Centre Bruce Draper played one game for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1962-63. He was a fine offensive player who enjoyed much success in junior and the minors.
The Toronto native scored 84 goals in three seasons with the St. Michael's Majors then fired 25 goals as a rookie pro with the AHL's Rochester Americans in 1961-62. In addition to his NHL cameo, Draper played in the EPHL and AHL in 1962-63.
The hard working pivot continued to toil in the minors until retiring early in the 1966-67 season after he was diagnosed with leukemia. The high point for him came in 1964-65 when he notched 32 points and helped the Hershey Bears reach the Calder Cup final. Tragically, Draper succumbed to his illness in 1968 at the age of 27.
