A Look At Bob Fitchner (Part One)

Bob Fitchner was a solid forward in the 1970s in both the WHA and the NHL.

This is the first of a three-part series on former Quebec Nordiques player Bob Fitchner.

Perseverance and hard work. That pretty much sums up the hockey career of Bob Fitchner. 

Bob spent most of his childhood moving around through different small towns across Western Canada, that culminated with him playing junior hockey in Brandon. After a couple of seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings, the 6’0’, 190-pound Fitchner was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1970 NHL Entry Draft. After stops in the Central, International, American and Southern Hockey Leagues between 1970 and 1973, Fitchner was signed by the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA for the 1973-74 season.

Taken by Indianapolis in the 1974 WHA Expansion Draft, the Quebec Nordiques traded for Fitchner in February of 1976. It was in Quebec that Fitchner found a role as a defensive forward on a Nordiques team loaded with firepower. An underrated player, he was a crucial faceoff specialist and an excellent penalty killer. Lining up against opponents’ top lines every night he was a valuable member of the Nordiques squad that captured the 1977 Avco Cup.

When the WHA merged with the NHL for the 1979-80 season Quebec was one of the clubs that was absorbed. Fitchner played 70 games, chipping in 11 goals and 31 points while adding 59 penalty minutes in his only full campaign in the NHL. His point totals were good enough to place him in the top‐ten in team scoring during the Nordiques inaugural NHL season.