Garry Unger
Hockey Athlete- Special Legends Class of 2025
Born in Edmonton and raised in Calgary from the age of 11, Unger developed his hockey skills playing junior hockey with the Calgary Buffalos of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He quickly established himself as a top talent, earning the league’s Most Valuable Player and Leading Scorer awards in both the 1964–65 and 1965–66 seasons as the Buffalos captured back-to-back championships.
Seeking to advance his career, Unger ventured east to Toronto to try out with the Toronto Marlboros, and in 1967, he made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Over a remarkable 16-season professional career, he also played for the Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Flames, Los Angeles Kings, and Edmonton Oilers.
From 1968 through 1979, Unger played in an unprecedented 914 consecutive regular-season games, showcasing his durability and consistency. Across 1,115 regular-season games, he recorded 413 goals and 391 assists for 804 points. His 413 goals rank sixth and his 48 game-winning goals rank eighth among all Alberta-born players. The St. Louis Blues honor his contributions by celebrating his number 7 jersey.
After retiring as a player, Unger returned to Alberta and remained active in hockey, coaching the Banff Bears in the Heritage Junior Hockey League and serving as general manager of the Banff Hockey Academy teams during the 2010s.
Unger’s career has been recognized with inductions into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and the St. Louis Blues Hall of Fame in 2023, cementing his legacy both in Alberta and across the NHL.
