Interview: Perry Turnbull

442nd 01-25-2009, 02:15 PM

Rating: (0 votes - average)

Left Wing
Born Mar 9 1959 -- Bentley, ALTA
Height 6.02 -- Weight 200 -- Shoots L
608 NHL GP
78 NHL FIGHTS
1245 PIM

Questionaire:

I've recently reached out to Perry and requested discussing his past NHL career. Perry has given us permission to contact him and ask him some questions regarding his NHL career.


I'd like to involve the members and ask that you help in finding out some interesting facts about his past experience.

Please feel free to ask a question and it may or may not be included.

Perry's NHL career included playing mostly for the St. Louis Blues. He also had stops in Montreal and Winnepeg before coming back home.

I request that you be courteous and respectful with your questions. Some of you may or may not be a fan. Regardless of the fact, that does not leave the door open for disrespectful questions. If I identify anything as inappropriate, I will delete it.

Perry Turnbull vs Jerry Dupont

PerryTurnbullvsJerryDupont_BLUESHAWKS.avi | Veoh Video Network

Perry Turnbull vs Terry O'Reilly

PerryTurnbullvsTerryOReilly_BLUESBRUINS.avi | Veoh Video Network

The Interview

Draft Year
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about what it felt like to be drafted #2 overall in the 1979 NHL entry draft by the St. Louis Blues? Did you feel any added pressure because you were drafted so highly?
A: The 1979 NHL entry draft was done by telephone, no one attended those things like they do nowadays. I was told I would go no later than the 4th pick so being taken #2 by St.Louis was great, but not a total surprise. I didn't feel any pressure until they, (St.Louis Blues), decided to use me as their poster boy, that being coupled with very little playing time put a huge amount of added pressure.


Q: You scored 75 goals in your last year in the WHL with Portland. Can you tell us a little about that accomplishment and your teams success that year? Portland had a big year in 78-79 and we'd love to hear any thoughts or recollections you may have of that team and their run run in the playoffs.
A: The 75 goals were a by product of having 2 good line mates in Mike Toal and Alvin Szott and being given a little more room to work with than other players got. The playoffs were a huge disappointment in losing to the Brandon Wheat Kings, but Portland was a team that was predicted not to make the playoffs that year. Everyone who was draft eligible that year was drafted so in a way it made it bitter sweet for my team mates and I.

Q: Can you tell us what is was like to be a rookie in the NHL in 79-80? What goals did you set for yourself? What was the general make up of the St. Louis Blues when you first arrived?
A: The Blues had a terrible season the year before so expectations were not real high, but they, (Blues), had either drafted or acquired 8 or 9 first round picks that year so the future looked bright. Being a rookie isn't the greatest job in hockey, there were lots of tricks, ribbing and hazing in those days. The goal I set for myself was to make the team and start the season in the MINORS!

Q: You scored 16 goals in your rookie season. You also developed a heavy hitting style and had no problems mixing it up if that's what was required. Can you tell us was there any particular player or players you tried to model your game after?
A: My favorite player was Gilbert Perreault, but at the same time I wanted to be able play firm.

Q: In your rookie year you developed quite a rivalry with Boston's Terry O'Reilly. You fought him twice in the same game. You also would fight him later that same year. Could you tell us a little bit about that and the scraps you had with him?
A: Terry was and is a fierce competitor, he abused me in the first game. The fights came about from trying to earn not only his respect but the respect of the entire Bruins team.

The Trades and Other Pro Hockey
Q: In your first 4 years in St. Louis, you developed into a 30 goal scorer having scored 30 or more goals in 3 straight seasons. Were you surprised by the trade the following year to Montreal?
A: No! I was a marketable Blue who was able to get three players who could play for one- you have to remember that the Blues were for sale, they never even attended the drafts, by moving me it gave them immediate depth.

Q: At the end of that season you were traded to Winnipeg. How did you feel about playing for the Jets? Did you look at it as a chance to start over and prove yourself again?
A: Montreal wasn't a good fit so I asked to be traded, Winnipeg was a great place for a do over! I had some decent success but too many damn injuries.

