Jay Wells | |||
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Wells in 1980
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Born |
Paris, Ontario, Canada |
May 18, 1959 ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | ||
Position | Defence | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for |
AHL Binghamton Dusters NHL Los Angeles Kings Philadelphia Flyers Buffalo Sabres New York Rangers St. Louis Blues Tampa Bay Lightning |
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National team | Canada | ||
NHL Draft | 16th overall, 1979 Los Angeles Kings |
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Playing career | 1979–1997 |
Gordon Jay Wells (born May 18, 1959 in Paris, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He was nicknamed "The Hammer" for his tough, physical play.
Jay Wells played his junior hockey with the Kingston Canadians of the OMJHL from 1976–1979, playing in 175 games, and earning 60 points (19 goals-41 assists), along with 385 penalty minutes. He also had 14 points (4G-10A) in 30 playoff games. A solid stay-at-home defenceman, Wells was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, 16th overall in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.
Wells began the 1979–80 season with the Binghamton Dusters of the AHL, getting 6 assists in 28 games, before joining the Kings, where he had no points in 43 games. He also had no points in 4 playoff games. Wells spent the entire 1980–81 season with Los Angeles, where he got 18 points (5G-13A) in 72 games, and had no points in 4 playoff games. In 1981–82, he played in 60 games, getting 9 points (1G-8A), then added 4 points (1G-3A) in 10 playoff games. Wells offensive production increased in 1982–83, when he got 15 points (3G-12A) in 69 games, and in 1983–84, he set a career high with 21 points (3G-18A) in 69 games, however the Kings failed to make the playoffs in both years. Wells then had 11 points (2G-9A) in 77 games in 1984–85, helping the Kings return to the playoffs, where he recorded an assist in 3 games. Wells had the best season of his career in 1985–86, getting 42 points (11G-31A) in 79 games, however Los Angeles failed to make the playoffs. In 1986–87, Wells had 36 points (7G-29A) in 77 games, and added 3 points (1G-2A) in 5 playoff games. Wells then had 25 points (2G-23A) in 58 games, and had 3 points (1G-2A) in 5 playoff games for the Kings in 1987–88. On September 29, 1988, Wells was traded from the Kings to the Philadelphia Flyers for Doug Crossman.
In Wells' first season with the Flyers in 1988–89, he registered 21 points (2G-19A) in 67 games, and added 2 points (0G-2A) in 18 playoff games. He began the 1989–90 season with Philadelphia, earning 19 points (3G-16A) in 59 games, before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres on March 5, 1990, along with the Flyers fourth-round pick in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Kevin Maguire and the Sabres second-round choice in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.