Classics on Ice

bernie federko, The 1980s

TM

Bernie Federko played with the St. Louis Blues from 1976-89 and is one of the all-time greats in team history. His No. 24 is retired and he was inducted into the in 2002. Federko, who still holds a host of team records, became the first player in the history of the NHL to record at least 50 assists in 10-straight seasons. He currently is an analyst for Fox Sports Midwest during Blues broadcasts. He contends television has helped make the game what it is today. “TV has really done wonders for the game,” said Federko. “We had one referee and two linesmen and no TV, and now they have two referees, two linesmen and 10 cameras. When something is good and you are able to sell it and show why it’s so good, which is what we’ve been able to do with TV, that’s why everyone has fallen in love with this game.” Federko remembers how hockey in his era, one without as much television, was dif- ferent than how the game is played today. “The game is faster than it has ever been, and the athletes are way better. The game is a big business and the players are working 365 days a year. “Our game was much more thought out because our shifts were so much longer. Sometimes the shifts were as long as two minutes,” he recalls. “Our game was so much more intense because the intimidation factor was so much greater. When we played, we had about 10 games on TV, and now every game is on. The things that happened in our game at the time; now they don’t happen. The camera is always on.” Federko was the team’s first pick in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft but his career with the team did not have a smooth beginning. Before his first NHL training camp, the star center had broken his foot playing basketball while attending a hockey camp. “I was sent to the minors and it was probably the greatest thing to happen to me,” Federko remembers. “It gave me the opportunity to learn. The three months that I spent in the minors were unbelievable for me. I got a chance to play a lot. And when I got called up in early February, I knew I could play.” Federko was Rookie of the Year in the Central League after scoring 30 goals in 42 games in the minors. After the minor-league season ended and he joined the team in St. Louis, he scored a hat trick in his first game at the Arena and Federko’s career was off and running. Yet even with all the personal success he’s enjoyed, Federko is still disap- pointed that he couldn’t bring a Stanley Cup to St. Louis as a player. “The is to win the Stanley Cup and when you don’t achieve that goal it’s very disap- pointing,” he says. “We came close in 1986 and I thought we were a real good team in 1981 and had a chance to win the Cup. We came close a couple of times but couldn’t cross over. “But goals I set for myself were to win the Stanley Cup and to be consistent so that the team, the management and everybody around me knew what they could expect of me,” he continued, “and I was very lucky to be able to achieve that.” One of the greatest, most consistent players in St. Louis Blues history started his ca- reer in and wasn’t exactly sure where St. Louis was when he was drafted. “I had to get out a map and find out what it was all about,” Federko laughs. “From the moment I came here, it was absolutely outstanding, the people, the organization, it was family right away. Here it is 40 years later, I’m still here and I’m still loving to be a part of the Blues organization.” Written by Mike Kern

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In 2016-17, the Blues are celebrating the 50th anniversary season of the franchise coming to St. Louis, and we are helping them celebrate by visiting with some of the greatest names in Blues hockey history – one from each decade and tracking the changes of the game.