Bruce Driver

The NHL Alumni Association is heartbroken to learn that Mel Bridgman has passed away at the age of 70. After recording 157 points in just 66 games for the Victoria Cougars of the Western Canada Hockey League (now the WHL) in 1974-75, the Philadelphia Flyers selected Mel first overall in the 1975 NHL amateur draft. Mel made an immediate impact with the Flyers, scoring his first career goal in his first career game on October, 9, 1975, following it up by scoring his second goal in as many career games. Mel played his first 462 NHL games in a Flyers sweater, before suiting for the Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings, and Vancouver Canucks, respectively. Mel finished his career with 701 points across 977 regular-season games from 1975 to 1989. Always a trusted and dependable teammate, Mel twice served as team captain on two occasions over the course of his 14 NHL seasons, with the Flyers from 1979 to 1981, and with the New Jersey Devils from 1984 to 87. In the summer of 1991, two years removed from his final season of play, Mel was named the first general manager of the expansion Ottawa Senators and would serve in that role until 1993. Mel was honoured with an induction into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. We send our deepest condolences to Mel’s family, friends, and former teammates during this incredibly difficult time.