Denis Cyr

Denis Cyr
Born (1961-02-04) February 4, 1961 (age 63)
Verdun, Quebec, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Left
Played for Calgary Flames
Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
NHL draft 13th overall, 1980
Calgary Flames
Playing career 1980–1987

Denis Cyr (born February 4, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Calgary Flames, Chicago Black Hawks, and St. Louis Blues. He was also a member of the famous junior line, "Les Trois Denis", while a member of the Montreal Juniors of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Playing career

[edit]

As a youth, he played in the 1974 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Verdun, Quebec.[1]

Cyr started his notable hockey career with the Montreal Juniors of the QMJHL. He was promptly put on a line with boyhood friends Denis Savard and Denis Tremblay in a line that was dubbed, "Les Trois Denis". They also shared more than first names, as they were all born on February 4, 1961, and also grew up together in the same Verdun neighbourhood [1]. Savard, the most famous of the three and Hockey Hall of Fame member, asked "What are the odds of that when you think about it. We played together as kids from age eight all the way through until I turned pro." [2]. The line would play two full seasons together from 1977-1979. The line combined for 299 points in its first season, and 366 in its second. Tremblay was traded after 24 games in 1979–80 [3], however Savard and Cyr both demolished their previous career highs, scoring 181 and 146 points, respectively.

While Tremblay would never be drafted, Cyr and Savard were both drafted in the first round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Savard would be drafted third overall by the Chicago Black Hawks, and Cyr was drafted thirteenth overall by the Calgary Flames. Cyr would play one more season in junior, but he did finish the season playing ten games for the Flames. Cyr wasn't able to continue his scoring prowess with the Flames, and as a result he was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks in 1982 for Carey Wilson. The Hawks were hoping for Cyr to rekindle his chemistry with Denis Savard, who had already established himself as an elite NHLer by this time. However, Cyr still could not secure a permanent NHL position and after a couple of seasons moved on to the St. Louis Blues, and then retired after three seasons in their organization, most of which was spent playing for their minor league affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen of the International Hockey League, winning the Turner Cup in 1985. He would later become the General Manager of the Rivermen, going on to win the Turner Cup again in 1991.

Cyr finished his NHL career with 193 games played, scoring 41 goals and 43 assists for 84 points. He currently does work on behalf of the Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association.

Personal life

[edit]

In 2008, Cyr created the Cyr Financial Group in Peoria. He was elected to the Peoria City Council by a single vote in 2017. Cyr was reelected to city council in 2021. [2]

Cyr currently lives in Peoria, Illinois, with his two daughters. His wife, Jeanie, passed away on October 21, 2021.

Career statistics

[edit]

Regular season and playoffs

[edit]
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1977–78 Montréal Juniors QMJHL 72 46 55 101 25 13 4 10 14 0
1978–79 Montréal Juniors QMJHL 72 70 56 126 61 11 7 5 12 26
1979–80 Montréal Juniors QMJHL 70 70 76 146 61 10 10 13 23 6
1980–81 Calgary Flames NHL 10 1 4 5 0
1980–81 Montréal Juniors QMJHL 57 50 40 90 53 6 6 12 37
1981–82 Calgary Flames NHL 45 12 10 22 13
1981–82 Oklahoma City Stars CHL 14 10 4 14 16
1982–83 Calgary Flames NHL 11 1 1 2 0
1982–83 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 41 7 8 2 1 0 0 0 0
1983–84 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 46 12 13 25 19
1983–84 Springfield Indians AHL 17 4 13 17 11 3 0 0 0 0
1984–85 St. Louis Blues NHL 9 5 3 8 0 3 0 0 0 0
1984–85 Peoria Rivermen IHL 62 26 51 28 20 18 14 32 14
1985–86 St. Louis Blues NHL 31 3 4 7 2
1985–86 Peoria Rivermen IHL 34 15 26 41 15 11 5 4 9 2
1986–87 Peoria Rivermen IHL 81 29 41 70 10
NHL totals 193 41 43 84 36 4 0 0 0 0
IHL totals 177 70 118 188 53 31 23 18 41 16

International

[edit]
Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1981 Canada WJC 5 2 1 3 0
Junior totals 5 2 1 3 0

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
  2. ^ "Cyr Edges Ali By One Vote - 1470 WMBD". 1470 WMBD. 2017-04-19. Archived from the original on 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
[edit]
Preceded by Calgary Flames' first round draft pick
1980
Succeeded by