Ian Turnbull



Ian Turnbull (born December 22, 1953 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League from 1973–74 until 1982–83. He and Börje Salming combined to make one of the best 1–2 defensive punches in Toronto Maple Leafs history during the 1970s.

Turnbull played 628 career NHL games, scoring 123 goals and 317 assists for 440 points. In his best offensive season, (1976–77 while with the Maple Leafs), he set career highs with 22 goals, 57 assists, 79 points, and a +47 plus/minus rating. The 79 points represent a Maple Leaf team record for most points in a season by a defenceman. This team record still stands over 30 years later. He also still holds the NHL record for most goals in a game by a defenceman, with 5 in a game on February 2, 1977 in a 9–1 victory against the Detroit Red Wings. Turnbull only had five shots in the game, making him the first player in NHL history to score five goals on five shots.