1981-82 O-Pee-Chee 248 Mel Bridgman Hockey Card (Front)
1981-82 O-Pee-Chee 248 Mel Bridgman Hockey Card (Back)
1981-82 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Looking to buy this hockey card? Check out what’s available at eBay: Mel Bridgman 1981-82
(As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase through the above link)
Card Notes
Mel has never played a game in the minor leagues. With 312 career points, he ranks among the Flyers’ all-time leading scorers. Had 3 game winners, 1980-81. Mel was WCHL’s leading scorer with 157 points for the Victoria Cougars in 1974-75.
En Français
Mel n’a jamais joué un seul match dans les ligues mineures. Un des meilleurs compteurs des Flyers, avec 32 points durant sa carrière jusqu’ici. Il marqua 3 buts gagnants en 1980-81. Mel fut le meilleur compteur de la LHOC en 1974-75 avec 157 points pour les Cougars de Victoria.
Details
There is an ERROR on the back of this 1981-82 O-Pee-Chee Mel Bridgman hockey card. Mel was born in Trenton, Ontario, not Trenton, British Columbia as the card suggests. This is a common error over a number of Bridgman’s hockey cards.
In 1974-75 with the Victoria Cougars, Bridgman led the league with 157 points while finishing second with 66 goals, 16 behind leader Don Murdoch. He came behind Bryan Trottier for WCHL MVP and the two tied as All-Stars at the centre position.
This performance caught the eye of the Philadelphia Flyers and they drafted Mel first overall at the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. He jumped right to the NHL for the 1975-76 season and had an outstanding rookie season with the Flyers, putting up 50 points during the regular season and 14 more in the playoffs. He finished fifth in voting for the Calder Trophy, a great distance behind Trottier with Glenn Resch, Dennis Maruk and Michel Bergeron also in the running.
Mel was traded to the Calgary Flames on November 11, 1981 for Brad Marsh. In nine games with the Flyers to start the 1981-82 season, Bridgman had 12 points. This included his only NHL hat trick, recorded on October 29, 1981 in a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Spectrum. He had the game winner and also assisted on a Brian Propp goal for a four point game.
Between 1975-76 and 1988-89, Mel Bridgman played 977 regular season and 125 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks. His split 1981-82 NHL season between the Flyers and Flames turned out to be his best offensively with 33 goals and 89 points.