Stan Jonathan: Spark Plug Of The Late ’70’s Boston Bruins

Outside the Boston Bruins fans and those from Southern Ontario, the image of Stan Jonathan might be skewed. Many would take a time-blurred look back and recall a goon. In fact, Stan could fight much bigger men than himself on the ice. But goon is simply not the word that would describe him.

Small, by National Hockey League standards, Jonathan certainly could fight. However, he didn’t spend that much time in the penalty box and proved he could score goals on NHL goaltenders.

Junior and Minor Pro

NHL Career

Rookie Card

Career Stats

Stan Jonathan – Junior and Minor Pro

Jonathan played three years of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OMJHL at the time) from 1972-73 to 1974-75. His three seasons were spent with the Peterborough Petes.

In his final season, Stan provided his share of offense and the team reached the semi-finals before falling to the Hamilton Fincups. That Petes team was ultimately powered offensively by Doug Jarvis and coached by the great Roger Neilson.

In 1975-76, Jonathan stormed onto the pro hockey scene with the Dayton Gems of the IHL. Over 69 regular season games, he scored 26 and assisted on 47 for 73 points while also sitting 192 minutes in the penalty box. He tied for tenth in the IHL for assists and was named a First Team All-Star.

Stan led the Gems in the playoffs with 13 goals and 21 points in just 15 games. Dayton was crowned Turner Cup champions with a win over the Port Huron Flags in the finals.

Jonathan also appeared in six American Hockey League games in that first pro year, playing for the Rochester Americans. He even got into his first NHL game with the Bruins.

The following year, 1976-77, Stan played just three games with Rochester before securing a regular spot with Boston. He would return to the AHL at the end of his career to play with the Baltimore Skipjacks to finish out his final season.

In 1986-87, Jonathan revived his hockey career to play for the Brantford Mott’s Clamato’s. The Senior A team stocked up heavily on former NHL players and captured the Allan Cup.

Stan Jonathan – NHL

For a locally legendary player, pumped up regularly by Don Cherry, Jonathan played just 411 regular season games over his NHL career. Over that time, he scored 91 and assisted on 110 for 201 points while sitting a bit unimpressive 751 penalty minutes. Most of his career was spent with the Bruins, with the exception of 19 games in 1982-83 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jonathan’s 63 Stanley Cup playoff games stand out considering his short career. He totaled just 12 points over those 63 games and sat 137 minutes in the sin bin. With no Stanley Cup wins, Stan did play in the finals in 1976-77 and 1977-78 with Boston falling to the Montreal Canadiens in both campaigns.

Originally, Stan was drafted by the Bruins in the fifth round of the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft, 86th overall. He was also taken that year in the eighth round of the WHA Amateur Draft by the Indianapolis Racers, 103rd overall.

Stan was twice a 20 goal scorer in the NHL. His best season came in 1977-78 when he scored 27 in just 68 games. Despite being remembered for his toughness, Jonathan finished among the top ten for PIM in just one NHL season. In 1979-80, his 208 minutes placed him tenth.

In November, 1982, Jonathan was traded from the Bruins to the Pittsburgh Penguins for cash. He played just 19 games for the Penguins in 1982-83, the last games of his National Hockey League career.

Stan Jonathan – Rookie Card

The Stan Jonathan rookie card appears as number 270 in the 1977-78 O-Pee-Chee NHL hockey card set. He is shown as a member of the Boston Bruins. Stan’s final card came in the 1981-82 O-Pee-Chee set while still with the Bruins. Despite playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1982-83, he did not get included in that year’s set.

Stan Jonathan Career Stats

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972-73	Peterborough Petes	OHA	63	14	35	49	107
1973-74	Peterborough Petes	OHA	70	19	33	52	127
1974-75	Peterborough Petes	OHA	70	36	39	75	138
1975-76	Rochester Americans	AHL	6	1	1	2	0
1975-76	Dayton Gems	IHL	69	26	47	73	192
1975-76	Boston Bruins	NHL	1	0	0	0	0
1976-77	Rochester Americans	AHL	3	0	0	0	7
1976-77	Boston Bruins	NHL	69	17	13	30	69
1977-78	Boston Bruins	NHL	68	27	25	52	116
1978-79	Boston Bruins	NHL	33	6	9	15	96
1979-80	Boston Bruins	NHL	79	21	19	40	208
1980-81	Boston Bruins	NHL	74	14	24	38	192
1981-82	Boston Bruins	NHL	67	6	17	23	57
1982-83	Boston Bruins	NHL	1	0	0	0	0
1982-83	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	19	0	3	3	13
1982-83	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL	48	13	23	36	86
	NHL Totals		411	91	110	201	751