The Atlanta Flames were an integral part of the National Hockey League (NHL) during their eight-season tenure in Georgia’s capital city. Established in 1972, they brought exciting hockey action to a vibrant southern market and electrified fans with thrilling victories over some of the NHL’s elite teams. The team experienced highs and lows throughout its history but ultimately made an indelible mark on professional hockey as well as sports culture in Atlanta before leaving town for Calgary following the 1979–80 season.
1. Guy Chouinard
Guy Chouinard was born in Quebec City, Canada on October 20th, 1956. He is 5'11" and weighs 183 lbs. Guy has played center for the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames over his career.
In 1992-93 he led all NHL players with 161 assists and 496 points; a record that still stands today. Guy is a two time Stanley Cup Champion (1986 with Montreal & 1989 with Calgary) as well as an Olympic Gold Medalist (1996).
Guy retired from playing hockey in 2003 after 15 seasons in the NHL including 12 years as captain of the Montreal Canadiens Guy Chouinard played for the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues in the NHL from 1974 to 1985.
Guy was drafted by the Atlanta Flames 28th overall in the 1974 NHL Draft. He scored 101 goals and 212 points over his playing career with Atlanta, Calgary and St.Louis respectively. Guy retired after playing 197 games with the Flames scoring 128 points during that time span.
2. Willi Plett
Willi Plett is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota North Stars.
He was originally drafted by the Detroit Red Wings, but he never played with them as they traded him before he had a chance to debut.
He then moved on to play for the Minnesota Twins and later joined the North Stars in 1984 where he finished his career playing 340 games over eight seasons.
In 1987, Willi Plett won both the Calder Memorial Trophy (given to NHL rookie of the year) and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (given to gentlemanly player).
After his retirement from playing, Willi took up coaching and has worked at various levels of junior hockey throughout Canada including working as an assistant coach with Team Canada at The World Championships in 2006 where they won gold medal.
As of 2016-2017 season Willi is head coach of HC Sochi in Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Russia's top professional league.
3. Eric Vail
Eric Vail was born in 1953 and played his entire career with the Atlanta Flames. Eric is best known for scoring over 700 goals in his NHL career, making him one of the most prolific goal scorers in league history.
He also won a Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1978, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. After retiring from playing hockey, he became a television commentator and worked as a scout for various teams.
Eric Vail passed away on October 10th, 2018 at the age of 69 after a long battle with cancer Eric Vail was drafted 21st overall by the Atlanta Flames in the 1973 NHL Draft. He played with the Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings and Quebec Nordiques over a playing career that lasted from 1973-1983.
In 1983, he retired from hockey to pursue other interests.
4. Tom Lysiak
Tom Lysiak was a centre for the Edmonton Oilers, playing in parts of six seasons between 1974 and 1981. He joined the Philadelphia Flyers in 1982 and played there until 1987, when he moved to Calgary Flames.
In 1988, Tom Lysiak signed with Toronto Maple Leafs where he would play until 1992 before retiring from professional hockey at the age of 36 years old.
After his retirement, Tom started coaching youngsters in his home town of High Prairie and eventually became head coach for their minor hockey team as well as an assistant coach with Alberta’s provincial men’s hockey team.
On May 30th 2016, Tom Lysiak passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer at 63 years old; leaving behind wife Tracey and two children Beau and Brooke Tom Lysiak was a two-time All-Star and winner of the Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player in the NHL.
Lysiak played his entire career with Atlanta, Chicago, and Houston before retiring in 1986 at age 36. He is best known for his offensive abilities, scoring over 900 points in his career including 425 goals.
Tom Lysiak was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006 and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
5. Kent Nilsson
Kent Nilsson was born on August 31, 1956 in Nynäshamn, Sweden. He played for Djurgårdens IF before moving to AIK and then to the Winnipeg Jets, Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames and Minnesota North Stars.
Kent retired from hockey in 1999 after playing with the Jets and Flames. In 1997-98 he won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings. Kent currently resides in Sweden and is involved in various charity work Kent Nilsson was born in Edmonton, Alberta on January 24th, 1966.
He played his junior hockey with the HC Bolzano club of Italy before coming over to play for the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL in 1986-87.
Nilsson would be a key player for the Oilers during their playoff runs throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, appearing in four Stanley Cup Finals (1988-89, 1989-90, 1993-94 & 1997-98).
After spending 1998–1999 with Toronto Toros of the WHA as a free agent signing, he retired from playing at age 35 after posting totals of 535 points (214 goals & 306 assists) in 919 career games.
Kent Nilson currently works as an assistant coach with EHC Kloten of Switzerland's National League A division.
6. Paul Reinhart
Paul Reinhart is a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He has been awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on market liquidity and financial crises.
His research focuses on understanding how markets function and how they fail to operate efficiently. Reinhart has written extensively about economic theory, financial stability, and systemic risk management.
