Doug Bodger is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 16 seasons. He was born on June 18, 1966, in Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada. Bodger began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Victoria Cougars in 1982. He played for the Cougars for two seasons before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
Bodger made his NHL debut with the Penguins in the 1984-85 season and played for the team for six seasons. He was known for his offensive skills and was a key player on the Penguins' power play unit. In the 1988-89 season, he scored a career-high 16 goals and 59 points. Bodger was also a solid defensive player and was often paired with Paul Coffey, one of the best offensive defensemen in NHL history.
In 1990, Bodger was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, where he played for four seasons. He continued to be a productive player for the Sabres, scoring 10 or more goals in each of his first three seasons with the team. In the 1993-94 season, he helped lead the Sabres to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the New York Rangers.
After his time with the Sabres, Bodger played for several other NHL teams, including the San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, and Vancouver Canucks. He was a valuable player for each of these teams and was known for his leadership and work ethic.
Bodger retired from the NHL in 2000 after playing in over 1,000 games and scoring 107 goals and 422 points. He also played in 47 playoff games, scoring four goals and 18 points. After his playing career, Bodger became a coach and worked with several minor league teams. He also served as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2006 to 2009.
Overall, Doug Bodger had a successful NHL career and was a respected player and leader on every team he played for. He was known for his offensive skills, defensive abilities, and work ethic, and was a valuable player for over 16 seasons.
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