Doug Barkley
Played forChicago Black Hawks
Detroit Red Wings
PositionDefence
ShootsRight
Height6 ft
Height in2
Weight lb185
Birth dateJanuary 6, 1937 (age 89)
Birth placeLethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Career start1956
Career end1966

Norman Douglas Barkley (born January 6, 1937) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings between 1957 and 1966. After his playing career, he was the head coach of the Red Wings from 1970 to 1971 and again between 1975 and 1976. From 1980 to 2001 he worked as the color commentator for the Calgary Flames.

Playing career

Barkley's playing career ended from an on-ice accident that rendered him blind in his right eye.[1] On January 30, 1966, Barkley, playing for the Detroit Red Wings, was battling with Chicago's Doug Mohns for a puck at the blue line. Mohns attempted to lift Barkley's stick, but missed, and struck the bent-over Barkley directly in his right eye. Barkley would never play again. In 253 NHL games Barkley recorded 24 goals and 80 assists for 104 career points.

Coaching career

Following his career-ending injury, Barkley joined the Detroit front office, working in public relations and as a troubleshooter. In 1969 he was appointed head coach of the Fort Worth Wings of the Central Hockey League (Detroit's top farm team),[2] and on January 10, 1971, Barkley was promoted to head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.[3] He coached less than one year before decididing to resign eleven games (where they went 3-8-0) into the 1971–72 season due to not being able to handle the "pressure" from fans and commentators. He was replaced by Johnny Wilson.[4][5] Barkley returned to coach the Wings again in 1975, but lasted just 26 games before being fired and replaced by Alex Delvecchio, a former teammate.

Barkley now lives in Calgary, Alberta.[6]

Broadcast career

From 1980-2001, Barkley joined Calgary Flames play-by-play man Peter Maher in the radio broadcast booth as a colour commentator.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1955–56Medicine Hat TigersWCJHL441910298550220
1956–57Calgary StampedersWHL63481211230000
1957–58Chicago Black HawksNHL30000—————
1957–58Calgary StampedersWHL31358721421337
1957–58Buffalo BisonsAHL2703322—————
1958–59Buffalo BisonsAHL5525759800012
1959–60Chicago Black HawksNHL30002—————
1959–60Calgary StampedersWHL557182582—————
1960–61Buffalo BisonsAHL6692837106401110
1961–62Calgary StampedersWHL7025497482723517
1962–63Detroit Red WingsNHL7032427781103316
1963–64Detroit Red WingsNHL671121321151405533
1964–65Detroit Red WingsNHL6752025122501114
1965–66Detroit Red WingsNHL435152065—————
NHL totals25324801043823009963

NHL coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GWLTPtsFinishResult
Detroit Red Wings1970–714010377276th in EastMissed playoffs
Detroit Red Wings1971–721138065th in EastResigned
Detroit Red Wings1975–76267154184th in NorrisFired
NHL totals77206011

References

  1. ^ "RECENT EYE INJURIES". The Globe and Mail. March 13, 2000. Retrieved March 8, 2018. Detroit defenceman Doug Barkley was forced to retire after taking a stick in the eye from Chicago's Doug Mohns.
  2. ^ Fischler, Stan & Fischler, Shirley (1971). Up From the Minor Leagues of Hockey. Chicago, Illinois: Cowles Book Company, Inc. p. 127
  3. ^ Fischler, Stan & Fischler, Shirley (1971). Up From the Minor Leagues of Hockey. Chicago, Illinois: Cowles Book Company, Inc. p. 128
  4. ^ https://newspaperarchive.com/danville-register-nov-02-1971-p-12/
  5. ^ "Detroit Red Wings 1971-72 roster and statistics". hockeydb.com
  6. ^ "Doug Douglas Barkley". legendsofhockey.net. Retrieved March 8, 2018.