Bryan Trottier

Trottier was born in Val Marie, Saskatchewan, on July 17, 1956. Like thousands of young Canadians, he spent much of his free time playing hockey, showing a real aptitude for the game early on. Years before he began playing professional hockey, Trottier often found himself playing the role of teacher, passing along his expertise in the game to his younger brothers and other would-be hockey players in the neighborhood. One of his pupils—younger brother Rocky—eventually made it to the NHL as a forward for the New Jersey Devils. For the older Trottier, mentoring others in the game was a talent that would come in handy later in his career.

Trottier began his hockey career playing for the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League during the seasons of 1972-1973 and 1973-1974. In the latter season, Trottier scored 41 goals and 71 assists for a total of 112 points in 68 games. In 1974, the NHL, feeling pressure from the rival World Hockey Association (WHA), held a semi-secret draft focusing on younger players, mostly 17- and 18-year-olds. Trottier was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round of the draft and 22nd overall. The Islanders agreed to pay the young forward all the salary and bonuses he would have received in the NHL while playing in the junior league for yet another year. Trottier spent the 1974-1975 season playing for the Lethbridge Broncos, scoring 46 goals and 98 assists for a total of 144 points in 67 games.