The coolest man in hockey

Looking back at the career of Derek Sanderson, the coolest man in hockey.
Once the world's highest paid athlete, Sanderson's battle with addiction left him down and out by the age of 31.
This is the story of his rise and fall, and his successful battle to overcome addiction.
#nhlhighlights #nhlhockey #bostonbruins #stlouisblues #nyrangers #pittsburghpenguins #bobbyorr #nhlhistory #hockeyhistory #nhlnews #nhlplayoffs #icehockey #detroitredwings #vancouvercanucks
Includes Derek Sanderson highlights, Boston Bruins highlights, Bobby Orr highlights, NHL highlights, New York Rangers highlights, St. Louis Blues highlights, Pittsburgh Penguins highlights, Detroit Red Wings highlights, Vancouver Canucks highlights

[@peterjb1957]

Thank God Bobby Orr was Derek's friend in need. That's a real and true friend when your at the lowest point in your life. Bobby was Derek's friend and Angel that truly turned him around for the better.

[@johnconnery1939]

You should have included that his friends in Revere Ma. Ask him about how local people saved him , he will tell you. His ability to get a second chance in life was due to ordinary people in Revere Ma. . They deserve to be remembered

[@davidbrown386]

Sanderson’s life woukd make a great movie. The role of Gov. Mike Dukakis ( D-Mass) and then President Ronald Reagan was huge. Without their intervention, Sanderson would not have made it. Why? He was banned from the US because of bad behavior. He Was on drugs and in and out of jail in Canada. The judge was fed up and asked Sanderson “Is there a time in your life you were ever happy?”Sanderson replied “When I was in Boston.” The judge said “I wish I could send you there but I can’t.” Dukakis heard that and called Reagan personally and asked if he could overrule INS and let Sanderson return to the US. He did and the rest is history.

[@garylobo3]

Peter, ever notice that the greatest players in history are also the most humble? Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe? The list goes on...

[@healerf18]

Exactly right. In 1978 Bobby Orr checked Sanderson into a local hospital and later put him up in his own home. Orr was instrumental in Sanderson's recovery and in getting him started back on a sustainable and worthwhile career.

[@guysenneville2528]

I remember taking my Dad to a game in Boston as a treat after major heart surgery (he was a fan since the very early 60's). No longer a player and not a commentator yet. At any rate during periods he had to use the rest room. Dad took a long time , but I figured... He came out with a huge grin. You won't believe what just happened were his words. "as I'm shaking , I look to my left and it was Derek Sanderson! Confirmed it was him and told him how proud I was of his recovery. " . In my opinion the most genuine thing were his remarks. "I wanted to shake his hand so bad, but I knew where it just was!" God, dad I miss you.......

[@RedHotHockeyYYC]

Awesome story! Thanks for sharing 🤘🏻

[@scottmalone9921]

Great memories. Bless your heart, and I'm a ranger fan. All my best to you.

[@craigallmendinger8404]

He did a lecture at my high school, and told some stories about the dangers of addiction. I think most of us left there, wishing we could party as much as he did.

[@philipdennis491]

Phil Esposito found him sleeping on a park bench in ny and called Bobby Orr and Orr put him in treatment

[@jimbo7092]

Opposite. Orr saw him

[@karlschneider9479]

I met Derek once at an AA meeting some years ago. Like most alcoholics/addicts I relapsed. I got clean again in 2019 and haven't looked back!

[@jimbo7092]

Thanks for making this video about you

[@andygrenn680]

Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

[@shawnf764]

I thought AA was supposed to be anonymous. Gotta love the breach of confidentiality.

[@jnnyg65]

way to make his sufferring all about you - typical drunk

[@philwillett9102]

@@jimbo7092 Thats ironic

[@timw4369]

He's lucky former teammates helped him out or he would probably not be with us.

[@andygrenn680]

Most famous assist in Bruins Stanley Cup history!

