Garry Unger looks back on his memorable career with the St. Louis Blues, including his Iron Man streak and the tragic accident involving Bobby Gassoff, in Episode 3 of Life as a Blue.
Great interview by Garry. As a Christiam I could tell right away there is something special about him, so I wasnt surprised when he testified about his Christian conversion.
Converting to the satanic run protestant religion ( whichever denomination ) is NOT a conversion. Becoming a Christian & being born again happens when you are baptized as a baby & you are doing such " becoming" your whole life.... Oh & by the way Christianity IS = Catholiscism. Ask the Catholic Apostles.
I can never get enough of the guys from this era. I watch old games on TH-cam on hot summer nights because the quality of the video has become clearer than my memories. Thank you. Please don’t forget about Bob Gassoff. He is the least mentioned of all of our retired numbers. His number was retired for a reason. The Blues family loved him. Please consider something in his honour. I think Mr. Unger and the boys from back then might approve. Maybe appreciate. I know that I would.
I’m a 56 year old NY Islanders fan. I remember as a kid about 9 watching Bob Gassoff when the Blues visited the Nassau Coliseum around early 1977. I recall as a kid seeing how gritty and tough Bob was. He was a fighter indeed. RIP ❤️👏
Wow. What a poignant and articulate interview with "The Iron Man". We loved Gary Unger growing up. He was a tough, electric player, but he also had the hair and pizazz! But this interview really unlocks a totally different side of Unger, and how his life changed upon the death of his friend Bobby Gassoff. Well-done, St. Lous Blues. I love all the old stories and memories from one of our biggest fan-favorites, number 7. God bless you Gary Unger.
Wonderful interview. I burned my dinner on the stove while watching it. As children my sibs and I would wait after the game to get autographs, especially from you Mr. Unger. My older sister got one from Mr. Gassoff, for whom she had a crush. I drive by that intersection all the time. There's a light there now. It'll never look the same after watching this. Prayers for you and your family.
We were there in St. Louis when you played for the Blues and when Bobby was killed. You were our favorite player and I was able to talk to you several times at the Blueliner events. You were always kind, talked to our little daughter who is now approaching 50 years of age. One of her first words was SCORE! She had her own little hockey stick and would shoot when we watched the games on Television. Since you became a believer, my respect for you has only grown. This video is just wonderful, thank kyou!
I feel Garry's pain when he's talking about Gassoff. I'll never forget that fateful day. When I heard it, I was in shock. Red was my first favorite as a kid but when he was traded for Garry he became my next favorite...
Mr. Unger is the greatest inspiration to me and my wife. He coached us and gave us lessons and we became friends. It's because of Jesus and our relationship with God - that's the only thing that really matters in life.
Such a great story. I will always remember you. Love Tommy Woodcock love the Solomon family. I worked for Dr. Leslie Rich for five years. You came in on many times. He was the team dentist. This was a great story. Bobbi Gassoff was a great guy. It was just an accident.you were dearly loved by the St. Louis fans
Wonderful story about playing center with Howe and Mahovlich. Wow, what a moment that must have been. Thank you for your talent, and classy contributions to hockey! ✌️♥️
This is a beautiful story. I remember Garry as a player and his successes, but was never aware of his story and challenges. Thank you for creating and sharing this.
The hair that epitomized the early 1970's. I remember him on Hockey Night when the Blues were playing Toronto, and Unger was in the middle of his decade long "Iron Man" consecutive game streak in 1974. Next to another early 1970's icon, Felix Unger, he was my favourite Unger of all time.
Wow....what a great mini-documentary on a great, unappreciated and in many ways underrated hockey player! Garry Unger was truly one of a kind. His story about the passing of Bob Gassoff was truly moving and makes me believe he still carries some guilt with him through his life after that horrific incident. Hopefully he's forgiven himself long ago if he ever did carry any guilt. Thanks for producing this video. Very enjoyable and in some ways inspirational!
