(This article was originally published on Nov. 19, 2020.)
Regina, Saskatchewan native Tanner Glass had a lengthy playing career. From junior hockey to the pros, he’s experienced a lot, but where is he now?
Glass played two seasons in the BCHL from 2001-03, splitting time with the Penticton Panthers and the Nanaimo Clippers. While skating in the Peach City, Glass skated in 89 games and found the score sheet 79 times. However, it was the penalty minutes column where his name often showed up, with 279 minutes in the sin bin.
His time in Penticton didn’t garner a championship as he and the Panthers finished second in the Interior Division in 2001-02 and lost in the division final to Vernon.
After playing in 32 games in 2002-03, the Panthers shipped Glass to Nanaimo where he tallied 22 points in 18 games to conclude the season. The Clippers won the regular season Island Division crown before bowing out to the Surrey Eagles in the Coastal Conference semifinals.
As the final whistle blew in the Clippers season, so did Glass’s playing career in the BCHL, but not before getting drafted into the National Hockey League. Back when the NHL Draft was nine rounds deep, Glass was selected in the ninth round, 265th overall by the Florida Panthers in the star-studded 2003 draft.
However, it wasn’t South Beach where Glass headed to – it was north, way north, from Florida. Hanover, New Hampshire, in fact, and he played for Dartmouth College in the ECAC conference, where he spent four seasons.
While playing for the Big Green, Glass didn’t receive a rookie contract with Florida. And after his four seasons in college, Glass instead got an amateur tryout with the Rochester Americans, which was the Panthers’ American Hockey League affiliate.
Upon finishing his college career in 2007, Glass suited up for the Ams that same spring and played in four games to end his season, before gearing for what would be a big year for him.
On to the pros
2007-08 was a breakout season for Glass. He played in 43 games in the AHL with 11 points and 84 penalty minutes. Glass knew he wasn’t a scorer and had to find other ways to achieve his goal of making it to “The Show”.
After a relentless attitude, Glass finally got the call that every kid dreams of: “pack your bags you’re going to the NHL.” Glass suited up for the Panthers 41 times and scored his first ever NHL goal during that season.
Once the season ended, the off-season was huge. Having a taste of the NHL, Glass knew what to expect for his upcoming sophomore season. However, Glass spent the first 44 games in the AHL before getting the call-up. He then played in three games before suffering a season-ending injury.
One of the worst things for a professional athlete is to get hurt during a contract year, which was the case for Glass, but Lady Luck was on his side, and a return to BC was in the cards.
Glass signed with the Vancouver Canucks in the summer of 2009. He played more of a fourth line role and was in and out of the lineup rather than spending time in the AHL.
In his first season with the Canucks, in 2009-10, he received 115 penalty minutes, but Glass’s best season might have been the following year.
It wasn’t based on points or anything, but playing on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, Glass was a fixture on the 2010-11 Canucks roster. He also suited up 20 times in the postseason, where he – and the Canucks – lost to Boston in the Stanley Cup Final.
And the new guys: Rypien #11, Jones #12, Glass #15, Fehr #17 and Meech #47
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) July 19, 2011
Once again Glass became a free agent in the summer of 2011. He moved east, closer to home, and signed with the Winnipeg Jets for one year. Playing in 78 games and adding 16 points, Glass’s best statistical season in the NHL set career highs in goals, assists, and points.
To France and back
Glass took his talents to Pittsburgh in 2012 and signed with the Penguins for two years worth just over two million per season. While the NHL was in shutdown mode due to the 2012-13 lockout, Glass played a handful of games in Europe before returning to North America.
Glass only had a goal and an assist during the shortened 2012-13 season and added another goal in the postseason. The 2013-14 season saw a boost in point production from two to 13, but that wasn’t enough for the Penguins, who didn’t resign Glass.
For Glass’s fifth NHL team, the Big Apple beckoned and he signed a three-year deal with the Rangers worth a total of 4.35 million dollars. His first season in New York didn’t stand out, he scored just one goal and six points.
The following year wasn’t any better and after 57 games, Glass was demoted to the AHL for the first time in seven seasons. He started the 2016-17 season in the AHL and was called up by the Blueshirts but only played in 11 games. With his career seemingly winding down, Glass returned to his home soil.
Glass joined his sixth and final team when he signed with the Calgary Flames after receiving a tryout in the preseason to start the 2017-18 season. Glass was only in the lineup for 16 games before getting sent down again to the AHL.
After not receiving a contract offer from the Flames, Glass decided to make the trek overseas again, but this time for the entire season. Glass signed with Bordeaux in France, where he hit the 101 mark in penalties and added 17 points before calling it a career.
#Transferts2018 | Les Boxers frappent un grand coup pour clore le mercato en officialisant la signature de @TGlass15 qui comptabilise près de 600 matchs @NHL à son actif !
Découvrez son profil sur le site ➡️ https://t.co/AIrrO632yN#SLMhockey #NHL pic.twitter.com/b3ZeTGrl26— Boxers de Bordeaux (@BoxersBordeaux) August 31, 2018
Now Glass is back in the NHL and working with the New York Rangers as an assistant director of player development. It’s a fitting role, especially with all the experience under his belt.