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Hall Of Fame Profile

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Gary Dornhoefer

Induction into Flyer Hall Of Fame - March 1991

Gary Dornhoefer's 2nd year card (65-66 Topps)

Many goalies knew Gary Dornhoefer, but wouldn't be able to recognize his face. That's because all they could see was his big number 12 immovable from the crease. His grit helped defined the Flyer image as he help a team from expansion turn into Stanley Cup Champions.
Gary as a Bruin
Gary started out in the pre-expansion days when junior teams where sponsored by NHL teams. He played in Niagara Falls in the Bruins system where he helped the team make the Memorial Cup finals in 1963. The next season he started his professional career with Minneapolis where a fast start let him have a sniff at life in the NHL. Unfortunately Gary had a tough time sticking with the big club and spent much of the rest of his time in the Bruins system in the minors.
When expansion came to the NHL the Flyers selected Gary and gave him a shot at a regular NHL job. Things started out slowly for Gary. He got only 13 goals in his first year with the team and then fractured his right leg in the 1968 playoffs in a fight against the Blues' Barclay Plager. The injury didn't recover during the next season and he slipped down to just 8 goals. Gary wondered if he should have just stuck to golf, where he excelled. In 69-70 however things began to turn around. He improved his shooting and determination and set a team record for goals in a season with 26. His backchecking set an example for his teammates. The next year the injury bug bit him again. He had a knee operation which caused him to miss 19 games, but he still had his second straight 20 goal season, thanks in part to his 20.8 shooting percentage which was second in the NHL to Johnny Bucyk.
Gary battles the Hawks
Gary scores series winner
in '73 Semifinals vs Rangers
The 71-72 season saw Fred Shero arrive to the Flyers and Gary knew how to get on the coaches good side. A goal with 51 seconds left to beat the Seals 3-2 and provided Shero with his first coaching victory. Dornhoefer slipped to 17 goals, but his grit earned him respect. The next season provided Gary his best offensive season. He scored 30 goals and garnered 79 points and had a seven game goal scoring streak. But it was another goal not included in those 30 that was the biggest of his career. The Flyers had never won a playoff series in their franchise history. On April 10th 1973, Gary scored the game winning goal vs the Minnesota North Stars. This was the turning point of the series for the Flyers. Today outside the Spectrum a statue commemorates that goal.
But Gary wan't done scoring big playoff goals. The next season the Flyers battled the Rangers in the semifinals. It came down to a seventh game and the Rangers just scored in the third period to close within one goal. It took less than 20 seconds for Dornhoefer to restore the Flyers two goal lead. It turned out that Gary's goal would be the game and series winner and marked the first time an expansion team won a playoff series against an Origianl 6 franchise. But disappointment would soon strike. Gary's style of play was indusive to injuries and the 73-74 season was no exception. A knee injury reduced him to just 57 games, but the most bitter injury occurred during game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Bruins. After collision with Don Marcotte, Gary suffered a shoulder separation knocked him out of the rest of the playoffs and he had to watch his team win the Cup rather than live out his dream and play himself.
The next season saw even more injuries. A fractured cheekbone made him miss just 6 games. But Gary was able to play in the 1975 playoffs. He had a huge goal in the semifinals game 7 against the Islanders. And this time he did play all the games of the finals and help the Flyers beat the Sabres in 6 games. Gary played through the 77-78 season gathering 2 more 20 goal seasons. After he retired he became the third player to have a special night honoring him (after Gamble and Ashbee). Today Gary is doing colour commentary on Flyers game broadcasts.
Gary was a leader among leaders


Gary battles Bobby Orr



Regular Season
Year
GP G A Pts PIM +/- PP SH GW GT Sht Sh%
1967-68 65133043 13462 0409613.54
1968-69 6081624 80-202 0011117.21
1969-70 65262955 9624 21314617.81
1970-71 57202040 9335 0229620.83
1971-72 75173249 183-152 32116810.12
1972-73 77304979 168173 04118716.04
1973-74 57113950 125133 04210910.09
1974-75 69172744 102233 24011514.78
1975-76 74283563 1281413 03115218.42
1976-77 79253459 85475 03211521.74
1977-78 477512 62-32 0016111.48
TOTAL 725202316518 12568744 72714135614.90

Playoffs
Year
GP G A Pts PIM +/- PP SH GW OT Sht Sh%
1968P 3000 150 000
1969P 4011 200 000
1971P 2000 40 000
1973P 11336 161 011
1974P 145611 432 110
1975P 175510 330 020
1976P 16347 431 000
1977P 9101 220 000
1978P 4000 70 000
TOTAL 80171936 20304 1410



Team Awards

Season Award
1976-77Yanick Dupre Memorial : Class Guy

Seasons In All Star Game

Season 1972-73 1976-77



Hattricks

Date # Score Goalies
8-Jan-701 Los Angeles Kings 1 - FLYERS 4W.Rutledge
6-Mar-712(n) California Golden Seals 4 - FLYERS 4C.Worthy
10-Dec-723 Toronto Maple Leafs 2 - FLYERS 5J.Plante

Playoff Overtime Goals

Date Opponent Score Result Time
10-Apr-73vs Minnesota North Stars3-2W8:35

Seasons Leading Flyers In Goals

Season Amount
1969-7026






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