OHL Classics: Doug Gilmour

More than two decades later, Doug Gilmour still remembered vividly the game that nearly ended his bid for the OHL record books.

Gilmour was a third-year player with the Cornwall Royals and was dominating the league’s scoring race. He had picked up at least one point in 28 consecutive games and already had his sights set on the league mark of 52 set by Jim Fox of the Ottawa 67’s three years earlier.

With less than a minute left on the clock and until then pointless in game number 29, Gilmour was skating back to his bench and didn’t expect to get another shift to try to extend the streak.

“I was on the bench and I didn’t think I was going to get back on,” said Gilmour. “All the sudden, somebody changed and they said ‘go’. I went out, had a breakaway and scored. After that – I’m not saying it got easier – but the guys really paid attention to it and helped me out.”

Gilmour recorded at least one point in the next 26 games to set a new record of 55 consecutive contests. He finished the year with 68 goals and 177 points, the third-most productive season in league history.

“It’s a funny thing that happened,” Gilmour said. “You remember different things. I had a guy Steve Driscoll and I had another guy – Ian MacInnis – and those guys were my line mates. It was just a fun year.”

Gilmour started his career as an undersized forward who played Tier II with the Belleville Bulls. But his grit and determination carried him beyond what his height and weight would indicate. It was that character that helped Gilmour graduate as an OHL star into a 20-year standout National Hockey League career.

After a 119-point sophomore season in Cornwall, Gilmour was picked in the seventh round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues. He was excited about the chance to play in the NHL, but was disappointed that he was selected so late in the draft.

“The following year it just took some time to get the chip off my shoulder, Gilmour admitted. “When other people got drafted ahead of you and you feel like you’re worthy and better, it just made me work harder.”

As became his calling card, Gilmour channeled that emotion into an “I’ll show you” attitude that resulted in his record-setting performance. The next year, he scored 25 goals as an NHL rookie with the Blues.

“It was just something that was overwhelming,” said Gilmour, who scored 128 goals and 331 points during his standout junior career. “The time flies.”

Written by Aaron Bell