Cam Neely

Cameron "Cam" Michael Neely (born June 6, 1965, in Comox, British Columbia) was a right wing in the National Hockey League from 1983 to 1996. Originally drafted by the Vancouver Canucks, Neely and the Canucks 1st choice, 3rd overall in the 1987 Amateur draft were traded by the Canucks to the Boston Bruins for Barry Pederson. Almost immediately, it became apparent that the Bruins had received the better of the deal. In the first full season following the trade, Neely's 36 goals led the club, and his 72 points more than doubled his previous year's performance.

Neely's success stemmed largely from his hard, accurate shot, quick release, and his willingness to engage in the more physical aspects of the game. At 6'01" and 215 lbs, Neely was as devastating with his body checks and fists, as he was with his goal scoring exploits. He became the archetype of the ultimate power forward (in draft after draft, general managers would say that they needed to find a "Cam Neely" type).

Neely would play ten seasons with the Bruins, and though increasingly injury-prone recorded some remarkable scoring feats. Only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Brett Hull scored more goals per game in a modern season as Neely did with his 50-goals-in-49-games season in 1994, and only ten players in NHL history scored more goals per game over his career than did Neely. He reached the fifty goal mark three times, played in five All-Star games, and was named the league's Second Team All-Star at right wing in 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1994.

In addition, Neely's intense efforts to come back time and again from his devastating injuries were recognized with his winning of the Masterton Trophy after the 93–94 season. Sadly, a degenerative hip condition forced Neely into a premature retirement. His #8 jersey has been retired by the Bruins.

Off the ice, Neely's personal family tragedies with both his mom and dad, both dying of cancer, have made Neely very aware of those whose circumstances are less fortunate than his own. Today, Neely remains active in the Cam Neely Foundation run in conjunction with the New England Medical Center, where patients and their families avail themselves of accommodation at the "Neely House" while undergoing cancer treatments.