Terry Harper was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 18 seasons. He was born on February 17, 1940, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Harper began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Vancouver Canucks in 1962. He played for the Canucks for two seasons before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1964.
Harper played for the Red Wings for four seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1968. He played for the Kings for six seasons and was named the team captain in 1972. In 1974, Harper was traded to the St. Louis Blues, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the New York Rangers in 1976.
Harper played for the Rangers for three seasons before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 1979. He played for the Canadiens for two seasons and won two Stanley Cup championships with the team in 1980 and 1981. Harper retired from professional hockey in 1981 at the age of 41.
Throughout his career, Harper was known for his physical play and defensive skills. He was a tough and reliable defenseman who was not afraid to block shots or engage in physical battles with opposing players. Harper was also a good skater and had a strong shot from the point.
In total, Harper played in 1,124 NHL games, scoring 49 goals and 238 assists for 287 points. He also accumulated 1,424 penalty minutes throughout his career. Harper was a two-time NHL All-Star, representing the Kings in 1970 and the Canadiens in 1980.
After retiring from hockey, Harper worked as a scout for the Canadiens and later became a coach in the minor leagues. He also worked as a color commentator for Canadiens games on radio and television. Harper was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Regina Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
In conclusion, Terry Harper was a tough and reliable defenseman who played in the NHL for over 18 seasons. He played for several teams throughout his career, including the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, and Montreal Canadiens. Harper was known for his physical play and defensive skills and won two Stanley Cup championships with the Canadiens in 1980 and 1981. After retiring from hockey, Harper worked as a scout and coach and was inducted into several sports halls of fame.
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