Mel Bridgman played his minor hockey in the Victoria area and went on to play one season with Nanaimo of the BCHL and parts of 4 seasons with the WHL Victoria Cougars, including a 66-goal season.

Mel was selected first overall in 1975 by the NHL Philadelphia Flyers. Bridgman played 14 seasons in the NHL including a brief stint with Vancouver in 1988-89. He had 701 NHL points and 1,625 minutes in penalties.

Mel was the first General Manager of the expansion of Ottawa Senators in 1992.