In Memoriam Former pro hockey players/management/others deaths

[Nunymare]

Thought I'd start an all-encompassing thread to list deaths of former NHLers, including those who were lesser known/don't have a separate thread on here.
2017
January 3 - Mike Buchanan, 84
January 4 - Milt Schmidt, 98
January 10 - Kenny Wharram, 83
January 18 - Ed Dyck, 66
February 3 - Bob Stewart, 66
February 10 - Mike Ilitch, 87
February 22 - John McCormck, 91
March 24 - Gary Doak 71
April 5 - Ilkka Sinisalo, 58
April 5 - Dave Gove, 38
April 11 - Bill Sutherland, 82
April 28 - Ken Breitenbach, 62
May 13 - Marcel Pelletier, 89
May 21 - Bill White, 77
June 15 - Danny Schock, 68
June 20 - Sergey Mylnikov, 58
June 29 - Dave Semenko, 59
July 8 - Don Johns, 79
July 12 - Tod Sloan, 89

2016
January 1 - Jim Ross, 89
January 3 - Bill Plager, 70
January 16 - Don Caley, 70
January 16 - Rudy Migay, 87
January 22 - Rik Wilson, 53
February 12 - Ed Barry, 96
February 26 - Andy Bathgate, 83
March 3 - Ted McCaskill, 79
March 10 - Bill Gadsby, 88
March 13 - Ken Broderick, 74
March 22 - Norm Johnson, 83
March 29 - Francis "Red" Kane, 93
April 2 - Dennis Riggin, 79
April 16 - Charlie Hodge, 82
May 30 - Tom Lysiak, 63
May 30 - Rick MacLeish, 66
June 10 - Gordie Howe, 88
July 3 - Lou Fontinato, 84
September 7 - Bob Dailey, 63
September 20 - Richie Dunn, 59
September 20 - Garry Edmundson, 84
September 29, Gilles Dube, 89
October 12 - Matti Hagman, 61
October 21 - George Konik, 79
October 21 - Bob McCord, 82
November 5 - Marek Svatos, 34
November 12 - Bob Kabel, 82
November 23, - Guy Rousseau, 81
December 7 - Benny Woit, 88
December 10 - Bill Dineen, 84
December 18 - Ken Baird, 65

2015

January 2 - Dan Poulin, 57
January 7 - J.P. Parise, 73
January 10 - Denis Tsygurov, 43
January 19 - Mark Marquess 89
January 25 - Marc Dufour, 73
January 31 - Vic Howe, 85
February 1 - Jean-Paul Gladu, 93
February 7 - Earl "Ching" Johnson, 83
February 8 - Dave Hoyda, 57
February 15 - Steve Montador, 35
February 21 - Frank Bathgate, 85
March 11 - Don McLeod, 68
April 4 - Elmer Lach, 97
April 6 - Dollard St. Laurent, 85
April 14 - Mark Reeds, 55
April 26 - Marcel Pronovost, 84
May 2 - John Mahaffy, 96
June 16 - Greg Parks, 48
June 20 - Doug Rombough, 64
June 29 - Wally Stanowski, 96
July 26 - Leo Reise, Jr., 93
August 8 - Gus Mortson, 90
August 8, Jack Jackson, 90
August 13 - Bob Fillion, 95
August 24 - Ron "Chico" Maki, 76
August 24 - Cummy Burton, 79
August 28 - Al Arbour, 82
September 19 - Todd Ewen, 49
September 27 - Norm Defelice, 82
September 29 - Gil Mayer, 86
September 29 - Rick Foley, 70
October 19 - Fleming Mackell, 86
October 23 - Jim Roberts, 75
November 8 - Aldo Guidolin, 83
November 16 - Bert Olmstead, 89
November 23 - Steve Hrymnak, 89
December 6 - Dale Anderson, 83
December 19 - Dickie Moore, 84

2014

January 6 - Don Ward, 78
January 11 - Joe Junkin, 67
January 29 - Jack Stoddard, 87
February 4 - Keith Allen, 90
February 5 - Doug Mohns, 80
February 10 - Doug Jarrett, 69
February 17 - Joe Bell, 90
March 6 - Ron Murphy, 80
March 15 - Jim Mikol, 75
March 16 - Chuck Scherza, 91
April 1 - Bill Mitchell, 84
April 21 - Lionel Heinrich, 80
April 28 - Edgar Laprade, 94
April 30 - Ralph Nattrass, 88
May 4 - Ross Lonsberry, 67
May 12 - Brian Marchinko, 65
June 17 - Larry Zeidel, 86
June 19 - Guy Trottier, 73
August 31 - Carol Vadnais, 68
September 6 - Seth Martin, 81
September 18 - Milan Marcetta, 77
September 23 - Al Suomi, 100
September 27 - Wally Hergesheimer, 87
September 29 - Len Ronson, 78
October 10 - Valeri Karpov, 43
October 26 - Germain Gagnon, 71
November 7 - Connie Dion, 96
November 23 - Murray Oliver, 77
November 23 - Pat Quinn, 71
November 26 - Gilles Tremblay, 75
December 2 - Jean Beliveau, 83
December 2 - Andrè Gill, 73
December 10 - Bob Solinger, 88
December 16 - Eddie Kachur, 80

For reference: List of oldest NHL players thread.

