Perry Kenneth Ganchar (born October 28, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played 42 games in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Ganchar served as head coach for the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League for two seasons.

Perry Ganchar
Born (1963-10-28) October 28, 1963 (age 61)
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Pittsburgh Penguins
Montreal Canadiens
St. Louis Blues
NHL draft 113th overall, 1982
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 1979–1996

Playing career

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Ganchar played his junior hockey career with his hometown Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League. During the 1982-83 season, Ganchar scored 68 goals and assisted on 48 for 116 points in 68 games, on a team which included future NHL players Brian Skrudland, Lane Lambert, Joey Kocur, Dale Henry and Trent Yawney on the roster.

Ganchar was drafted 113th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. After shuffling between the Blues and their minor league affiliates over a two-year period, Ganchar was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Ron Flockhart on 26 August 1985.[1]

Ganchar was unable to earn a full-time spot on the Canadiens roster, and spent the majority of the season with the team's farm affiliate in Sherbrooke. Ganchar was called up for his only game as a member of the team on 31 October 1987. The Canadiens traded Ganchar to the Pittsburgh Penguins on 17 December 1987 in exchange for future considerations.[2]

Ganchar played 33 games with the Penguins over a two-year period, where he scored the two goals of his NHL career. Ganchar would spend the rest of his playing career with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League, and would follow the franchise to Cleveland, marking his longest professional stint with one team, as he was a member of the team for eight seasons.

Coaching career

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Ganchar retired from active play after spending the 1995-96 season with the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League and pursued a career in coaching.

Ganchar remained with the Lumberjacks as an assistant coach, before being promoted to the head coach during the 1997-98 season. Ganchar would leave the team following the 1999-2000 season.

Ganchar would be named head coach of the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, prior to the start of the 2000-01 season.[3] Ganchar posted a 68-53-18-5 record with the Chiefs, before resigning at the end of the 2001-02 season.[4]

Ganchar was appointed Director of Program Development for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, based out of the Columbus area suburb of Dublin, Ohio in 2012. [5]

Personal life

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Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Ganchar attended Mount Royal Collegiate, graduating from the school in 1981.

Ganchar is married and has two children. The family resides in Dublin, Ohio.

Career statistics

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    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1979–80 Saskatoon Blades WHL 27 9 14 23 60
1980–81 Saskatoon Blades WHL 62 26 53 79 117
1981–82 Saskatoon Blades WHL 53 38 52 90 82 5 3 3 6 17
1982–83 Saskatoon Blades WHL 68 68 48 116 105 6 1 4 5 24
1982–83 Salt Lake Golden Eagles CHL 1 0 1 1 0
1983–84 St. Louis Blues NHL 1 0 0 0 0 7 3 1 4 0
1983–84 Montana Magic CHL 59 23 22 45 77
1984–85 St. Louis Blues NHL 7 0 2 2 0
1984–85 Peoria Rivermen IHL 63 41 29 70 114 20 4 11 15 49
1985–86 Sherbrooke Canadiens AHL 75 25 29 54 42
1986–87 Sherbrooke Canadiens AHL 68 22 29 51 64 17 9 8 17 37
1987–88 Sherbrooke Canadiens AHL 28 12 18 30 61
1987–88 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1 1 0 1 0
1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 30 2 5 7 36
1988–89 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 3 0 0 0 0
1988–89 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 70 39 34 73 114 14 7 8 15 6
1989–90 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 79 40 45 85 111 14 3 5 8 27
1990–91 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 80 37 38 75 87 5 2 1 3 0
1991–92 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 65 29 20 49 65 14 9 9 18 18
1992–93 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 79 37 37 74 156 3 0 0 0 4
1993–94 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 63 14 17 31 48
1994–95 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 60 11 17 28 56
1995–96 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 1 0 0 0 0
NHL Totals 42 3 7 10 36 7 3 1 4 0

References

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