In Memoriam Former pro hockey players/management/others deaths (Kristian Antila)

[Killion]

^^^ ya, Man is that brutal. Say what you will about him, guy was beyond loyal, total team player, real Trooper.... **** Cancer.

 

[MS]

Former Edmonton Oilers tough guy Dave Semenko, who protected Wayne Gretzky in the 1980s, has died. He was 59.

The Oilers say Semenko died after a short battle with cancer. A team spokesman said Semenko died in Edmonton.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2...yguard-dies/WJytendZkvfjpNg0yG571N/story.html

Jesus, his cancer must have been aggressive. He played in the Winnipeg-Edmonton alumni game earlier this past season. Sad news.

 

[Nunymare]

Jesus, his cancer must have been aggressive. He played in the Winnipeg-Edmonton alumni game earlier this past season. Sad news.

Apparently diagnosed only weeks ago.

 

[IComeInPeace]

Wow. God Bless Semenko, and all of his loved ones. That is so sad.

 

[iamjs]

This isn't a player, but it's the death of a composer that had a song that most hockey fans would almost instantly recognize.



If this thread is players only, I understand and feel free to remove it.

 

[Fenway]

This isn't a player, but it's the death of a composer that had a song that most hockey fans would almost instantly recognize.



If this thread is players only, I understand and feel free to remove it.

https://sports.yahoo.com/jacques-ysaye-creator-whalers-anthem-brass-bonanza-dies-94-160632386.html

The song begins and it immediately registers in your head. The first few notes play and the next three minutes of your life is now booked. You have no choice as you’ll be humming along with a tune that’s been ingrained in your hockey soul.

That’s what “Brass Bonanza†means to a hockey fan, young or old. Maybe you’re old enough to remember hearing the tune during a Whalers game in their WHA or NHL days. Perhaps you’re too young for that but wore out your controller playing NHL ’94 with Jacques Ysaye’s creation playing in the background.

Ysaye, the man who created “Brass Bonanza,†and was also known under the pseudonym of Jack Say, died last week at the age of 94.

 

[Killion]

^^^ That piece of music absolutely typified an era, thats for sure.

 

[iamjs]

https://sports.yahoo.com/jacques-ysaye-creator-whalers-anthem-brass-bonanza-dies-94-160632386.html


"Perhaps you're too young for that but wore out your controller playing NHL Â’94 with Jacques Ysaye's creation playing in the background."

If we were playing NHL 94 and I was the home team, I'd pick the Whalers just so I could hear Brass Bonanza at the opening of each period.

 

[Nunymare]

RIP Tod Sloan: http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/12/former-maple-leafs-forward-tod-sloan-89-dies

 

[Canadiens1958]

Tod Sloan

RIP. Very underappreciated player. Key member of the 1961 SC Chicago Blackhawks.

 

[Killion]

RIP. Very underappreciated player. Key member of the 1961 SC Chicago Blackhawks.

Yes he is that, somewhat forgotten figure in the annals. Born in Vinton PQ but grew up in Sudbury, product of the Leafs system starting out with St.Mikes where he won a couple of Memorial Cup's, OHA League MVP. Really wracked up the points. Small guy, outlier, feisty, unusual player in that he wasnt strictly North-South however disciplined none the less, developing into an excellent, totally solid & reliable 2 way player. It was Sloan who scored the tying goal in the 3rd period of the final game in the 1951 SC Championships vs Montreal forcing OT, in which the legendary goal scored by Bill Barilko won the Cup for the Leafs. Unfortunately for Toronto, fortunately for Chicago, sold to the Blackhawks in Smythes "purge" of the "Commie instigators of the Players Association".... Sloan a big part of Chicago's 61 SC win, retiring (professionally) upon conclusion, going out on top.... then signed on to play with the Galt Terriers (Sr.A) who represented Canada in a WC shortly thereafter. A cousin of Dave Keon's, he owned a hotel on Lake Simcoe for many years that was frequented by a who's who of hockey, Coaches, GM's, Scouts & Players including Bobby Orr, Darryl Sittler & many others.

 

[nabby12]

RIP Tod Sloan. I was literally just researching him the night before he passed away. Terrible news.

 

[BobbyAwe]

RIP. Very underappreciated player. Key member of the 1961 SC Chicago Blackhawks.

Yes, I was going to say his stats should warrant more recognition historically? 37 and 31 goals and over 20 or more 3 times between 1950-61 is nothing to sneeze at?

 

[Nunymare]

Also, Don Johns, 79 on July 8: https://necrocanada.com/obituaries/johns-donald-1937-2017-2017/#.WWkRiRPyt0t

 

[pappyline]

Todd Sloan. One of my favorites and very underrated. Centred the "Pappyline", the highest scoring line of 1958-59. Only surviving member is LW Ted Lindsay.

