Derek Sanderson, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster
Derek Michael Sanderson (born June 16, 1946), nicknamed "Turk", is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Sanderson set up the goal on an assist to Bobby Orr that clinched the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals, widely considered to be the greatest goal in National Hockey League history. In his NHL career, he amassed 202 goals, 911 penalty minutes and a plus-141 rating in 598 games.
Sanderson impacted the game far beyond his on-ice achievements. His mod fashion and bachelor lifestyle 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. It wouldn't be long before Sanderson fell victim to drugs and alcohol, however, a lethal combination that contributed to his early retirement at age 31 and nearly claimed his life. He currently works as an investment spokesman and also advises athletes in the Boston area.
At 6 foot, 185 pounds, Sanderson carved a niche as one of the premier penalty-killers in NHL history. He raised the art to another level with a trademark sweep check, highly proficient face-off skills and an uncanny knack to score goals despite the manpower disadvantage. 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 behind Brad Marchand and Rick Middleton in club history.