Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
Mel Bridgman, who was drafted first overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975 and was the Ottawa Senators’ first general manager, has died. He was 70. The NHL Alumni Association announced the death on Saturday. It didn’t give a cause of death, according to The Associated Press. Bridgman first starred in junior for the Victoria Cougars in the Western Canada Hockey League before joining the Flyers as a rookie. He had 23 regular-season goals and six more in a postseason run that ended with a loss to Montreal in the Stanley Cup final. Bridgman was Philadelphia’s captain during its record 35-game unbeaten run in 1979-80. “The Flyers are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Mel Bridgman, who was the Flyers’ first and only player drafted first overall by the club in 1975,” the team said in a statement. “Bridgman spent a majority of his NHL career in Orange & Black where he appeared in 462 regular-season games and another 74 Stanley Cup playoff games over parts of seven seasons from 1975 to 1981. “A prototypical power forward who exemplified Flyers style-hockey, Bridgman also served as captain of the Flyers for parts of three seasons from 1979-1981. A smart, two-way forward, he helped lead the team to two Stanley Cup Final appearances in 1976 and 1980. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mel’s family and friends during this very difficult time.” He also played for Calgary, New Jersey, Detroit and Vancouver, and finished his 14-year NHL career with 252 goals, 449 assists and 1,625 penalty minutes in 977 regular-season games. In 125 playoff games, he had 28 goals and 39 assists. He would earn an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and then take over the expansion Senators in 1991 at age 36.
