Wendel Clark Wendel L . Clark ( born October 25 , 1966 in Kelvington , Saskatchewan ) is a retired Canadian professional player . He is perhaps best known for being a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) , captain ing the team from 1991 to 1994 . During this time , he was often referred to as " Captain Crunch , " as he played a very physical and intense style of hockey . Early years . A star junior hockey defenceman with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League , Clark was a member of Canada ' s gold medal winning team at the 1985 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships . Clark was converted to forward after he was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft . His professional career lasted from 1985 until 2000 , during which time he played for the Maple Leafs ( during three separate stretches ) , Quebec Nordiques , New York Islanders , Tampa Bay Lightning , Detroit Red Wings , and Chicago Blackhawks . Clark was known for his emotional , physical play , combined with scoring prowess . After his rookie season , he was named to the NHL All - Rookie Team and finished third in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy . The serious back injury that Clark suffered during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks in 1987 , when he was cross - checked into the crossbar of his own goal , hindered his progress as an elite NHL player . Nonetheless , he was a crowd favourite at Maple Leaf Gardens and won a place in the hearts of Leaf fans as he provided a spark during the latter part of the Harold Ballard era , considered the darkest period in the storied franchise ' s history . He was named captain of the team for the 1991 – 92 season . During the 1992 – 93 season , Clark ' s second year captaining the team , the Leafs set team records in wins ( 44 ) and points ( 99 ) and also made the playoffs for the first time in three years . The Leafs had a memorable run to the Campbell Conference Finals , but after leading the best - of - seven series three games to two , they lost to the Wayne Gretzky - led Los Angeles Kings , who were coached by Clark ' s cousin , Barry Melrose . Two career defining moments happened in this series for Clark : his defense of Dougie Gilmour , resulting in a bruised and battered Marty McSorley , and his hat - trick in game 6 of the 7 game series . " That series was probably the most excitement I saw around here , " proclaimed Clark , who had 20 points ( 10 goals and 10 assists ) in his 21 games during the ' 93 playoffs . " It was the furthest the Leafs had advanced in a long time , the team was coming together at the right time and everybody was doing their jobs . " While Clark was known for grit and physical play ( amassing 1 , 690 career penalty minutes ) , frequent injuries meant that he never played a full 82 - game season . Nonetheless , he did manage an impressive 46 goals in 64 games for the Leafs during the 1993 – 94 season , playing on a line with Dave Andreychuk and Doug Gilmour . In the playoffs , the Leafs made a second consecutive trip to the Conference Finals , but fell 4 – 1 to the Vancouver Canucks , who were coached by future Leafs coach Pat Quinn . Reputation . Clark came into the league swinging , and refused to back down to the league ' s toughest players , racking up 227 PIM during his rookie year . Clark quickly gained a reputation for hard - nosed hockey , showing little regard for his opponents or himself . His most famous check is perhaps his hit on unsuspecting St . Louis ' defenseman Bruce Bell . Coming from opposite corners , Clark caught Bell with his head down , and the devastating hit left Bell unconscious . Many legendary hits followed during his career , leading to his famous nickname , Captain Crunch . Early in his career , Clark fought all the league ' s toughest players , quickly gaining a reputation as a feared pugilist . Despite his relative small size , Clark more than held his own against much larger opponents , showing a ferocity seldom matched throughout the league . Clark ' s list of opponents is a relative who ' s who of his era ' s NHL tough - guys : Craig Berube , Bob Probert , Cam Neely , Rick Tocchet , Mark Tinordi , Garth Butcher , Marty McSorley , Mike Peluso , John Kordic . Due to age , reputation and injuries , Clark ' s fights became less frequent during latter part of his career . But despite the numerous injuries , Clark ' s ability to change a game with a single bodycheck continued right up to his eventual retirement . Trades . In June 1994 , with his value at an all - time high , Clark was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in a multi - player deal which notably involved a young Mats Sundin . He was succeeded as Maple Leafs captain by Gilmour . Clark played the lockout - shortened 1994 – 95 NHL season in Quebec . After the Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche , Clark became embroiled in a contract dispute with the team . As a result , shortly before the beginning of the 1995 – 96 campaign , he was sent to the New York Islanders in a three - way trade that brought Claude Lemieux to Colorado and Steve Thomas to the New Jersey Devils . Clark played 58 games with the Islanders , but finished the season back in Toronto . Later career . In 1998 Clark signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning , but was dealt at the trade deadline to the Detroit Red Wings , where he finished the 1998 – 99 season . Clark signed with the Chicago Blackhawks later in 1999 , but only appeared in 13 games with the team . Upon returning to the Leafs in 2000 , after being benched by the Blackhawks , Clark was not particularly effective for the remainder of the regular season , but he found his form for the Leafs ' playoff run . The love that Leaf fans had for their former captain could be seen when they gave a 1 : 30 standing ovation after Clark barreled into the New Jersey zone and hit the post in Game 1 . During Game 4 , Clark assisted on the game - winning goal that gave the Leafs a 2 – 1 victory and tied the series with the Devils . Post - retirement . Wendel is now employed by the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club as a community ambassador and public relations . He can be seen at virtually all Leaf home games , usually with his wife Denise and children . The Toronto Maple Leafs honoured the former captain by raising his legendary number 17 to the rafters on November 22 , 2008 at the Air Canada Centre . He owns a restaurant , Wendel Clark ' s Classic Grill and Sports Lounge , in Vaughan , Ontario , He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 .