Dwight Foster
Born (1957-04-02) 2 April 1957
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Boston Bruins
Colorado Rockies
New Jersey Devils
Detroit Red Wings
NHL Draft 16th overall, 1977
Boston Bruins
WHA Draft 10th overall, 1977
Houston Aeros
Playing career 1977–1987

Dwight Alexander Foster (born 2 April 1957) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL) in the first round, 16th overall in 1977 by the Boston Bruins. Besides Boston, he played for the Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings, before retiring in 1987 because of knee injuries.

Amateur career

Foster was born in Toronto, Ontario. As a youth, he played in the 1968 and 1969 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with minor ice hockey teams from Toronto.[1]

While playing for the Kitchener Rangers, he led the tough Ontario Hockey League in scoring, Foster was a highly rated prospect going into the 1977 NHL Entry Draft. The New York Islanders seriously considered selecting him 15th overall, but settled on future Hall of Fame forward Mike Bossy instead.[2] Foster was known as a strong defensive forward with marginal offensive ability (his OHL scoring title notwithstanding), while Bossy was a prolific scorer who was not very physical. In the end, Islanders coach Al Arbour convinced general manager Bill Torrey that he should pick Bossy, arguing that it was easier to teach a scorer how to check.

Foster went next to Boston. That same year, he helped Team Canada win the silver medal at the World Junior Championships.

Professional career

Boston Bruins

Foster's career got off to a great start when he scored a goal in his first NHL game[3] but things came crashing down just 14-games into the season when he tore the cartilage in his left knee requiring season-ending surgery.[4] The following year he boosted his games played to 44, with another 22 spent with the Bruins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Foster had a hard time earning the trust of Bruins coach Don Cherry. While he dressed for all eleven playoff games that spring he was used sparingly, including a three-second appearance in Boston's Game 7 semifinal loss versus Montreal which ended their season.[5] After splitting time between the NHL and the AHL his first three seasons, Foster finally earned a full-time job for the 1980–81 season and chipped in 24-goals and 52-points for the Bruins. Foster centered Bruins' top scorer Rick Middleton and veteran winger Stan Jonathan but the next year Foster signed a free agent contract with the Colorado Rockies that summer and left Boston.

Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils

As compensation to the Bruins for signing Foster, the Rockies agreed to a trade that sent their second round pick in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft to Boston along with the option to swap first round picks in 1982.[6] The deal proved costly for Colorado when the Rockies finished in last place, gifting the Bruins the first overall draft pick, which they used to select Gord Kluzak.[7]

Foster struggled in Colorado while battling shoulder and groin injuries that limited his effectiveness; his goal total dropped by half from the previous season and his 31-points placed him eighth on the team.[8] The franchise relocated to New Jersey for the following season but after just four games with the newly minted New Jersey Devils, the organization cut their losses and he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings with the Devils receiving one US dollar in exchange.[9][10]

Detroit Red Wings

Injuries continued to plague Foster with the Red Wings, but he did bounce back to score 17-goals his first year in Detroit, while being limited to 58 games. It would prove to be the high-water mark for games played during his time in Motown while he battled shoulder and knee injuries.[11] During his fourth season with the Red Wings, he was shipped back to Boston in a late-season trade for Dave Donnelly.[12]

Second stint with Boston

Foster was held off the score sheet in the 13-games he played for the Bruins to wrap up the 1985–86 season but he did chip in two points in three playoff games that spring. He returned to the Bruins for the 1986–87 season but struggled with just four goals in 47-games and suffered yet another knee injury that required surgery.[13] When the Bruins did not offer him a contract for the 1987-88 campaign, Foster retired, finishing with 274 points in 541 career games.

Personal life

Foster is a father of four: Dwayne, Peter, Alex and Genevieve. Foster's son Alex is also a professional ice hockey player. Foster's son Peter received a scholarship to the United States Air Force Academy as a goaltender and played for the Air Force Falcons for four years.[14]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1973–74 Kitchener Rangers OHA 6723325561 —————
1974–75 Kitchener Rangers OMJHL 7039519088 —————
1975–76 Kitchener Rangers OMJHL 61365894110 8461028
1976–77 Kitchener Rangers OMJHL 64608314388 32462
1977–78 Boston Bruins NHL 142136 —————
1977–78 Rochester Americans AHL 30332 —————
1978–79 Boston Bruins NHL 4411132414 111340
1978–79 Rochester Americans AHL 211118298 —————
1979–80 Boston Bruins NHL 5710283842 93582
1979–80 Binghamton Dusters AHL 71342 —————
1980–81 Boston Bruins NHL 7724285262 31120
1981–82 Colorado Rockies NHL 7012193141 —————
1982–83 Wichita Wind CHL 20112 —————
1982–83 Detroit Red Wings NHL 5817223958 —————
1983–84 Detroit Red Wings NHL 529122150 30110
1984–85 Detroit Red Wings NHL 5016163256 30000
1985–86 Detroit Red Wings NHL 556121848 —————
1985–86 Boston Bruins NHL 130004 30222
1986–87 Boston Bruins NHL 474121637 30000
NHL totals 541111163274420 35512174

International

Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
1977 Canada WJC 72574
Junior totals 72574

Team records

  • 1976–77: Most points – Kitchener Rangers (143)
  • 1976–77: Most assists – Kitchener Rangers (83)
  • All-time most points – Kitchener Rangers (382)
  • Most goals in a game – Kitchener Rangers 1976–77 (5)

References

  1. ↑ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  2. ↑ Good and lucky at NHL draft http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Draft/2012/06/19/19897566.html
  3. ↑ "1977 NHL amateur draft -- Dwight Foster". www.hockeydraftcentral.com. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  4. ↑ Robertson, John G. (12 July 2018). Too Many Men on the Ice: The 1978-1979 Boston Bruins and the Most Famous Penalty in Hockey History. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-7100-0.
  5. ↑ Robertson, John G. (12 July 2018). Too Many Men on the Ice: The 1978-1979 Boston Bruins and the Most Famous Penalty in Hockey History. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-7100-0.
  6. ↑ Wolff, Alexander (3 August 1981). "A roundup of the week 20–26 July". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  7. ↑ Mifflin, Lawrie (10 June 1982). "New Jersey Trades Ramage and Chooses a Trottier in Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "1977 NHL amateur draft -- Dwight Foster". www.hockeydraftcentral.com. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  9. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Davidson's Surgery". The New York Times. 30 October 1982. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  10. ↑ Wheatley, Tom (18 June 2003). "ESPN.com: NHL - Futures can help the present". www.espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  11. ↑ "1977 NHL amateur draft -- Dwight Foster". www.hockeydraftcentral.com. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  12. ↑ Reinmuth, Gary (12 March 1986). "Falk's Fate at NU Still Undecided". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "1977 NHL amateur draft -- Dwight Foster". www.hockeydraftcentral.com. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  14. ↑ "Peter Foster - Men's Ice Hockey". Air Force Academy Athletics. United States Air Force Academy. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
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