He is also known for his work on corporate strategy and innovation policy. Reinhart's recent books include The Road to Serfdom: A History of Economic Thought (2009) and Capital in the Twenty-First Century (2013).
He currently serves as president of the American Economic Association (AEA). Paul Reinhart is the co-founder and CEO of Insight Venture Partners, a venture capital firm. He has invested in companies such as Airbnb, Dropbox, LinkedIn, Yelp and Salesforce.
In 2013 he was named to Fortune's list of "40 under 40" entrepreneurs. Paul holds a BBA from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
7. David Shand
David Shand is a defender and was born in 1956. He played for the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Toronto Maple Leafs before retiring in 2001.
David has also represented Canada internationally on several occasions including at the 1984 Winter Olympics and World Championships.
In 2002, he became head coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings where he served until 2007 when he took over as general manager of the Saskatoon Blades.
David is currently an assistant general manager with the Vancouver Canucks organization David Shand was drafted by the Atlanta Flames in the eighth round of the 1976 NHL Draft.
He played for Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals and Calgary Cowboys during his playing career. David Shand retired after a successful nineteen-year career in 1989.
8. Pat Ribble
Ribble was drafted by the Atlanta Flames in 1974. Ribble played for the Chicago Black Hawks and Edmonton Oilers before retiring in 1992. He has also been a coach for Team Canada at several international tournaments, most notably the World Championships in 1991 and 1999.
Ribble is now retired from playing but still coaching young players with his skills as a defenceman. Pat Ribble played in the NHL for 10 seasons.
He was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1974 and spent his entire career with them. He also played for the Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames, and Atlanta Flames in the WHA before retiring from hockey in 1987.
Pat Ribble is considered one of the best defensemen to play in the NHL and is a member of both Canada's Olympic team (1984) and World Cup championship teams (1986).
After retirement he became a coach with several minor league teams before returning to school to earn his degree in education from Queen's University.
9. Bob MacMillan
Bob MacMillan is a retired politician and former professional ice hockey player. He played for the Minnesota Fighting Saints, New York Rangers, and St. Louis Blues in his career.
MacMillan was born on December 3rd, 1952 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and raised there before moving to Canada at the age of 18 to pursue a skating career.
After playing minor league hockey for several years, he made his NHL debut with the New York Rangers in 1974-75 season as an enforcer/goaltender extraordinaire who posted a 10-8 record with 2 shutouts over 38 games played including one playoff game that year against Montreal Canadiens (the eventual Stanley Cup Champion).
In 1978-79 season he joined St Louis Blues where he would play until 1983-84 campaign when injuries forced him into early retirement at only 30 years old due to chronic knee problems.
Which plagued him throughout his entire pro career - something which eventually led him down the path of becoming an athlete politician as MLA for Summerside—Charlottetown riding from 2003 to 2011 then PPE MP since May 2nd ,2011.
During his time as an MLA and MP he has been very vocal about various issues facing PEI such as health care financing reform; energy security; Atlantic Canada's place in Confederation ; combating climate change.
Increasing trade ties between Canada and our Caribbean neighbours ; improving access to quality post secondary education here on PEI .
On January 6th , 2014 Bob announced his candidacy for leader of the PC Party of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper but was unsuccessful finishing 4th out of 5 candidates behind Kevin O'Leary ( businessman ), Kellie Leitch ( conservative Conservative ), Chris Alexander ( Liberal ) & Lisa Raitt (Conservative ).
10. Randy Manery
Randy Manery is a retired professional wrestler and actor. He began his wrestling career in the early 1970s and won numerous championships over the course of his career.
In addition to wrestling, he has also appeared in several films and television shows throughout his career. He currently resides in Leamington, Ontario with his wife Linda and their two children.
Randy Manery is a member of both the Canadian Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame as well as the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame In his playing career, Randy Manery was a right-handed defenceman who spent most of his time with the Los Angeles Kings and Atlanta Flames.
In total, he scored 154 goals and added 466 assists for 600 points in 1,186 regular season games played. He also appeared in 95 playoff games, scoring 9 goals and adding 21 assists for 30 points.
After finishing his playing career, Manery became an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings from 1986 to 1988 before becoming head coach of their minor league affiliate in Windsor from 1989 to 1992.
He then became an assistant general manager with the Calgary Flames from 1993 until 1995 before returning to coaching as head coach of the United States national team at the World Championships in 1996 and 1997 where they reached the semi-final round both times.
11. Bill Clement
Bill Clement was born in Buckingham, Quebec on December 20th, 1950. He played centre for the Montreal Canadiens from 1973 to 1984 and won a Stanley Cup with them in 1976.
After retiring as a player, he worked as an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings before joining the coaching staff of the Ottawa Senators in 2003.
In 2007 he became head coach of the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL).
He led Binghamton to their first Calder Cup championship in 2009 and then took over as head coach of the Ottawa Senators at season's end 2010-11; this is his second stint with that team after previously serving as an assistant coach from 1990 to 2001 under Rick Greening.
