Winning a spot on the talented Canadiens team in the 1970s was virtually impossible as there were only a few openings for a new player each year. Greg spent three seasons in the AHL with Montreal's strong farm team Nova Scotia Voyageurs in Halifax.
On April 18, 1975 he was called up for a playoff game against Vancouver Canucks the next night.
" Steve Shutt hurt himself in the previous game and they weren't sure if he could play, so I got the call," Greg remembered. " I travelled all day from Halifax to Vancouver and was pretty dog-tired when I got there. I had my own room in the hotel but I didn't sleep much because of the excitement.
" By the time I got a shift the next night, I was practically sound asleep on the bench. Scotty Bowman put me out with 16 seconds left (in a 4-0 Montreal victory).
" I bounced over the boards just before the puck was dropped and told Murray Wilson to get off. I think he was as shocked as I was to see me out there.
" We won the draw and Don Awrey took it behind our net and killed the final seconds. I stood on the wing, waiting for a pass, and when the buzzer went, I figured now's my chance to prove I was on the ice.
" I ran over and gave our goalie Ken Dryden a big hug, just as the Hockey Night In Canada cameras pointed our way. It was the next best thing to playing."
Later that summer Greg was shipped to Toronto for Toronto's 2nd round draft choice that turned out to be Doug Jarvis. Jarvis was a fine defensive forward and penalty killer who went on to win four Stanley Cups with Montreal. He also became NHL's All-time ironman with 964 consecutive games played.
" I guess Montreal got the better of the deal," Greg said with a smile on his face.
Greg wasn't near as successful as Jarvis and only played one full season in Toronto. He played 72 games in 1975-76, scoring 6 goals and 8 assists. He fondly remembered his first NHL goal.
" It was at Maple Leaf Gardens," Greg said. " I was on the left side of a line with Darryl Sittler and Jim McKenny. Jim sent me a cross-ice pass and I deflected it into the upper corner of the net behind Kansas City Scouts goalie Michel Plasse."
Although Greg never played any more games for Toronto he had fine memories of his year with the Leafs.
" I'll never forget how Borje Salming controlled the puck in our first training camp scrimmage. He was an absolute magician."
" I also remember how classy a person Darryl Sittler was. He made a point of introducing himself in the dressing room and I thought that was something very special. He was a great captain."
Greg spent the next five seasons with Dallas Black Hawks of the CHL. He was a CHL first All-Star in 1979 and 1981. He also was named CHL's top defenseman in 1979. His fine season prompted Vancouver Canucks to sign him as a free agent on September 7, 1979.
Greg only played 5 games for Vancouver before he was back in Dallas. In 1980-81 he scored 59 points (8 goals and 51 assists) in 74 games for Dallas. He played 27 games for Wichita Wind (CHL) before heading overseas.
In 1982-83 he had a one year stint in Switzerland. After that he went back home and played senior hockey in his hometown of Strasbourg, Saskatchewan.
Greg later worked for the municipality of McKillop, Saskatchewan.
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