Charlie Simmer was a professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on March 20, 1954, in Terrace Bay, Ontario, Canada. Simmer began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1972. He played for the Greyhounds for three seasons, scoring 143 goals and 129 assists in 166 games.
In 1974, Simmer was drafted by the California Golden Seals in the second round of the NHL Amateur Draft. He played for the Seals for two seasons before they moved to Cleveland and became the Barons. Simmer played for the Barons for one season before they merged with the Minnesota North Stars. Simmer was then traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1977.
Simmer played for the Kings for seven seasons, from 1977 to 1984. He was part of the famous "Triple Crown Line" with Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor. The line was one of the most dominant in NHL history, and Simmer was a key contributor. In the 1979-80 season, Simmer scored 56 goals and had 45 assists for a total of 101 points. He finished second in the NHL in goals scored that season, behind only Wayne Gretzky.
Simmer's best season came in 1980-81 when he scored 56 goals and had 51 assists for a total of 107 points. He finished third in the NHL in points that season, behind Gretzky and Dionne. Simmer was named to the NHL First All-Star Team that season and was a finalist for the Hart Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL's most valuable player.
Simmer was traded to the Boston Bruins in 1984 and played for them for two seasons. He then played for the Pittsburgh Penguins for one season before retiring in 1988. Simmer finished his NHL career with 342 goals and 349 assists for a total of 691 points in 712 games.
After retiring from hockey, Simmer became a broadcaster and analyst for the Kings. He also worked as a scout for the Kings and the Ottawa Senators. In 1993, Simmer was inducted into the Sault Ste. Marie Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2015, he was inducted into the Los Angeles Kings Hall of Fame.
Overall, Charlie Simmer was a talented and prolific scorer during his NHL career. He was a key member of the Kings' "Triple Crown Line" and had several outstanding seasons. Simmer's contributions to the game of hockey have been recognized with his induction into multiple halls of fame.
🏒