 

[ICM1970]

Bryan Murray

Remembered him from when he was coach of the Washington Capitals during the Rod Langway, Mike Gartner, Pat Riggin, Bengt Gustaffson, and others from the mid 1980s era.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/former-senators-gm-coach-bryan-murray-dead-74/

 

[member 83027]

RIP Noel Picard.

https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues/status/905625007077908481

 

[Killion]

^^^ Wow. Noel Picard. Time flys. It was he who sent Orr flying after scoring the Cup Winner against St Louis, iconic photo "The Goal".... Picard a Christmas Day baby back in 1938.... bounced around the minors for quite some time, played a dozen + games for the Canadiens mid-60's, Expansion a Godsend, signed by the Blues, steady stay-at-home hard rock Defenceman.... Really popular player with fans & teammates alike.... Gritty on & off the ice... story goes while hunting in 1971 with some teammates, he took a horse out for a tour of the area & somehow the horse fell on top of him, crushing an ankle in an extremely gruesome fashion, bones sticking out, blood everywhere... emergency physicians seriously considering amputation it was so bad but avoided, told he'd never skate again, career over..... vowed he'd beat it and did. Back on the ice & back in the NHL where he played for a few more seasons finishing up in Atlanta.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Local Favourite

^^^ Wow. Noel Picard. Time flys. It was he who sent Orr flying after scoring the Cup Winner against St Louis, iconic photo "The Goal".... Picard a Christmas Day baby back in 1938.... bounced around the minors for quite some time, played a dozen + games for the Canadiens mid-60's, Expansion a Godsend, signed by the Blues, steady stay-at-home hard rock Defenceman.... Really popular player with fans & teammates alike.... Gritty on & off the ice... story goes while hunting in 1971 with some teammates, he took a horse out for a tour of the area & somehow the horse fell on top of him, crushing an ankle in an extremely gruesome fashion, bones sticking out, blood everywhere... emergency physicians seriously considering amputation it was so bad but avoided, told he'd never skate again, career over..... vowed he'd beat it and did. Back on the ice & back in the NHL where he played for a few more seasons finishing up in Atlanta.

East end Montreal product. Perservered to make the O6 with the Canadiens as a depth d-man. Expansion extended his career.

 

[Robert Gordon Orr]

Some other former NHL'ers who passed away this summer

George "Duke" Harris (b.1942)

Parker MacDonald (b.1933)

Dave Creighton (b.1930)

Bob Ring (b.1946)

 

[Killion]

^^^ Good grief. Thats all very sad. RIP.

East end Montreal product. Perservered to make the O6 with the Canadiens as a depth d-man. Expansion extended his career.

Yes indeed. I'd imagine he'd have known Scotty Bowman fairly well, possibly even teammates at one time? So I guess sort of full-circle in landing on his feet in St.Louis, Scotty more than happy to be able to secure Noel Picard's services for the fledgling Blues. Good, steady, rock-solid Defenceman who didnt put up with any crap from anyone but at the same time, great guy in the dressing room, good sense of humor, becoming a fan favorite.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Noel Picard

^^^ Good grief. Thats all very sad. RIP.



Yes indeed. I'd imagine he'd have known Scotty Bowman fairly well, possibly even teammates at one time? So I guess sort of full-circle in landing on his feet in St.Louis, Scotty more than happy to be able to secure Noel Picard's services for the fledgling Blues. Good, steady, rock-solid Defenceman who didnt put up with any crap from anyone but at the same time, great guy in the dressing room, good sense of humor, becoming a fan favorite.

Born Christmas day 1938, slightly more than five years younger than Scotty Bowman. Played for Bowman in Peterborough 1959-60, partial season.

Old MMJHL product followed by time in the Quebec Senior League when it returned to amateur status. Some minor league experience.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/p/picarno01.html

 

[Killion]

Born Christmas day 1938... https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/p/picarno01.html

Yes I checked that out earlier, the link, thx.... I see he had an older brother Roger, RW, played for the Blues in 67/68 as well but just 15 games. Career minor-pro guy.... Despite the rough & tumble of East End Montreal during the period he & his brother grew up there, and for kids playing hockey it must have been a rather magical place circa 1938/48, 48/58 & into the early 60's. Life was hard sure enough but the hockey, it was as much of an escape as it was a way of life, an out, a career for so many from the area.

 

[iamjs]

Some other former NHL'ers who passed away this summer

George "Duke" Harris (b.1942)

Duke passed away on August 2nd while recovering from heart surgery.
http://canadaobits.ca/harris-george-duke-francis-sarnia/

Parker MacDonald (b.1933)

MacDonald passed away on August 17. He was 84 years old.
http://www.capebretonpost.com/sport...nal-six-star-parker-macdonald-dead-at-84.html

Dave Creighton (b.1930)

Creighton passed away on August 18. He was 87 years old. Couldn't find much about his passing. Even the obit in the TB Times was very minimal.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=186436197

Bob Ring (b.1946)

Ring passed away on June 22 after a battle with cancer.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/islandpacket/obituary.aspx?pid=185933154

 

[Killion]

Creighton passed away on August 18. He was 87 years old. Couldn't find much about his passing. Even the obit in the TB Times was very minimal.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tampabaytimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=186436197

Huh.... this guy a rather interesting player (son Adam also decent, both he & his Dad winning Memorial Cups). Dave Creighton coming out of the Port Arthur Bruins, had a rather wandering NHL career playing for 4 of the 06 teams, and consistently a pretty consistent goal scorer, upper teens, 20 goal seasons & so on and that at a time when that was actually above average. Excellent Playoff performer at times as well. Spent the 50's in the NHL followed by 10yrs in the minors, mostly AHL, Rochester, Baltimore Clippers, finishing up with the Providence Reds.