Click to read more...

 

[Killion]

Great idea for a Thread, and thanks for tracking & posting it. Knock
on wood, no additions to the list over the next 18-19 days & nights.

 

[DanishPastry]

Don't know if you Canadians get QI from the BBC but this thread made me think of something I saw on it.

It's in response to a Tennyson poem (Vision of Sin): Every moment dies a man, every moment one is born.

Charles Babbage then replied:
If this were true, the population of the world would be at a stand-still. In truth, the rate of birth is slightly in excess of death. I would suggest that the next edition of your poem should read: “Every moment dies a man, every moment 1 1/16 is born.” Strictly speaking, the actual figure is so long I cannot get it into a line, but I believe the figure 1 1/16 will be sufficiently accurate for poetry.

 

[reckoning]

I had no idea that Doug Mohns and Ross Lonsberry had passed away this year. Seeing all the names on that list is incredibly sad.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Thought I'd start an all-encompassing thread to list deaths of former NHLers, including those who were lesser known/don't have a separate thread on here.

This year:

2014

January 6 - Don Ward, 78
January 11 - Joe Junkin, 67
January 29 - Jack Stoddard, 87
February 4 - Keith Allen, 90
February 5 - Doug Mohns, 80
February 10 - Doug Jarrett, 69
February 17 - Joe Bell, 90
March 6 - Ron Murphy, 80
March 15 - Jim Mikol, 75
March 16 - Chuck Scherza, 91
April 1 - Bill Mitchell, 84
April 21 - Lionel Heinrich, 80
April 28 - Edgar Laprade, 94
April 30 - Ralph Nattrass, 88
May 4 - Ross Lonsberry, 67
May 12 - Brian Marchinko, 65
June 17 - Larry Zeidel, 86
August 31 - Carol Vadnais, 68
September 6 - Seth Martin, 81
September 18 - Milan Marcetta, 77
September 23 - Al Suomi, 100
September 27 - Wally Hergesheimer, 87
September 29 - Len Ronson, 78
October 26 - Germain Gagnon, 71
November 7 - Connie Dion, 96
November 23 - Murray Oliver, 77
November 23 - Pat Quinn, 71
November 26 - Gilles Tremblay, 75
December 2 - Jean Beliveau, 83
December 10 - Bob Solinger, 88

fortunately most made to 70--always gets me when I see players a list of players who pass away before the age of 50

 

[kytem2]

2 more:

Guy Trottier
Valeri Karpov

 

[Nunymare]

2 more:

Guy Trottier
Valeri Karpov

Added to the OP.

 

[Laphroaig]

I had no idea that I'd missed so many deaths this past year. Many of them were under reported. Thanks are due to the OP. Rough year.

 

[Captain Bowie]

fortunately most made to 70--always gets me when I see players a list of players who pass away before the age of 50

Glad to see (pardon the phrase) more made age 90 (and one to 100!) than that didn't make 70.

I had no idea that I'd missed so many deaths this past year. Many of them were under reported. Thanks are due to the OP. Rough year.

With the huge number of players that have played professional hockey for the past 80 years, something tells me that this isn't a particulary "bad" (pardon the phrase, again) year. Just a gut feeling, obviously I have no way of knowing the exact number each year.

 

[Nunymare]

With the huge number of players that have played professional hockey for the past 80 years, something tells me that this isn't a particulary "bad" (pardon the phrase, again) year. Just a gut feeling, obviously I have no way of knowing the exact number each year.

I think there were only around 20 last year.

 

[Nunymare]

Former Chicago Blackhawk Eddie Kachur died on December 16, 2014, aged 80.

http://www.chroniclejournal.com/obituaries/kachur/edward-edward

 

[Hobnobs]

Can't believe no one has mentioned

Viktor Tikhonov
November 24, 2014

 

[Killion]

Huh. Eddie Kachur played for over 20yrs, all of it in the Minors but for parts of 2 seasons with Chicago circa 56-58, having been called up from Shawinigan of the 'QHL. In 67/68 while with the Providence Reds of the AHL, he scored 47 Goals, the most of any player in any pro league that year. Made 1st Team All Star. Retired in 72 after a year with the Johnstown Jets of the EHL.

 

[Peter9]

Eddie Kachur

I remember Eddie Kachur. He spent almost his entire career in the minors and played all his pro hockey before any kind of half-decent money came along. I was wondering how he he fared the rest of his long life after retirement from hockey, and it seems from his obituary that he loved the outdoors and owned a camp. Not everyone who never really made it in the big league had to eke out a living in the tin mines for the rest of his working life. He had quite a bit more than a cup of coffee in the NHL, about one and a half seasons, at a time when the league had only about 120 players, and he no doubt got some fame and fortune from his NHL career, short as it was. Condolences to Eddie's friends and family.