He was a true sports hero to thousands of kids growing up in St.Louis Mo. He was tough too. NHL iron man and a great goal scoring center ....It's a huge injustice that his number isn't next to Gassoff's up in the rafters ...
Garry was a favorite of mine. I was a big Blues fan for many years and have some fun photos of Garry. Always wanted to use one of them as a cover on my hockey book published on Amazon but did not know how to go about getting approval for doing so.
Always was one of my favorite Blues growing up. Great interview and I just love the emotion he still has telling the story of Gasser. Such a sad day for the Blues Family. Still hurts to this day. #7 was such a special Blue. Thanks for posting
Can well remember watching him when he played for the London Nats. He was also the top scorer in my NHL expansion season wire hockey game. Thanks for the great interview.
Former Blues defenseman Noel Picard used to do tv commentary on Blues game broadcasts following his retirement from hockey. He was a French Canadian who had some difficulty with English phonetics. When he would try to pronounce the word "third" as in "Sid the Third" he would invariably pronounce the initial consonant in "third" as a simple "t" as in "tunnel". "Sid the Third" of course referred to Sid Salomon III, one the original owners of the St.Louis Blues
Long time no see, Gary. Good to see you up and running. Met you a flight from Van to Edmonton back in about '84. You had just retired. I think Laurie Boschman was the guy to took your spot later .. Also a Christian, and a and he played tough. He was traded to Winnipeg, Then came Kevin McClelland.
I remember listening on my little transistor radio to KMOX as a teenager in my bedroom listening to these classic games. Boy, the games those days, and the players like Unger.
Often, tragedy makes great people great. Gary felt it, gave it and received it in heroic fashion. Proud to have followed his story as an outsider. Respect as a Canucks fan when Bobby Gassoff's younger brother Brad was an upcoming journeyman player for the Vancouver Canucks.
Unger was a huge part of the franchise's history but it was really Red Berenson who helped put the team on the map in the early expansion years. Both were huge parts of the Blues history.
In 1983 I had a friend attending Highway Christian Centre church in south Edmonton. On Boxing Day the men there had a pickup game. I came along; so did Gary Unger. He was on the other side. That was one of the highlights of my drab life as a hockey player.
As a kid growing up in Michigan I was an Unger fan, I was very upset when he was traded to the Blues. As a Red Wing he was very exciting as the “next generation” after Gordie and Alex.
i remember when you played here when you were a junior i got to see you here in moncton nb ps that was an amazing night the team you played was the moncton junior seals
@@scott6699Sure! Adding “Big Walt” would be good too. But let’s do it while Red and Garry are still around to enjoy the honor!!!!! And while I’m still alive to see it. I just hit the Big 7-0 last month!!!! Blues Fan since Spring 1968!
I remember the day that Unger, along with The Big M, Peter Stemkowski, and the NHL rights to Carl Brewer were traded to Detroit. I think I read about in the old Toronto Telegram or maybe I heard it on CFRB AM radio, the station that my parents listened to. However I found out, I was devastated. I am a Leaf fan to this day, but I will never forget how betrayed I felt that day. I was 11 years old.
I remember when I got the news that he had been killed in a motorcycle accident. I was 13 years old. I started collecting hockey fights about 10 years latter. I have a handful of his fights. I have him beating up Polis during a brawl. He went back to beating him up 2x . It’s on TH-cam.@@jamesanthony5681
@@jamesanthony5681 in the NHL, he pounded Williams in back to back games. According to Clark, Gillies and Clark’s coach he gave Gillies his only loss in the minors.
Hej, Garry, im Rick from Sweden, i meet you, few times playin with blues . One time, long islands, i saw you! you recognize me, hi, i ask what do you doin here. You answered, The guy s, need someo with experiences rutin,.. 1981 DO YOU REMEMBER. THANK S FOR you hockey work.. IronMan. Rick. Hop you doin good.. Im in Stockholm.