[@garylobo3]

Yeppers. As a lifelong Blues fan I still shudder watching Bobby Orr flying through the air after Noel Picard tripped him, lol. I was 12. All I can say is, after waiting a lifetime, we got our revenge in 2019. But Derek Sanderson was the Joe Namath of the NHL. Just not as self- destructive as Broadway Joe. BTW, as an aside, did you know Namath was also drafted by the STL Cardinals NFL team as well in 1966, same year as the Jets did? He made the right choice lol 😂😂

[@andygrenn680]

@@garylobo3 appreciate the Namath insight. I didn’t know that angle to Namath’s career. On the Orr goal 1970 not sure if you know the numbers behind that Stanley Cup Overtime winning goal. Here we go. At the :40 mark of the 4th period in the 4th game number 4 scores the 4th goal of the game giving Bruins their 4th franchise Cup. Assisted by 16 the square root of 4. Finally Noel Picard’s number was 4 too.A moment in NHL history when 4’s aligned. As a Bruins fan 4ever this is an instance we remember. Go Bruins!

[@michaelcanney7218]

​@@andygrenn680and it was 4:04 in Halifax

[@kelly2558]

Something in him that kept him motivated to push forward in spite of the demons that dogged him is very inspiring I think. You can’t keep a good man down when he contains a spark that refuses to be extinguished.

[@bbb462cid]

I have a '71 Sanderson sweater. Not because he fought or was crazy. It's because of all the people he helped after his hockey career.

[@Sabotage_Labs]

Thank you....for saying sweater! 😉

[@bbb462cid]

@@Sabotage_Labs I also say "Alternate Captain"

[@Sabotage_Labs]

@@bbb462cid old time hockey eh!

[@bbb462cid]

@@Sabotage_Labs I had little Bobby Orr skates when I was a kid. His sweater is hanging up here too.

[@Noah1997callahan]

What a rockstar. Glad he eventually grew outta it though. Legend

[@raybarger8119]

Always liked Derek. Knew he had some problems but not like that. Great recovery my man

[@jamesflannery6401]

the big bad bruins! Booby Orr was and is still my idol! And Sanderson had the most famous assist in NHL history ! Miss those days

[@fromulus]

Derek Sanderson is a good man. One of the voices of the Bruins when I grew up, along with Fred Cusick, they were an iconic team.

[@shawnyt6368]

Great recovery Derek! Great story

[@pwi9161]

Bob Woolf = criminal who ripped off multiple players including Orr

[@ianwilson2594]

I watched the Turk play Junior A for the Niagara Falls Flyers- his home town. He was magic with the puck and was the best faceoff man we saw. Great to hear he's good now.

[@karlschneider9479]

I remember the shirts in Boston that read " Derek is Unreal". He was a great face off man and penalty killer. He was also hilarious as a color commentator!

[@allisonmanning2400]

A neighbor tells a wild tale of Sanderson stealing his Corvette in Providence. Exhibition game, Player's Corner Pub, alcohol, and a Lady. Police found it in Boston a couple days later, undamaged. They were Buds at the time and remain so. It's just one of those things with Turk...

[@mikethesportshistorycollec1947]

I'm not even a big hockey fan, and I loved this story. Well done.

[@Fernando-qk2hp]

Pregame meal: A steak and a blonde Bad ass Nuff sed

[@michaelm6948]

I was a kiddie growing up in Boston during the Big Bad Bruins years. We all said Bobby Orr was our favorite player, but we were Turk Sanderson when playing street hockey. His local talk show was a hoot!

[@jimringomartin]

Aaahhh the days of Sanderson and Kieth Magnuson. I still have memories of my 9 year old brother pretending to be Sanderson with fake sideburns and stache. Old time hockey

[@gallant00]

It's nice to see someone turn their life around after they tossed it away earlier. Kudos to Derek.

[@sheltr9735]

Great story And great storytelling! Thx

[@ptech88]

My wife see him at the golf club all the time, he is a super nice guy and doesn’t hide any of his past. Get his book its fantastic.