 

[Theokritos]

Can't believe no one has mentioned

Viktor Tikhonov
November 24, 2014

Thread title is "Former NHL player deaths". Don't remember Viktor Tikhonov playing in the NHL...

 

[Hobnobs]

Thread title is "Former NHL player deaths". Don't remember Viktor Tikhonov playing in the NHL...

Ah, thats a pretty good explanation

 

[Nunymare]

André Gill, former Goaltender for the Bruins, played 5 games in 1967-68, on December 2, 2014.

http://www.domainefuneraire.com/avis-de-deces/Andre-GILL-183995

Recorded a shutout in his NHL debut..

 

[Killion]

André Gill, former Goaltender for the Bruins, played 5 games in 1967-68, on December 2, 2014.

Long time Hershey Bear and won the Hap Holmes Award one season, 1st Team All Star. Smaller guy, like 5'7", maybe 150lbs. Very quick. In tough though as smaller goalies like that by the early through mid-60's on even, rough going in terms of just clearing their crease, getting worn down. He also played in the WHA and its minor pro circuit the NAHL.... along with the Southern Hockey League later in his career through the mid-to-late 70's.

 

[Sens Rule]

Thought I'd start an all-encompassing thread to list deaths of former NHLers, including those who were lesser known/don't have a separate thread on here.

This year:

2014

January 6 - Don Ward, 78
January 11 - Joe Junkin, 67
January 29 - Jack Stoddard, 87
February 4 - Keith Allen, 90
February 5 - Doug Mohns, 80
February 10 - Doug Jarrett, 69
February 17 - Joe Bell, 90
March 6 - Ron Murphy, 80
March 15 - Jim Mikol, 75
March 16 - Chuck Scherza, 91
April 1 - Bill Mitchell, 84
April 21 - Lionel Heinrich, 80
April 28 - Edgar Laprade, 94
April 30 - Ralph Nattrass, 88
May 4 - Ross Lonsberry, 67
May 12 - Brian Marchinko, 65
June 17 - Larry Zeidel, 86
June 19 - Guy Trottier, 73
August 31 - Carol Vadnais, 68
September 6 - Seth Martin, 81
September 18 - Milan Marcetta, 77
September 23 - Al Suomi, 100
September 27 - Wally Hergesheimer, 87
September 29 - Len Ronson, 78
October 10 - Valeri Karpov, 43
October 26 - Germain Gagnon, 71
November 7 - Connie Dion, 96
November 23 - Murray Oliver, 77
November 23 - Pat Quinn, 71
November 26 - Gilles Tremblay, 75
December 2 - Jean Beliveau, 83
December 2 - Andrè Gill, 73
December 10 - Bob Solinger, 88
December 16 - Eddie Kachur, 80

See... This is a healthy list of men. That died... Maybe a longer life span then normal. Look at the NFL... Or sadly Pro Wrestling. Hockey is dangerous to body injuries perhaps... But not to life.

I hate the enforcer deaths the past few years. They are pretty clearly over drugs. I hope that I live a long time and do not bury most of my favorite players before I go. Ted Lindsay is still alive in his 90's... As a legit tough guy... Most PIMs so many years. Rocket died of old age. Gordie is too.

I hope the trend keeps up forever. Most NHLers live to die of old age post 70 or 80.

 

[MS]

See... This is a healthy list of men. That died... Maybe a longer life span then normal. Look at the NFL... Or sadly Pro Wrestling. Hockey is dangerous to body injuries perhaps... But not to life.

I hate the enforcer deaths the past few years. They are pretty clearly over drugs. I hope that I live a long time and do not bury most of my favorite players before I go. Ted Lindsay is still alive in his 90's... As a legit tough guy... Most PIMs so many years. Rocket died of old age. Gordie is too.

I hope the trend keeps up forever. Most NHLers live to die of old age post 70 or 80.

Yeah, average age on that list (excluding Karpov who didn't die of natural causes) is over 80. Pretty much right in line with life expectancy in general.

The hullaballoo about concussions and 'being a vegetable when you're 45' is way overblown. The NHL doesn't have anything resembling a NFL/WWF situation.

 

[Hawksfan2828]

It makes some sense that the list should get longer every year considering some of these guys played post expansion.

 

[Nunymare]

First one of 2015 - Dan Poulin, 57 on January 2, of skin cancer.

http://www.journaldujura.ch/sport/actualites/dan-poulin-nest-plus

 

[Jumptheshark]

First one of 2015 - Dan Poulin, 57 on January 2, of skin cancer.

http://www.journaldujura.ch/sport/actualites/dan-poulin-nest-plus

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=7496

 

[Killion]

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=7496

For a Defenceman, he certainly put up some pretty impressive numbers in terms of most notably Assists and for several seasons (Jr & Minor-Pro in North America) Goals as well.... thats rather sad, only 57, Cancer.

 

[Nunymare]

For a Defenceman, he certainly put up some pretty impressive numbers in terms of most notably Assists and for several seasons (Jr & Minor-Pro in North America) Goals as well.... thats rather sad, only 57, Cancer.

Pretty good three games in the NHL as well with 2 points (1g, 1a).

Added Parise as well, cancer sucks.