I was out at Unger's farm when Bobby passed, I was dating Red's daughter and was at the memorial day party, was so sad. went with Mrs B the next day to Bobbies house and was the week mind strong back cut her grass raked the yard, then Mrs Gassoff went into labor and Joy took her to the hospital and she had Bobbie Jr.. Sad time.
Just loved that Ned Harkness story concerning the hidden headline. I sure laughed at that one. Some people are just born phony and sounds like he was one. Also the Gordie and Alex advice could not have been better for someone to become accepted as an equal in the league as it was then. I met Bob Gassoff during his Quesnel days and followed his career. He was a special person and after seeing this video I think you must be, too, Garry. All the best
Someone, maybe Bruce Norris, hired Ned Harkness to destroy the Red Wings. Harkness was the mental deficient who traded Gary Unger to St. Louis for…. Red Berenson and Tim Ecclestone (NOT HOFers). One of many reasons cars in Detroit sported the bumper sticker “Darkness With Harkness!”
A long time. When Harkness was hired as coach, he didn't like the fact that Alex Delvecchio smoked cigars, and he told Alex about that. In the summer just prior to the start of the 1970-71 training camp, Delvecchio called Gordie Howe and told Gordie (paraphrasing slightly), "We're going to have a problem with this guy."
Something interesting (at least to me) Other Iron men were Doug Jarvis and Mike Gartner.. both Christians.. and at age 43, Gartner was still the fastest skater on the NHL
Five minutes talking about his Detroit days. A lot of time talking about a sad event. No discussion about his All-Star game MVP or other upbeat topics.
Unger's #7 should have gone into the rafters after he retired from the NHL. He was the truest of Blues.
Totally agree his number should have been retired
Wish he would have stayed in Detroit but Ned Harkness didn’t like his long hair.
@@mag-nm7twHarkness didn't like the fact that Alex Delvechhio smoked cigars.
Unger's #7 to the rafters of the Scottrade Center? There's still time. His #7 would fit nicely between Bobby Plager's #5 and Barclay Plager's #8.
Great interview by Garry. As a Christiam I could tell right away there is something special about him, so I wasnt surprised when he testified about his Christian conversion.
Converting to the satanic run protestant religion ( whichever denomination ) is NOT a conversion.
Becoming a Christian & being born again happens when you are baptized as a baby & you are doing such " becoming" your whole life....
Oh & by the way Christianity IS = Catholiscism.
Ask the Catholic Apostles.
Oh dear, you are special!
I can never get enough of the guys from this era.
I watch old games on TH-cam on hot summer nights because the quality of the video has become clearer than my memories. Thank you.
Please don’t forget about Bob Gassoff. He is the least mentioned of all of our retired numbers. His number was retired for a reason.
The Blues family loved him.
Please consider something in his honour. I think Mr. Unger and the boys from back then might approve. Maybe appreciate.
I know that I would.
I’m a 56 year old NY Islanders fan. I remember as a kid about 9 watching Bob Gassoff when the Blues visited the Nassau Coliseum around early 1977. I recall as a kid seeing how gritty and tough Bob was. He was a fighter indeed. RIP ❤️👏
Gassoff is on TH-cam beating up Greg Polis in a huge bench clearing brawl.He beat Polis up then they took a little break then he beat him again. Lol
Wow. What a poignant and articulate interview with "The Iron Man". We loved Gary Unger growing up. He was a tough, electric player, but he also had the hair and pizazz! But this interview really unlocks a totally different side of Unger, and how his life changed upon the death of his friend Bobby Gassoff. Well-done, St. Lous Blues. I love all the old stories and memories from one of our biggest fan-favorites, number 7. God bless you Gary Unger.
Very well done piece. God bless, Garry.
What a great interview. Garry Unger will always be my favorite Blue of all time.
Mr Unger, your story is very moving.
