Bob Berry

Bob Berry got his first taste in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, but will always be best known as a player as a member of the Los Angeles Kings. To another generation he will best be remembered as a long time coach.

A 20 year old Berry spent the 1963-64 season between the QJHL's Verdun Maple Leafs and the OHA's Peterborough Petes. As opposed to taking a shot at the pros, Berry, an intelligent student, opted to attend George Williams College where he also starred on the hockey team for 3 seasons. Upon graduation, he turned to the Quebec Senior League where he starred with the Hull Nationals.

The Montreal Canadiens secured his NHL rights a while back finallly Berry turned pro. He spent his first two seasons playing in the American Hockey League. He did see action in two games with the Habs in the 1968-69 season.

Well Berry will always cherish his two games wearing the CH, his best memories came in a LA Kings jersey. The Habs sold him to Los Angeles in 1970.

Berry went on to play 7 full seasons with the Kings. His most successful seasons came when he was paired with center Juha Widing and right winger Mike Corrigan. The trio, dubbed the Hot Line by LA media, were an essential cog in the Kings attack in the early 1970s. Berry recollected on his days on the Hot Line:

"All three of us provided some balanced scoring and with the other two centers, Bob Nevin and Butch Goring, contributing as well we were a tough opponent almost every night."

Berry was the best known of the three. He twice represented the LA Kings as their selection to play in the All Star game - in 1973 when he scored a career high 36 goals and 64 points, and in 1974 when he scored 56 points. In all, Berry scored 159 goals and 350 points in a purple and gold Kings jersey.

Berry enjoyed his time on the west coast:

"My NHL career was with the Los Angeles Kings and I'll always look back on those days with fondness. During my seven seasons we accomplished a lot of positives and in particular the 1974-75 season stands out. That season we had a great bunch of guys...a lot of guys from other organizations...Rogie Vachon, Terry Harper, Bob Murdoch, Dan Maloney, Bob Nevin and Mike Murphy. These were character players and with the coaching of Bob Pulford we put together a 105 point season (still a club record)."

One guy Berry had much respect for was Pulford.

"Playing for Bob Pulford was a great experience. He taught everyone the value of hard work and team work. We had nine players that season who played in every game, we were well balanced and all three lines were dangerous with the puck and had responsibilities from a defensive standpoint."

Following his playing days Berry turned to coaching. Berry has been a fixture behind the bench for many years, either as a head coach or an assistant.