Marc Crawford

Before Marc Crawford went on to become a successful coach at many levels, including the National Hockey League, Marc Crawford was a marginal 4th line player who split 6 seasons with the NHL and the minor leagues.

Crawford was a small but very fiesty player. He played with full effort and guts, just like he wanted his players to do when he stepped behind the bench. Marc was one of three brothers from the Belleville Ontario home to make the NHL as his brothers Bob and Lou also appeared in some games. An average skater with below average NHL scoring skills, Crawford played the role of sparkplug and pest for the Vancouver Canucks for 176 NHL games.

Crawford was drafted 70th overall in the 1980 Entry Draft and had a season to remember in his final season in junior. As a member of the Cornwall Royals, a team which featured Dale Hawerchuk, Crawford was named to the Memorial Cup All Star team as he helped the Royals win the Memorial Cup. Crawford was also part of the 1981 Team Canada that represented the country at the World Junior Championship.

Crawford would split his first pro season with the Vancouver Canucks and the Dallas Black Hawks of the CHL. Crawford did play in 14 playoff games in Vancouver's Cinderella playoff run of 1982 which saw them come up short to the New York Islanders in the finals. Crawford scored 1 goal.

Crawford would split his second season again with the Canucks and their new farm team in Fredericton. Fredericton would become Crawford's mailing address for much of his career as he spent most of his career there with occasional call ups to the Canucks.

Crawford's best season in the NHL was in 1985-86 when he played in 54 contests scoring 11 times and assisting on 14 others while accumulating 92 penalty minutes. The left winger scored 19 career goals and 31 career assists for 50 points in 176 games while adding another goal and 2 assists in 20 playoff games.

Crawford finished his playing career with the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL in 1989.