Wonderful interview. I burned my dinner on the stove while watching it. As children my sibs and I would wait after the game to get autographs, especially from you Mr. Unger. My older sister got one from Mr. Gassoff, for whom she had a crush. I drive by that intersection all the time. There's a light there now. It'll never look the same after watching this. Prayers for you and your family.
what a player...a man...a competitor and gentleman
We were there in St. Louis when you played for the Blues and when Bobby was killed. You were our favorite player and I was able to talk to you several times at the Blueliner events. You were always kind, talked to our little daughter who is now approaching 50 years of age. One of her first words was SCORE! She had her own little hockey stick and would shoot when we watched the games on Television. Since you became a believer, my respect for you has only grown. This video is just wonderful, thank kyou!
Gassoff & Durbano played some games together. That was scary for opposing players.
@@bigbadbruins1True. And then you had Noel Picard a few years before them. Blues had some tough guys.
Durbano & Gassoff played a handful of games together. Can you imagine being a rookie forward. Lol@@jamesanthony5681
I feel Garry's pain when he's talking about Gassoff. I'll never forget that fateful day. When I heard it, I was in shock. Red was my first favorite as a kid but when he was traded for Garry he became my next favorite...
Grew up in Chicago a Hawks fan but had a Blues jersey and gold, blue and white gloves because of Unger.
Great doc. Blues are making player legacy a thing to build on.
Mr. Unger is the greatest inspiration to me and my wife. He coached us and gave us lessons and we became friends. It's because of Jesus and our relationship with God - that's the only thing that really matters in life.
Gary was a cool guy absolutely
Such a great story. I will always remember you. Love Tommy Woodcock love the Solomon family. I worked for Dr. Leslie Rich for five years. You came in on many times. He was the team dentist. This was a great story. Bobbi Gassoff was a great guy. It was just an accident.you were dearly loved by the St. Louis fans
A great player…. I remember him well. Classic years before the eighties. He was a hero of mine….God Bless him.
A class act...got his autographed photo as a kid still a treasured piece of memorabilia..oh the good old days of hockey.
Wonderful story about playing center with Howe and Mahovlich. Wow, what a moment that must have been. Thank you for your talent, and classy contributions to hockey! ✌️♥️
This is a beautiful story. I remember Garry as a player and his successes, but was never aware of his story and challenges. Thank you for creating and sharing this.
Mad respect!!!❤❤❤
Bless you Mr, Unger,
"Old Time Hockey!" Gotta Love it!!!
Yah eh!!
The hair that epitomized the early 1970's. I remember him on Hockey Night when the Blues were playing Toronto, and Unger was in the middle of his decade long "Iron Man" consecutive game streak in 1974. Next to another early 1970's icon, Felix Unger, he was my favourite Unger of all time.
Wow....what a great mini-documentary on a great, unappreciated and in many ways underrated hockey player! Garry Unger was truly one of a kind. His story about the passing of Bob Gassoff was truly moving and makes me believe he still carries some guilt with him through his life after that horrific incident. Hopefully he's forgiven himself long ago if he ever did carry any guilt.
Thanks for producing this video. Very enjoyable and in some ways inspirational!
He was a true sports hero to thousands of kids growing up in St.Louis Mo. He was tough too. NHL iron man and a great goal scoring center ....It's a huge injustice that his number isn't next to Gassoff's up in the rafters ...
Garry was a great player and I really enjoyed watching this video!
Garry was a favorite of mine. I was a big Blues fan for many years and have some fun photos of Garry. Always wanted to use one of them as a cover on my hockey book published on Amazon but did not know how to go about getting approval for doing so.
Garry played in my city, Dundee, for the Rockets, 1985-86…. 86 goals, 48 assists, 64 PIM….👍🏴🏒🇨🇦
Always was one of my favorite Blues growing up. Great interview and I just love the emotion he still has telling the story of Gasser. Such a sad day for the Blues Family. Still hurts to this day. #7 was such a special Blue. Thanks for posting
Garry really liked you as a player. Like even so much more as a person. Awesome video
Just great interview, fine man. Speaks the truth.
