Dan Newman never played junior hockey but ended up in the NHL skating with Hall of Fame players like Phil Esposito, Guy Lafleur and Wayne Gretzky. "I never got drafted. I was fortunate to go to St. Clair with a great coach like Jack Costello and got noitced there." said the Cottom native after being inducted into the Windsor-Essex County Sports Hall of Fame last weekend. "I learned a lot from Jack Costello and coaches. He taught me about the game."
St. Clair was the king of college hockey in the late 1960's til the late 70's winning eight provincial championships in twelve seasons. A defenceman, Newman played minor hockey before joining the Saints from 1970-72 where he accumulated 63 points in 42 games. He made the jump to the IHL with the Port Huron Wings in 1973. "Four hard years in the 70's, tough hockey back then."
Newman had a breakout season in 1975-76 scoring 39 goals and 84 points in 75 games and went on to join the New York Rangers the following season. "Proving myself there that I can play and then to go to Montreal in 78-79. Unbelievable experience for me." said the 71-year old who was part Montreal's Stanley Cup dynasty before the New York Islanders went on their four-year run. "I played with guys like Guy Lafleur, Dryden, all them guys.
Having played in only 16 regular season games that year Newman didn't get his name on the cup but he has memories of a lifetime. "Family meant so much to me. You know, they followed me all over. My mom and my dad. I was fortunate to have that group of people behind me all the time."
Today, Newman farms in Cottam and says he is honoured to be a member of the Windsor Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.
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