[@jimbo7092]

Keep an eye on your wife

[@mikewalters3048]

I used to watch Bruins games on TV in the late 60s. I was a teenager at the time and I thought Sanderson was just plane cool. This was the pre-helmet era and when Sanderson would skate down the ice, his hair would blow in the breeze. As for Sanderson's lifestyle, I have often wondered how a person who is young and inexperienced, has ordinary finances and notoriety, can keep his dedication and focus when everything in his world suddenly changes.

[@smacdonald5142]

Those were the days! When men were men and women were glad of it!

[@scorchedearth8661]

That was awesome! Thank you!

[@wisconsinhugs]

What a great story!!!! Ty!!!

[@timothymooney4466]

A sentimental favorite!

[@user-rw2pu7fv3i]

I remember the Sanderson Magnuson fights whenever he came to Chicago!

[@loilt5091]

All of his challenges aside, the man won the Calder & was a key player in the Bruins 2 Stanley Cups. After his record breaking signing with the WHA, Harry Sinden still sought his advice when putting together the legendary, 1972 team Canada Summit Series team…specifically the checking line, which he would’ve been on. Perhaps the greatest defensive/PK/faceoff center of his era, before his demons derailed his career. He was also very tough & had a scoring touch, too…in other words, a complete player. You’re gonna get your atypical haters & the like, running their mouths about him…the types who can’t see past their own juvenile bias. If you know his bio, the man didn’t even drink alcohol before the NHL…addiction’s a tragic & personal disease. Many people DON’T GET IT⁉️ The Bruins were my team until the Oilers joined the NHL. Their captain, Johnny Bucyk was from Edmonton & his brother lived in my neighborhood for decades. 🇨🇦

[@danfuller478]

Right on! Few combined his defensive ability with both the toughness and that scoring touch. A rare and extremely valuable player before everything went sideways after '72.

[@steveperry1344]

i forgot about that derek played for teams other than the bruins. i remember him on the broadcast team calling the bruins games back in the 80's or so.

[@PattMcCrotch]

Never heard of him as I’m from Louisiana but he’s still alive?! I kept expecting you to say “but on a hot August night in Atlantic City Sanderson overdosed on cocaine or pills”. Good for him to finally see the light before it was too late.

[@user-yr4ur9mu2f]

I remember Derek talking to our school around 86 about his life and playing Russian roulette

[@shilohrising]

During the 67-68 season Derek rented a house with three other young Bruins across the street from us in Lynnfield Massachusetts! You talk about wild and crazy… Me and my little brother, I was 12 , spent all night looking at the bedroom window watching all the goings on across the street! It was party Central with girls, booze, and snowmobiles!! I will never forget it

[@55Porter]

No Bruin ever lost a fight if Sanderson was doing the commentary! 🤣

[@gnosticallyspeaking3544]

Turk could never be labeled unbiased. Remember watching a Bruins game up in Montreal. They had some guest Canadian professional singer doing the national anthems. He was truly fantastic. So good, some people in the audience had tears in their eyes. At the end, Turk admits, "Not bad. But he's no Rene Rancourt!"

[@adrianpoesiat]

Darling Derek. His career trajectory reminds me somewhat of the actor Mickey Rourke. Had it all and crashed spectacularly. But they both resurrected their careers with friends support. Mickey with his buddy Sly Stallone and Derek with help from Bobby Orr

[@MrChippinator]

Bobby Orr once said that Derek Sanderson knew so many people he could find an Elephant in Boston!

Too bad he didn't find an AA meeting.

