Biofile John Wensink Interview

By Scoop Malinowski

Status: Former NHL left wing from 1976-1983 for Boston Bruins, Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Rockies and New Jersey Devils.

Ht: 6-0 Wt: 200

DOB: April 1, 1953 In: Cornwall, Ontario

First Hockey Memory: Squirt tournament in Maxville, Ontario. The Jubilee rink was packed. It was an old barn. We won (age 10).

Hockey Inspirations: I was a big Bobby Orr fan. In fact I still have a helmet with no. 4 on the back, when I started in Boston I was a defenseman. And Bobby Hull.

First Famous Hockey Player You Met Or Encountered: (Bernie) ‘Boom Boom’ Geoffrion. His son Danny played with me in Cornwall. ‘Boom Boom’ came by a couple of times and visited us in the locker room.

Greatest Sports Moment: There’s so many. Just even being drafted (104th overall by St. Louis in 1973). Winning Memorial Cup was huge. First NHL game. First game with Boston, and I scored my first NHL that game against St. Louis. I got drafted by the Blues. Stanley Cup Finals twice (1977, 1978).

Most Painful Moment: Oh my gosh… losing the Stanley Cup Finals, twice to Montreal, semifinal to Montreal. Actually the day that I got picked up by the Nordiques (1980) – I was no longer a Bruin. I pretty much cried all the way home from the rink, to pack up and leave Boston. Not because it was the Nordiques, I loved being a Bruin. I grew up a Bruins fan. I enjoyed Quebec City for a season. It was a good city and hockey town. I think I gave them what they wanted.

Favorite Uniforms: I loved the Bruins uniform. I love the Chicago Blackhawks sweater. I like the Blues too, it’s kind of unique and hasn’t changed much. They added the red the one year but kept the same logo.

Favorite Rinks To Play: They’re all torn down – Boston, Chicago, St. Louis Arena, Maple Leaf Gardens, The Forum (Montreal). I wasn’t a fan of Los Angeles or Pittsburgh. I’d go to St. Louis playoff games after my career and the rafters would be shaking, there was so much enthusiasm. To play in Boston Garden was awesome.

Why Do You Love Hockey: I grew up with it. I was the first one in my family to play. I love the speed of the game, the skill level, the camaraderie of the guys. It’s fast, competitive. You make a lot of friends, a few enemies too. At the end, you are part of a huge family in the hockey world.

Funny Hockey Memory: Oh gosh… I was too serious [laughs]. There were a lot of funny jokes and pranks. I can’t pick one, I apologize. The teams that were more successful had more fun. I just had a great time. One of my favorite adventures was when Peter Stastny organized Blues alumni to go to Czech Republic for a Pavel Demitra tribute, we played three games against the Czech selects, Chara, Satan, and they were still playing. We couldn’t have been treated better. Funny… when I left Boston to go to Quebec. When the Bruins came to Quebec the first time, at the morning skate, I was in conversations with some people reassuring me who I was playing against that night. It struck me as far as reminding me that Boston didn’t want me. Every puck that went in the corner, some of the Bruins were saying to each other, you take it this time. My wife was there and she even knew what was going on (Bruins didn’t want to get hit by Wensink).

Strangest Game: It was a challenge playing in Colorado the second half of the year when we knew we wouldn’t be there the next season because the team was being sold (later moved to New Jersey). It was a challenge because we all knew it was the end of the franchise being in Denver. I loved Denver, I loved the mountains.

Funniest Players Encountered: Perry Turnbull in St. Louis. He takes over a room with his comments. A happy-go-lucky, positive guy, fun to be around. Kelly Chase… if you can’t get along with him, I think you have a problem. Just a great guy. My best friend is probably Terry O’Reilly. We see each other about once a year in Boston for youth hockey. When we get together, it’s like we never missed a beat. He’s a solid friend of mine. When teams have success, the tendency, in my opinion, all the players seem to get along more, more bonded. When teams struggle, there’s not that bond.

Toughest Competitors Encountered: I get asked all the time who were the toughest guys I played against. They’re all tough. They’re all tough. I know that’s not a fair answer. Bobby Nystrom was one of the main reasons why the Islanders won the Stanley Cup. Gillies Lupien – we fought so many times in juniors it was ridiculous. You’d think we would have learned. Then we fought in the NHL. Behn Wilson was a tough kid, he came into the League as a rookie. He was tough, he could throw ’em hard and fast. His mindset was that he was going to try to hurt you. You could see that.

Most Memorable Fights: Oh gosh… I try to forget them [laughs]. Behn Wilson – right off the top of my head. Battleship Kelly. Two guys who liked to go toe to toe.

Hardest Puncher: I gotta be very honest. I never got popped hard. Maybe because I was strong enough to hold ’em off. I never got popped hard. I did get hit with a glancing punch on the side of my head. And I was sucker punched once – I’m not going to share who it was – but I did get him back though [smiles]. Another tough guy I should mention is a teammate with St. Louis. It wasn’t really his game to fight. He wasn’t muscular or bulky but he could really throw punches and he had good balance. Gary Unger. I watched him fight a few times with St. Louis. He could throw ’em. But it wasn’t his game. Or it wasn’t what he had to do.

Most Memorable Goal: Probably my first NHL goal against St. Louis. The rest I can’t remember, and I should because there weren’t that many (70 overall in 403 NHL games and two more in 43 playoff matches). I got two hat tricks in my career.

Nicknames: Moose in juniors. In Rochester – Burr Head. In Boston, Gerry Cheevers couldn’t pronounce by name so he just called me Wire because of my hair.

Favorite Sports To Watch Outside Hockey: Big Kansas City Chiefs fan, football. Soccer, because my parents are from Holland. Hunting.

People Qualities Most Admired: Just being straight up. My wife says I’m a pretty good judge of character. Be honest. Do the right thing. Help people. I try to do these. It’s how I like to be treated too. Straight-forward, honest.

John Wensink vs Behn Wilson fight at Boston Garden Nov. 4, 1978