Derek Sanderson

Born:	June 16, 1946	Draft:	Undrafted
Hometown:	Niagara Falls, ON	Position:	C
Known For:	Nicknamed “Turk”	Shoots:	Left
National Team:	Canada	Current Status:	Retired

Derek Michael Sanderson (born June 16, 1946), nicknamed “Turk”, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and two-time Stanley Cup winner who set up the game-winning marker in the 1970 championship round, widely considered to be the greatest goal in National Hockey League history. Yet his impact on the game extended far beyond on-ice achievements. His mod lifestyle and brash demeanor helped transform the culture of professional sports in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when he was the highest-paid athlete in the world for a brief time. He currently serves as an advisor for athletes in the Boston area.

Renowned for his ability and willingness to play both ends of the ice, Sanderson was widely regarded to be among the premier penalty-killers in NHL history. He raised the art to another level with tenacious checking, highly proficient face-off skills and uncanny knack to score goals shorthanded. Upon his retirement as a player after the 1977–78 campaign, Sanderson was the league leader in career-shorthanded goals. Nearly half a century after his last appearance with Boston, he still holds the Bruins team record for most career shorthanded goals (six) in Stanley Cup playoff games, a mark that he shares with Ed Westfall, his longtime teammate. Through the 2020 regular season, his 24 short-handed tallies in the regular season ranked third in club history behind Brad Marchand and Rick Middleton.

Derek Sanderson

Derek Sanderson Statistics

Deeper Dive

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