[@playinragz8183]

Love seeing people who came back strong after hitting the bottom. But I’m still no Bruins supporter. 😂

[@jamessollazzo4860]

when he played for the rangers, they use to find him passed out on park benches

[@GrowthruGod]

cant believe you have that goal of him vs bruins with ungar assist

[@Mike___Honcho]

i doubt that claim of sobriety for derek in 1980 because he was hanging around with two of my older brothers around then and he was still getting messed up. his van blew the engine and he stayed at my family's house for a while and i am pretty sure that was at least 1981. he still owes me money borrowed for tootski. he showed up at my apartment on queensbury st. with one brother to hit me for money. i didn't even recognize him. i am happy he did get sober, though. i ran into him around 2007, but didn't mention any of the bad old days.

[@generationxpvp]

lil bit of a snitch here tho. Y’all’s old folks like to snitch, new generations snitch on themselves. Gotta say something to make yourself feel important in somone else’s story smh.

[@Bruins-vq5ey]

I call bullshit

[@Mike___Honcho]

@@generationxpvp the basis of AA is honesty and owning up to your past. for whatever reason -- only derek knows -- he is fudging that sobriety date. there is something about that date that is painful for him and he alters it. usually that behavior is tied into a slip and the person uses again, but doesn't want to have someone know they slipped. how could this revelation possibly make me feel any more like a big man, mr. generation ? you don't know who i am, nor does anyone else. i didn't put in enough info to identify anybody except the person lying. people in AA still cheat on their taxes and screw their friends wives. derek had a lot to overcome and he has come back from a bad place, but he ain't perfect, i didn't lie, and he did.

[@Mike___Honcho]

@@Bruins-vq5ey who cares if you call BS ?

[@Bruins-vq5ey]

​@@Mike___Honchoeverybody that reads your crap...get a life sniff sniff

[@tomweiland7904]

I had heard, they had shot a movie based on his life. Called the turk, but I never seen it come out. Does anybody know what happened

[@TheYamahog12]

My first hockey stick (probably around ‘71 or ‘72) was a Derek Sanderson “signature” model. It was cheap. Made by Franklin I think. But I was a kid and didn’t know the difference.

[@mickmallot]

i got the derek sanderson street hockey ball 'as a kid i think that was by franklin too ,lol street hockey also became huge during the orr era in Massachusetts, iplayed against a kid named jackie hughes who went on to play a few years in the nhl and fought bruin terry oreilly

[@TheYamahog12]

@@mickmallotYeah we played street hockey too. Maybe my stick was a street hockey stick. Really don’t remember.

[@tommclaughlin5354]

Great forechecker.

[@TimothyHake-is6eb]

Nice show and channel. What was the background music? It was perfect.

[@tomdonoghue8468]

Great video! Thanks

[@migmadmarine]

Rock star syndrome. Easy come,easy go.

[@appletile2887]

On a side note here the WHA was the best thing that ever happened to hockey when it was formed because the NHL banned all the players from NHL teams that jumped to the WHA and the NHL were going to play the Russians in Sept 1972. The league formed on Sept 13/71 and was successful in getting rid of the reserve clause in the NHL in a court battle. 67 Players jumped from the NHL to the WHA, led by Bobby Hull, Derek Sanderson, Frank Mahovlich, Gordie Howe, Bernie Parent, Dave Keon, J.C. Trembly, Marc Tardiff. Bobby Orr could not play in the 1972 series with the Russians because of knee surgery. Missing, Orr, Hull, Sanderson, Parent, J.C. Trembly, Mahovlich and Keon made Team Canada very weak by most standards. The NHL had to replace these guys with lesser stars. I have little doubt that had these players played the Russians Team Canada would have won at least 6 games. Brad Park was no Bobby Orr Dennis Hull was no Bobby Hull Rod Gilbert was no Gordie Howe (even at Howe's age) Bobby Clarke was no Derek Sanderson Peter Mahovlich was no Frank Mahovlich Pat Stapelton was no J.C.Trembly Had Team Canada won the series so easily the NHL would have snubbed Russian players from then on. The WHA also stocked their teams with European players and built some great teams in the 1970's. 2 of the 4 WHA teams won multiple Stanley Cups. The highest scoring team in the history of the NHL were the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA who is the only team to score more than 400 goals in a season (and they did it 5 times). Edmonton won 5 Stanley cups within 10 years of joining the NHL and Quebec later became Colorado Avalanche won 3 Stanley Cups. Europeans now stock the NHL as well as Russians. The game of hockey and the fan benefited from the WHA. The players are now paid very well and gone are the days they were tied to any one team.

