Eric Vail

Eric Vail
Eric Vail playing for the Atlanta Flames in 1978.
Born	September 16, 1953 (1953-09-16) Timmins, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Forward
Shot	Left
Played for	NHL Atlanta Flames Calgary Flames Detroit Red Wings AHL Adirondack Red Wings
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	21st overall, 1973 Atlanta Flames
WHA Draft	29th overall, 1973 Quebec Nordiques
Playing career	1973–1982

Eric "Freight Train" Vail (born September 16, 1953) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played nine seasons in the National Hockey League, mostly with the Atlanta Flames/Calgary Flames organization, and then later in his last season (1981–82) he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings.

Vail was drafted 21st overall by the Atlanta Flames in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft. He played 591 career NHL games, scoring 216 goals and 260 assists for 476 points. He was the Calder Trophy winner for 1974–75 after scoring 39 goals and 60 points in his rookie season. He currently resides in Johns Creek, Georgia.

Eric has 2 children. His son currently caddies on the PGA tour for Brandt Snedeker.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970–71	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA		59	18	30	48	76		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Niagara Falls Flyers	OHA		60	25	48	73	122		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Sudbury Wolves	OHA		63	48	57	105	80		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Omaha Knights	CHL		37	10	18	28	54		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Atlanta Flames	NHL		23	2	9	11	30		1	0	0	0	2
1974–75	Atlanta Flames	NHL		72	39	21	60	46		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Atlanta Flames	NHL		60	16	31	47	34		2	0	0	0	0
1976–77	Atlanta Flames	NHL		78	32	39	71	22		3	1	3	4	0
1977–78	Atlanta Flames	NHL		79	22	36	58	16		2	1	1	2	0
1978–79	Atlanta Flames	NHL		80	35	48	83	53		2	0	1	1	2
1979–80	Atlanta Flames	NHL		77	28	25	53	22		4	3	1	4	2
1980–81	Calgary Flames	NHL		64	28	36	64	23		6	0	0	0	0
1981–82	Oklahoma City Stars	CHL		3	0	3	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL		10	3	4	7	0		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Calgary Flames	NHL		6	4	1	5	0		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		52	10	14	24	35		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL		74	20	29	49	33		5	1	1	2	0
NHL totals				591	216	260	476	281		20	5	6	11	6

External links

• Eric Vail's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Denis Potvin

Winner of the Calder Trophy 1975

Succeeded by Bryan Trottier