Brian Bellows is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 17 seasons. He was born on September 1, 1964, in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Bellows started his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Kitchener Rangers in 1980. He played for the Rangers for three seasons and was a top scorer in the league.
In 1982, Bellows was drafted second overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1982-83 season and quickly established himself as a top scorer. Bellows played for the North Stars for nine seasons and was a key player in the team's run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1991. He scored 11 goals and 19 points in 23 playoff games that year.
In 1992, Bellows was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, where he played for four seasons. He was a consistent scorer for the Canadiens and helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 1993. Bellows scored the game-winning goal in Game 1 of the Finals against the Los Angeles Kings.
After his stint with the Canadiens, Bellows played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and Washington Capitals before retiring in 1999. He finished his NHL career with 1,022 points (485 goals and 537 assists) in 1,188 games.
Bellows was known for his scoring ability and was one of the most consistent goal scorers in the NHL during his career. He scored 30 or more goals in a season six times and had a career-high 55 goals in the 1989-90 season. Bellows was also a clutch performer in the playoffs, scoring 71 goals and 143 points in 143 playoff games.
In addition to his NHL career, Bellows also represented Canada in international competitions. He played for Canada in the 1984 Winter Olympics and the 1987 Canada Cup, where he helped the team win the gold medal.
After retiring from hockey, Bellows became a coach and worked with various teams in the minor leagues. He also served as an assistant coach for the United States men's national team at the 2010 IIHF World Championships.
Overall, Brian Bellows had a successful hockey career and was one of the top goal scorers of his era. He was a key player on several successful teams and was a clutch performer in the playoffs. Bellows' contributions to the game of hockey have earned him a place in the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars Hall of Fame.
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