Jody Gage is a former professional ice hockey player who played for various teams in the American Hockey League (AHL) and the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on July 29, 1960, in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Gage began his professional hockey career in 1981 when he signed with the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. He quickly established himself as a reliable scorer and a tough competitor, earning a reputation as one of the best players in the league. In his first season with the Americans, he scored 41 goals and 38 assists in 76 games, earning him the AHL Rookie of the Year award.
Over the next few years, Gage continued to excel with the Americans, leading the team in scoring and helping them reach the Calder Cup finals in 1983. He also earned a call-up to the Buffalo Sabres during the 1983-84 season, playing in 11 games and scoring two goals.
Gage's success with the Americans caught the attention of other NHL teams, and in 1986 he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. He played in 14 games with the Red Wings that season, scoring two goals and two assists. However, he spent most of his time with the Adirondack Red Wings, Detroit's AHL affiliate, where he continued to be a dominant scorer.
Gage returned to the Rochester Americans in 1987, where he played for the remainder of his career. He continued to be a top scorer for the team, leading them to the Calder Cup finals in 1990 and 1991. In 1991, he was named the AHL's Most Valuable Player, scoring 62 goals and 57 assists in 80 games.
Gage retired from professional hockey in 1992, finishing his career with 668 points (309 goals, 359 assists) in 696 AHL games. He also played in 25 NHL games, scoring four goals and four assists.
After retiring from playing, Gage remained involved in hockey as a coach and executive. He served as the general manager of the Rochester Americans from 1993 to 2019, overseeing the team's operations and helping them win two Calder Cup championships. He also served as the team's head coach for one season in 1995-96.
In recognition of his contributions to the Rochester Americans and the AHL, Gage was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2014. He remains a beloved figure in Rochester and is remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the Americans franchise.
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