1974-75 O-Pee-Chee 94 Don Lever Hockey Card (Front)
1974-75 O-Pee-Chee 94 Don Lever Hockey Card (Back)
1974-75 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Don hasn’t missed a game during his two seasons with the Canucks. He’s improved both years and achieved several goals without having the benefit of any minor league experience. He was chosen in the first round of the 1972 Amateur Draft. He’s a powerful skater who prefers going over the opposition instead of around them. Four of his goals last year were on the power play.
En Français
Don n’a pas manqué une seule partie durant ses deux saisons avec les Canucks. Il a continué de s’améliorer et il n’a jamais joué dans les mineures. Choix de la première ronde au repêchage des amateurs de 1972. Don est un patineur puissant qui n’a pas peur de foncer. L’an dernier, il marqua quatre de ses buts sur des jeux de puissance.
Details
Don Lever did score four goals on the power play for the Vancouver Canucks in 1973-74. He would up that total to eleven in 1974-75. This total tied him with large group of players for 17th in the NHL, a distance behind leader Phil Esposito and his 27 PP goals.
Lever was selected third overall by the Canucks at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. The only two players picked ahead of him were Billy Harris (New York Islanders) and Jacques Richard (Atlanta Flames). Don and Phil Russell are the only first round picks from that year to play over 1,000 games in the NHL. After an exceptional junior career with the Niagara Falls Flyers, Lever jumped directly to the Canucks.
It was a career season for Lever in 1974-75 with 38 goals. He would surpass the 30 goal plateau just one more time, scoring 35 in 1979-80, a season split between the Canucks and Atlanta Flames. Three of his 38 came on the night of February 1, 1975 with Vancouver hosting the expansion Washington Capitals at the Pacific Coliseum. Lever’s hat trick helped the Canucks to a 5-2 win. All goals were assisted by Andre Boudrias and scored on Ron Low.
Between 1972-73 and 1986-87, Don Lever played in 1,020 regular season and 30 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Canucks, Atlanta/Calgary Flames, Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres. Over half his career playoff games (16) were played in 1980-81 with Calgary reaching the semi-final before falling to the Minnesota North Stars.