[@TheOtherDerek]

My name is Derek because of Derek.

[@jimbo7092]

My name is Darryl, this is my other brother Darryl

[@lostvlog6857]

Wasn't there supposed to be movie about him called "Turk" but never was completed?

[@steveperry1344]

the chicks must of loved the guy.

[@marksieber4626]

Whatever happened to Reg Dunlop?

[@steveperry1344]

i think i saw him in a movie.

[@Bruins-vq5ey]

Minnesota

[@andrewbaxley7497]

Derek Jeter's middle name is Sanderson.

[@wallytangofoxtrot4721]

How is Sanderson’s story not being made into a rollicking movie treatment? It could be a limited series on Netflix! …wait

[@ericksonjustinAK]

This jumps around chronologically without clear reasons why.

[@Calers-gu1ib]

If this was a 649 winner that blew all his money like this everyone would be calling him a moron.

[@johnslade9358]

Great video

[@RedHotHockeyYYC]

Thanks!

[@brianc9642]

“I’ve Got To Be Me.”

[@jamessollazzo4860]

checked it out, the bar was on lexington avenue, the east side of nyc and not in boston!

[@ptech88]

He had one in Boston also

[@GassersGhost]

I was named after him.

[@GassersGhost]

Still am. 😉

[@RayManzarekRocks]

My son's middle name, too. I was a yuge fan . . .and lived in the Chicago area!

[@rileyjackfansmithandjones8238]

Coolest publicity photo ever.....when he went WHA, and was the Highest Paid Hockey Player in the World.....the Classic Huck and Buck Skate Slide Pose......with a Cigarette,hanging in off of his Lips! He was never going to be Orr......but he was definately going to be Cooler than Orr!

[@kennethbiebighauser7984]

The real man survives after the star days are gone

[@Loumi171]

Quite sure that alcohol , substance abuse and other addictions are UNderestimated in the NHL and other sports leagues, for every player temporarily leaving their team to enter officially into that NHL program, there's probably 10 players that could do the same program

[@benbridwell9991]

Joe Namath and Sanderson, Both great, both drunks! Great recoveries! Bless them both.

[@edwardlnorton1025]

Met him and Fred Cusick in Hartford after a Bruins/Whalers game. They were walking through a parking garage. I asked both if they would sign my game program. Both seemed to be in a rush, but obliged.

[@zedsodead]

After watching this wonderful mini documentary, I don't want to be cool. I guess I'll just stay in the nerd lane with all the other people who didn't piss away all their money on...what?

[@jamessollazzo4860]

always thought bachelors 3 was in manhattan?

[@jopflah416]

Athletes need a backup plan after their careers end like Al Kaline with the batteries.

[@kennethbiebighauser7984]

He never played for the Null h Stars or Mild ..that was his salvation

[@leodrosia4369]

Smoking and drinking just like babe ruth haha

[@stupidas9466]

I always find it strange that people who screw up their lives and deeply affect the lives of loved ones, friends, and even strangers that cross their paths, who later stop doing it are lauded and praised much more than people who never did those things in the first place.

[@davidwimble9907]

You have no idea of why they became that way in the first place and what they had to do to overcome their addiction, that's why.

[@user-vm2uf4ch4i]

Because people who have alcohol and substance abuse issues didn't grow up wanting to be addicts or alcoholics. To be able to overcome this is amazing and you should be thankful you didn't hsve issues with Drugs or alcohol. If you can't relate please dont judge.