Awesome interview. I remember Garry being the NHL iron man! God Bless! 🇨🇦
Can well remember watching him when he played for the London Nats. He was also the top scorer in my NHL expansion season wire hockey game. Thanks for the great interview.
i remember garry unger as a very solid player and we would see him when the blues played against the boston bruins.
Former Blues defenseman Noel Picard used to do tv commentary on Blues game broadcasts following his retirement from hockey. He was a French Canadian who had some difficulty with English phonetics. When he would try to pronounce the word "third" as in "Sid the Third" he would invariably pronounce the initial consonant in "third" as a simple "t" as in "tunnel". "Sid the Third" of course referred to Sid Salomon III, one the original owners of the St.Louis Blues
"Dats de way da turd pereod enend!".
I remember when Unger came to the blue's, blonde hair and number 7 that was the best time as a blue's fan
Long time no see, Gary. Good to see you up and running. Met you a flight from Van to Edmonton back in about '84. You had just retired. I think Laurie Boschman was the guy to took your spot later .. Also a Christian, and a and he played tough. He was traded to Winnipeg, Then came Kevin McClelland.
I remember listening on my little transistor radio to KMOX as a teenager in my bedroom listening to these classic games. Boy, the games those days, and the players like Unger.
Often, tragedy makes great people great. Gary felt it, gave it and received it in heroic fashion. Proud to have followed his story as an outsider. Respect as a Canucks fan when Bobby Gassoff's younger brother Brad was an upcoming journeyman player for the Vancouver Canucks.
Gary Unger IS the St. Louis Blues.
Unger was a huge part of the franchise's history but it was really Red Berenson who helped put the team on the map in the early expansion years. Both were huge parts of the Blues history.
As a kid, Garry Unger was the guy I wanted to watch.
In 1983 I had a friend attending Highway Christian Centre church in south Edmonton. On Boxing Day the men there had a pickup game. I came along; so did Gary Unger. He was on the other side. That was one of the highlights of my drab life as a hockey player.
As a kid growing up in Michigan I was an Unger fan, I was very upset when he was traded to the Blues. As a Red Wing he was very exciting as the “next generation” after Gordie and Alex.
i remember when you played here when you were a junior i got to see you here in moncton nb ps that was an amazing night the team you played was the moncton junior seals
The Blues should retire #7 to honor both Garry Unger and Red Berenson.
Tkachuk too!
@@scott6699Sure! Adding “Big Walt” would be good too.
But let’s do it while Red and Garry are still around to enjoy the honor!!!!! And while I’m still alive to see it. I just hit the Big 7-0 last month!!!!
Blues Fan since Spring 1968!
Bingo. Gary was part of 'Athletes in Action'
Dont forget Joe mullen
I remember Garry Unger; they called him the Iron Man because of the consecutive games he played without missing.
Definitely had your hockey card and watched on the black and white TV , hockey night in canada when it was a real broadcast
Garry Unger is very clean just like his brother Felix
I remember the day that Unger, along with The Big M, Peter Stemkowski, and the NHL rights to Carl Brewer were traded to Detroit. I think I read about in the old Toronto Telegram or maybe I heard it on CFRB AM radio, the station that my parents listened to. However I found out, I was devastated. I am a Leaf fan to this day, but I will never forget how betrayed I felt that day. I was 11 years old.
EXCELLENT!!!!
I wish they could have had a review of his time with the Leafs, and as a minor league coach in New Mexico.
I remember you and Stemkowski sharing a house in Dearborn. Sorry to see you leave.
Gassoff was the toughest player in the NHL Don Cherry said some players got the Gassoff flu.i would of loved seeing this guy play another 10 years.
