In Memoriam Former pro hockey players/management/others deaths

[Robert Gordon Orr]

R.I.P. Bill Burega [1932-2020]

The only former NHL’er who passed away this year, not mentioned yet in this thread, is Bill Burega (He passed away in August).
He was a good sized and hard hitting defenseman. He had a long minor league career, but only played in four NHL games (Toronto between Jan.14-19, 1956). His only NHL-point came in his first game, an assist (Earl Balfour goal).

Remembering the life of William Burega

 

[Chili]

Sorry to hear about Ken Schinkel. Remembering the Schinkel, Shack & Schock line (Ken, Eddie & Ron).

 

[ES]

Lou Nistico gone at 67. Three games in NHL with Colorado Rockies, few full seasons in WHA.

 

[BadgerBruce]

Lou Nistico gone at 67. Three games in NHL with Colorado Rockies, few full seasons in WHA.

That’s very sad news.

I saw Nistico 2-3 times with the Toronto Toros back in the early 70s at MLG. They didn’t draw horribly — my recollection is somewhere around 10K per game, so the joint was 60-70% full. Every time he hit the ice or touched the puck, the fans would all yell “LOU” in unison.
He was a fan favourite, for sure.

RIP.

 

[Habsfan18]

Pierre Lacroix has passed away at 72.

 

[kaiser matias]

Pierre Lacroix has passed away at 72.

Died from COVID-19 in Las Vegas.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

 

[Nunymare]

Former Kamloops Chiefs/Vancouver Canucks player Rob Flockhart dies at age 64.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Former Kamloops Chiefs/Vancouver Canucks player Rob Flockhart dies at age 64.

I kept getting rob confused with Ron his brother

 

[Iapyi]

I kept getting rob confused with Ron his brother

Flockey Hockey. Those early 80's Regina Pats were something to watch.

 

[Theokritos]

 

[seventieslord]

Armstrong dying feels like the end of an era. I know there are other living 67 Leafs, but he was the captain.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Hate to keep updating this, but Fred Sasakamoose died today aged 86 from COVID-19 related complications: Sasakamoose, Indigenous NHL pioneer, dies at 86

Most notable as one of the first indigenous people to play in the NHL (there are reports of earlier players but I don't believe anything is confirmed), Sasakamoose played 11 games with Chicago during the 1953-54 season.

Fred Sasakamoose (1933-2020)

George Armstrong's mother was Ojibwe, and his first NHL game was in 1949.

 

[Xelebes]

Apparently an LA King 1984 7th round draft pick, Tim Flanagan committed suicide. Played in the WHL (47 GP - 13 G - 15 A - 28 Pts) and then played his professional career in Britain for three years (20 GP - 22 G - 23 A - 43 Pts.)

Tim Flanagan (b.1967) Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Currently being investigated for multiple sexual assaults, perhaps being a serial rapist.

Calgary police say man who died may have been serial rapist, cases go back to 1990s

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Ralph Backstrom, the 1959 Calder Trophy winner as NHL rookie of the year and a six-time Stanley Cup winner with the Montreal Canadiens, died Sunday at home in Windsor, Colorado, following a lengthy illness. He was 83.

Backstrom played 1,032 NHL games for the Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Black Hawks between 1956-57 and 1972-73, scoring 639 points (278 goals, 361 assists). Forty of his goals were game-winners. He played another 100 games for four teams in the World Hockey Association between 1973-77.​

 

[kaiser matias]

Ralph Backstrom, the 1959 Calder Trophy winner as NHL rookie of the year and a six-time Stanley Cup winner with the Montreal Canadiens, died Sunday at home in Windsor, Colorado, following a lengthy illness. He was 83.

Backstrom played 1,032 NHL games for the Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Black Hawks between 1956-57 and 1972-73, scoring 639 points (278 goals, 361 assists). Forty of his goals were game-winners. He played another 100 games for four teams in the World Hockey Association between 1973-77.​

Only found out now that he was instrumental in founding the Colorado Eagles, and helped bring them from being a team in the Central Hockey League up to the AHL the past few years.

 

[Fenway]

 

[Crosstraffic]

Helped create Roller Hockey International, went to quite a few Anaheim Bullfrogs games in the mid 90s. RIP Ralph.

 

[BadgerBruce]

I’ve heard stories from guys who were there about Backstrom and Henri Richard playing ferociously competitive games of keepaway during Habs practices in the 60s. Two supreme skaters with so much fight in their hearts having an absolute blast testing their skills against each other with a couple of brown pops on the line.

Ralph was the greatest 3C I’ve ever seen and the Habs trio of Beliveau/Richard/Backstrom down the middle was just so good, no weak link in that chain.

RIP. And Ralph? That’s Henri hiding behind that cloud, tapping his stick, daring you to come and get that puck. Have fun — that’s what heaven’s for.

 

[Laphroaig]

When I was about 10 years old in the early 60s I had the opportunity to test my slap shot against Ralph Backstrom's at the Ottawa exhibition. He was the first NHLer I had ever met and he was incredibly gracious allowing me to best him. Very nice man. R.I.P.

 

[Sanf]

It´s not very recent, but very sadly noticed that Referee/Linesman and Manitoba Hockey Hall Of Famer Morley Meyers passed away on October 24, 2020 at the age of 81.

35-year career officiating in various leagues including IHL, WHA, U.S. College. Also linesman in 1959 Memorial Cup final.

 

[byrone12]

Hockey writer Frank Orr recently passed away

PHWA mourns the passing of Toronto Star titan Frank Orr – Professional Hockey Writers Association

 

[Nunymare]

Sadly, three more recent deaths to report:

Don Dietrich 1961-2021

Joe Hardy 1945-2021

Clayton Pachal 1956-2021

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Gary Inness has passed away.

 

[Theokritos]

It´s not very recent, but very sadly noticed that Referee/Linesman and Manitoba Hockey Hall Of Famer Morley Meyers passed away on October 24, 2020 at the age of 81.

35-year career officiating in various leagues including IHL, WHA, U.S. College. Also linesman in 1959 Memorial Cup final.

Oh boy. I fear that was one of our forum members, @mbhhofr, who repeatedly let on that he was an old linesman/referee. His username suggests "Manitoba Hockey Hall of Famer" and he was last online on October 11. The location in his profile says Las Vegas and the online obituaries of Morley Meyers do indeed suggest he spent his last years in Las Vegas.