1
He played his entire 15-year NHL career with a single franchise.
15 Interesting Facts About Robert Clarke
A fierce competitor and two-time Stanley Cup champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest captains in NHL history and a Hockey Hall of Famer.
Position
Centre
Jersey
#16
Status
Retired
Teams
2
Facts
15
2
He captained his team to two Stanley Cup championships.
3
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.
4
He captained the Canadian national team to a gold medal at the 1976 Canada Cup.
5
He was the first player from an expansion team to record more than 100 points in a single season.
6
He wore jersey number 16 for almost his entire NHL career.
7
He holds several Philadelphia Flyers franchise records, including most games played, assists, and points in the regular season.
8
He also served as a general manager for the Minnesota North Stars and Florida Panthers during his post-playing career.
9
He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes around the age of 12 or 13, a condition that initially concerned NHL teams.
10
He became the youngest captain in NHL history at the time, assuming the role for his team at just 23 years old.
11
He won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1972 for his perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
12
His jersey was stolen prior to a road game in 1981, forcing him to wear number 36 for two games.
13
He scored his 1000th career point in a dramatic fashion, returning to the ice stitched up and bleeding after being hit by a slapshot.
14
During the 1972 Summit Series, he notably slashed Valeri Kharlamov's ankle, an incident depicted in a Russian film.
15
He was named NHL Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News, but finished fourth in the voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy.
About Robert Clarke
A legendary Canadian center, he played his entire 15-year NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers, captaining them to two Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. A three-time Hart Trophy winner and 1987 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, he was known for his leadership, two-way play, and offensive prowess despite battling type 1 diabetes.
Career Achievements & Milestones
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Stanley Cup Champion
1974
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Stanley Cup Champion
1975
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Hart Memorial Trophy
1973
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Hart Memorial Trophy
1975
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Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee
1987
Player Information & Stats
Detailed career statistics and background information about Robert Clarke.
Player Info
Country: Canada
Position: Centre
Jersey #: 16
Status: Retired
Age: 76 years old
Physical Stats
Height: 5' 10" (178 cm)
Weight: 176 lbs (80 kg)
Born: Flin Flon, Manitoba
Career Stats
Seasons: 15
Goals: 358
Assists: 852
Points: 1210
Teams: 2
Drafted: 1969
Round: 2nd
Hall of Fame: ✓ Inducted
Teams & Career
Flin Flon Bombers Philadelphia Flyers
Robert Clarke played for 2 different teams during his 15 seasons career. He was originally drafted 2nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1969.