[@chrisruth7057]

6000$ in a bank account in 1980 or 81 was still a gaily desent amount of money back then that's at least 25,000$ or a bit more in todays money

[@JamesHadfield-qz9rv]

wha screwed up a lot of nhl teams, But none more than the Bruins! Just won 2 cups in early '70s but after that, Dry ice. also Sinden was cheap ass that traded ESPO + let BOBBY walk. HE was pretty much done by then, But just the F' idea of it! Montreal never woulda pull that sleaze

[@timbacon7349]

I loved listening to Sanderson on tv growing up. Then we got morons like Jack Edwards. Not even close. Sanderson is amazing.

[@scottl.1568]

Who that girl is

[@rodzor]

I'm guessing his wife who was a playboy bunny?

[@danhillman4523]

Young, dumb and....well, you know the rest. He was a cool guy though. I always liked him and as far as drinking went, most of them did in that era.

[@allandalegibson1194]

Hockey had a lot more personality when they didn't wear helmets.

[@jeffthorpe1855]

I first saw an NHL game about 1959/60 when the Habs won the last of five consecutive Stanley Cups. No one wore a helmet and bench clearing brawls became common through the 60s and beyond. I recall the game when Ted Green was badly injured in a stick fight with Wayne Maki. I remember the game when Bill Masterson fell over on the ice and died. I also remember severe eye injuries to both junior and pro players which left players blind in one eye. No, the game did not have more personality in those years. There has been a recent set back in the NHL with the likes of Matt Rempe and the brawl between the Rangers and Devils this past week. The game was at an all time low in my opinion with the Birmingham Bulls team in the WHA, which included some of the most outrageous goons to ever play the game, wherein Bobby Hull, then playing for the Winnipeg team, went on a brief strike it was called, to protest the level of violence in the league. The game was better in the days of the skilled Habs teams of the 60s and 70s, the skill of the Oilers teams of Gretzky/Messier/Kuri et al and the Islanders teams of the early 80s. I could add the good Red Wings teams of the late 1990s. Those teams had fine personalities and much skill. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Green en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Masterton BTW, would you like to see football and baseball go back to the level of equipment worn by players in times past ?

[@TheScotian82]

..I thought these guys werent being over paid back in the day? Apparently they were, and they barely had to wake up and put pants on.

[@ericw3229]

One of the game's biggest jerks

[@artsmith103]

No helmets

[@ruelpile]

Going back and forth in the story makes no sense. Why not just go chronologically?

[@scottl.1568]

Whut

[@markhuru]

How could he loose all that money?

[@Mike___Honcho]

" ( sniff, sniff ) i have no idea. ( sniff, sniff )

[@jamessollazzo4860]

lol@@Mike___Honcho

[@Bruins-vq5ey]

​@Mike___Honcho loser

He made alot of friends.

[@Bruins-vq5ey]

@@Mike___Honcho get a life

[@user-xn3sz3pl9n]

Coolest man in hockey? Maybe for teenage boys and immature men. Wasted talent with an out of control personal life who was out of the league years before he should have been. I would have named this What not to do uf you ever make it professionally.

[@richardb1791]

One of the all time biggest losers.

[@mr.blackhawk142]

Yup! In today's SICKO society a DOPE-ADDICT/DRUNK is 'cool'! NOT in my orbit though!

[@peterpulpitpounder]

I'm glad he repented.

[@andrewgoodman4367]

Good video but jumps all over. Frustrating.

[@user-ox7dp5md5n]

A Rat

[@landscapetogo4268]

Derrick was an integral part of the Big Bad Bruins. My Favorite Hockey Players are the ones that stop the talented Power Players. I bought a pair of I Franklin Hockey Gloves with (stampede on) Sanderson autograph. Best Sports Commentary ever. 🏒

[@robertl8481]

Not someone to admire.

[@Boomsterblak]

glad to see he beat the booze/drugs..awesome

[@danthomas3112]

Coolest hockey player to sleep in dumpster 🤣😅🤣

[@jesusshitfit3791]

fuck yea Turk! fuck yea Red Hot Hockey! great video