76, leading the Canucks with 37 goals and 71 points. He was also selected to play in his first NHL All-Star Game and proceeded to score two goals in 10 seconds to set an All-Star record, since broken by Owen Nolan.
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