He ate up Tiger Williams in junior and in the NHL, and Tiger said Gassoff was the toughest he ever faced.
I remember when I got the news that he had been killed in a motorcycle accident. I was 13 years old. I started collecting hockey fights about 10 years latter. I have a handful of his fights. I have him beating up Polis during a brawl. He went back to beating him up 2x . It’s on TH-cam.@@jamesanthony5681
@@jamesanthony5681 in the NHL, he pounded Williams in back to back games. According to Clark, Gillies and Clark’s coach he gave Gillies his only loss in the minors.
Gary tells great stories, but the memories not all there. Battleship kelly never played with the flyers and hound dog, Kelly and schultz
Hej, Garry, im Rick from Sweden, i meet you, few times playin with blues . One time, long islands, i saw you! you recognize me, hi, i ask what do you doin here. You answered, The guy s, need someo with experiences rutin,.. 1981
DO YOU REMEMBER. THANK S FOR you hockey work.. IronMan. Rick. Hop you doin good.. Im in Stockholm.
Gary loves telling story’s.
I was out at Unger's farm when Bobby passed, I was dating Red's daughter and was at the memorial day party, was so sad. went with Mrs B the next day to Bobbies house and was the week mind strong back cut her grass raked the yard, then Mrs Gassoff went into labor and Joy took her to the hospital and she had Bobbie Jr.. Sad time.
Were you a player on the Blues at the time?
no, Dated the coaches daughter and was only 5 years younger than Bernie and Brian and got to know them. @@jamesanthony5681
As a Red Wing, Garry Unger dated Pam Eldred, a Miss America, from West Bloomfield, MI.
He was the Blues
One of my favorite Red Wings when I was a kid I sure hated to see him traded. Harkness really screw up Detroit the way he ran things.
Just loved that Ned Harkness story concerning the hidden headline. I sure laughed at that one. Some people are just born phony and sounds like he was one. Also the Gordie and Alex advice could not have been better for someone to become accepted as an equal in the league as it was then. I met Bob Gassoff during his Quesnel days and followed his career. He was a special person and after seeing this video I think you must be, too, Garry. All the best
Dundee legend
16:51 broke me. I had to pause for a while.
Someone, maybe Bruce Norris, hired Ned Harkness to destroy the Red Wings. Harkness was the mental deficient who traded Gary Unger to St. Louis for…. Red Berenson and Tim Ecclestone (NOT HOFers). One of many reasons cars in Detroit sported the bumper sticker “Darkness With Harkness!”
Thx for Frank.....oh & Peter also ( roundabout way )....
Love mtl.
Wonder what his take on being a Darkness With Harkness Detroit Red Wing is?
Wings were in the ditch for like what, 10 years?
Harkness Darkeness era
A long time. When Harkness was hired as coach, he didn't like the fact that Alex Delvecchio smoked cigars, and he told Alex about that. In the summer just prior to the start of the 1970-71 training camp, Delvecchio called Gordie Howe and told Gordie (paraphrasing slightly), "We're going to have a problem with this guy."
Something interesting (at least to me) Other Iron men were Doug Jarvis and Mike Gartner.. both Christians.. and at age 43, Gartner was still the fastest skater on the NHL
The Harkness Darkness Era of the Red Wings!
Wow
Still bad feelings the Wings traded him for hometown hero Red and Tim Ecclestone loved them both but not the same
The day the red wings let him go was the real start of the dead wing dark ages.
The guy plated every night
Five minutes talking about his Detroit days. A lot of time talking about a sad event. No discussion about his All-Star game MVP or other upbeat topics.
Life of a Blues fan: utter disappointment
What about 2019?
Sorry Garry. You accomplished a lot but you were never a fight threat in the NHL.
He didn't say he was.
Ned Harkness was college coach @ RPI in Troy,NY also.🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏑🏑
Used too watch Gastoff in Medicine Hat the boy could fight & play .