Q: You scored 20 goals twice for the Jets, but had injury problems in your last year there. The Jets then traded you back to St. Louis in the off-season. What was it like to be going back to the place where it all started?
A: Returning to the Blues was indeed my hope and that summer was great but that's where it ended. I saw very little playing time under coach Jacques Martin, I was traded for 'future considerations' which was not in my favor. I played good but not that bad either, it was never just right the second time around if you know what I mean.

Q: I noticed that you played some hockey in Italy at the very end of your career. Can you tell us about the experience of playing hockey in Italy?
A: Italy was fantastic! We played 36 games a year with the games being on Tuesday and Saturday's, I was home every night. I had lots a time to recover betweeen games, it's a great country with great food and they paid me more than the Blues did, need I say anymore?

Q: Your roller hockey experience. Can you tell us a little bit about how you got started in roller hockey and your thoughts on it?
A: Roller hockey was a blast, I started playing to promote the rink which I built 16 years ago and currently still (have), business is good and it's a great way to introduce kids to the game. it's been very satisfying.

Your Role & Personal Experience
Q: During your career, you developed a reputation as tough, physical winger who had no problem dropping the gloves. Can tell us some of the better fighters of your day? What guy was the one you would most want to watch out for? Any guys you felt were overrated?
A: Everyone I fought was tough or it seemed like it to me, I don't think anyone was overrated as long as they showed up.

Q: You played during a time of tough hockey and there were a number of tough guys with some teams really loading up with toughness. Can you tell us about the best fight you had in the NHL? the worst? Was there any one fight where you thought guys gave you more room because of it?
A: Clarke Gillies, Larry Playfair, Behn Wilson, and Dave Semenko were the guys I'd choose as far as real tough goes.

Q: Member-Bennett Wolf We'd like to know some of your choices regarding the toughest fighters you played with and against along with guys you respected or truly didn't like.
A: Guys that I played with that were real tough 'unknowns' : St.Louis- Wayne Babych Montreal- Kent Carlson and in Winnipeg- Randy Carlyle and Paul MacLean.

Q: Member-Bennett Wolf Regarding your on ice persona; were you as tempermental as you seemed, you were truly a player with an interesting fuse.
A: Short Fuse? Ya a little I guess, I'm okay know though.

Q: You had fought Larry Playfair a few times in your career. Do you remember these fights? If so how did these fights play out. You fought him in 82-83 and then again the following year. Any chance you recall these two fights. Playfair is highly regarded as a fighter and we would love to know how these fights went. So many players from this era suffer from lack of footage and any recollections into these scraps would be greatly appreciated.
A: Larry Playfair, thank god he was a team mate in Junior. I fought him because it was something that had to happen, he's real tough and probably could've done a lot more damage than he did, put it this way; I bought all the beers after the game!

Travis Turnbull
Q: Travis also plays hockey. He played for Sioux City in 04-05 and carried some hefty PIM, as well as some solid scoring stats. Does Travis play the same role and model his playing style after dad?
A: Travis is a nice player to date, he plays a different style in Junior than he does now in college, it's yet to be determined. So far it's been whatever the coach wants.

Q: Travis is regarded as a sporting locker room presence. Likes to kid with the guys and have a good time keeping things loose. Is this a similar personality to dad?
A: Similiar? Ya, he's a bit of clown. Like me.

Q: Travis wears number 9, you also wore number # 9 with the Blues and # 27 with Winnepeg. Is there any significance to the number 9?
A: Blues #9, in AAA most of the alumni kids wear the number their dad wore while playing here.

Q: Travis will be graduating this coming spring. After his senior year are there any plans to go pro?
A: Travis's agent tells me that quite a few teams have interest in him, right now we're in a wait and see mode. He went to the Blues rookie camp last year and had some success.
My hope for him is to live his dream- now it's up to him.

Thank you Perry Turnbull for your candidness and forthright responses. Best of luck for Travis!