The Riverton Rifle

In the mid 1970s, was there a hotter shooter than "The Riverton Rifle," Reggie Leach? He was deadly in the playoffs, especially that 1976 playoffs where he set a record with 19 post season goals (17 at even strength!) and was named the Conn Smythe winner as MVP even though his team lost out in the finals.

Leach fell on hard times late in his career, becoming dependent on alcohol. Since sobering up, he has worked tirelessly to try to get his message across to kids so that the same thing doesn't happen to them.

Every once in awhile Leach's story gets in the news, as happened again this weekend:

"Alcoholism probably kept Reggie Leach out of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and he's determined to do whatever he can to help young people avoid the downward spiral in which he became trapped.

He was one of the first big-time First Nations hockey stars. A right-winger, he helped the Philadelphia Flyers win the Stanley Cup in 1975. He scored 61 goals in 1975-76 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after scoring 19 post-season goals. The Flyers were swept by the Montreal Canadiens in the final.

His big-league career would have lasted more than the 14 years that it did had he taken better care of himself.

"I screwed up royally," he said Thursday from his Delaware residence. "I pretty well accomplished everything I wanted to do except I didn't make it into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

"If I'd been able to play a couple more years, I think I could have made it." Full Story

Here's a look at Leach at his best in 1976:



It's nice to see Reggie Leach giving back. I'm not sure if he's HHOF material. He had three great seasons and a couple of incredible playoffs. Otherwise he was a constant 30 goal threat who really relied on others for success.

Bet you didn't know: Did you know Reggie Leach finished his career in Billings, Montana playing for the old CHL's Montana Magic?