1978-79 O-Pee-Chee 161 Jim Lorentz Hockey Card (Front)
1978-79 O-Pee-Chee 161 Jim Lorentz Hockey Card (Back)
1978-79 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
As noted on the front of this 1978-79 O-Pee-Chee hockey card, Jim Lorentz would not return to the National Hockey League for the 1978-79 season. After a career of 659 regular season and 54 playoff games in the NHL between 1968-69 and 1977-78, Lorentz had decided to retire. Most of his career was spent with the Buffalo Sabres, but he also played for the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers.
Lorentz played junior hockey with the Niagara Falls Flyers for three seasons from 1964-65 to 1966-67. In his final year with the club, he finished fourth in the league in goal scoring with 33, behind Mickey Redmond, Derek Sanderson and Garry Unger. His 59 assists were one behind leader and teammate Derek Sanderson. Jim was third in the race for the Eddie Powers Trophy with 92 points, behind Redmond and Sanderson.
As a Bruins prospect, Lorentz excelled with the Oklahoma City Blazers, their CHL affiliate. In 1967-68, he won rookie of the year honours. In 1968-69, he was the CHL’s most valuable player and the leading scorer with 101 points. He helped the Blazers to first overall and an appearance in the finals, losing out to the Dallas Black Hawks.
Jim was a 20 goal scorer four times with the Sabres, topping out with 27 in 1972-73. His best overall season came in 1974-75 when he contributed 70 points and helped Buffalo to their first appearance in the Stanley Cup final, ultimately losing to the Philadelphia Flyers.