Steve Vickers | |||
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Born |
Toronto, ON, CAN |
April 21, 1951 ||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
Position | Left Wing | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for |
NHL New York Rangers AHL Springfield Indians |
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NHL Draft | 10th overall, 1971 New York Rangers |
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Playing career | 1972–1982 |
Stephen James Vickers (born April 21, 1951) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Vickers played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers. Vickers was the winner of the Calder Trophy in 1973.
Steve "The Sarge" Vickers was drafted 10th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft after playing junior hockey with the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA), for whom he was named a First Team league All-Star, Vickers spent a single season in the minor leagues with the Omaha Knights of the Central Hockey League before coming up to the Rangers in 1972.
Teamed on a line with centre Walt Tkaczuk and winger Bill Fairbairn that would be one of the 1970s' best two-way forward trios, Vickers finished with 30 goals and 23 assists for a total of 53 points and was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year. He played the whole of his ten-year career for the Rangers, scoring thirty or more goals on four occasions and just missing on a fifth. He was later moved to the Rangers first line with Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle. Vickers' best season was 1975, when he scored 41 goals and was named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team. He remained effective until his final season, in which his effectiveness dropped sharply and finished the year in the minor leagues with the Springfield Indians, after which he retired.