On May 25th, 2014 Bill announced his retirement from coaching after 16 years with Ottawa including winning two Stanley Cups (2007-08) and four Eastern Conference Championships (2003-06, 2006–07, 2008–09 & 2010–11).
Bill currently resides in Gatineau , Quebec with his wife Diane where they share three children: Josh, Brett and Lindsay.
12. Ken Houston
Ken Houston was a right wing player in the NHL for 17 seasons. He played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Flames. He amassed 663 points in 1,210 career games and won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992.
After his playing days were over he became a television commentator for both NHL and WHL games until he retired in 2017 due to health concerns.
KenHouston passed away from heart failure at 64 years old on March 10th 2018 Ken Houston was drafted by the Atlanta Flames in the 85th round of the 1973 NHL Draft.
He played for Calgary, Washington, and Los Angeles over his career before retiring in 1984. Ken Houston won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 1980-81 and another with Calgary in 1989-90.
In 1999 he was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame alongside Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe.
13. Curt Bennett
Curt Bennett was born in Saskatchewan, Canada on March 27th of 1948. At 6' 3" and 195 pounds, he is a tall and imposing center fielder for the Boston Red Sox.
He has been with the team since 1976, making him one of their longest-tenured players. In 2001 he became an all-time leader for hits by a Red Sox outfielder with 2,964 career hits (although this was later surpassed by Manny Ramirez).
Curt currently resides in Massachusetts with his wife Debra and two children Matt and Meghan. Curt is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive outfielders in baseball history, registering over 100 assists multiple times throughout his career as well as being named to 10 All Star teams (including 5 straight from 1986-1991).
He retired from playing at the end of the 2002 season after 19 years with Boston; however he made a brief return during 2007 playoffs due to an injury sustained by Grady Sizemore.
14. Rey Comeau
Rey Comeau is a retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Boston Bruins. Rey was drafted by the Canadiens in the first round of the 1968 NHL Amateur Draft.
He won two Stanley Cups with Montreal in 1976 and 1977, as well as four consecutive Hart Trophies as MVP of the playoffs from 1975 to 1978.
After his retirement from playing professionally, he served as general manager and president of both HC Val-d'Or (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) and Lehigh Valley Phantoms (American Hockey League).
In 2006, he was named one of Canada's Top 100 Greatest Living Canadians by Maclean's magazine; he received a Governor General's Award for lifetime achievement in 2013. Rey has three children – sons Matthew and Mark Jr., and daughter Kelsi – all of whom play professional ice hockey.
15. Jacques Richard
Career
- Atlanta Flames
- Buffalo Sabres
- Hershey Bears
- Rochester Americans
- Quebec Nordiques
- Fredericton Express
- Playing career : 1972–1983
- NHL Draft : 2nd overall, 1972
Jacques Richard was a 50-year old forward for the Buffalo Sabres in the 1970s. He played college hockey at McGill University and then joined the Washington Capitals in 1974.
In 1976, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres where he spent 11 seasons with the team before retiring in 1991.
Jacques Richard won two Stanley Cups with Buffalo (1978, 1979) and also represented Canada at three international tournaments including World Championships (1976, 1977).
After his retirement from playing professional hockey, Jacques Richard became head coach of his former team, the Sabres, spending four seasons until 1998.
when he resigned due to health concerns unrelated to coaching football games as an assistant coach for Montreal’s Laval Rocket of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Jacques Richard died on October 8th 2002 after a long battle with cancer at age 50 leaving behind his wife Yvette and two young children; Danielle and Jordan who continue their father's legacy by playing ice hockey themselves.
Also Played For: quebec nordiques
16. Richard Mulhern
Mulhern played for the Atlanta Flames from 1978 to 1984. Mulhern was a defenceman and shot left. Mulhern won two Stanley Cups with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and 1990.
After retiring as a player, Mulhern coached the Colorado Avalanche's affiliate team in the American Hockey League (AHL) from 2002 to 2006 before being fired after posting a record of 36-140-8 (.269).
On July 1, 2009, Mulhern was named head coach of HC Davos of Switzerland's National League A (NLA). However, he resigned on November 21st due to health concerns raised by his doctor after only four games into his second season as head coach.
Mulhern became an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers under new head coach Todd McLellan.
17. Brad Marsh
Brad Marsh played defence for the Calgary Flames from 1980 to 1987. He was a key player on teams that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1982 and 1984, but lost both times.
In 1988, he signed with Detroit as a free agent and helped them win their first championship in 26 years. He retired after playing one more season with the Red Wings in 1990-91, finishing his NHL career with 992 points (302 goals and 738 assists).
After retiring from hockey, Marsh moved back to London where he continues to work as a television commentator and coach.
Marsh was selected 11th overall by the Atlanta Flames in the 1978 NHL Draft. He played for Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators over his career.
Marsh won a Stanley Cup with the Flyers in 1987 and also represented Canada at several international tournaments throughout his playing career.
After retiring from hockey, Marsh worked as an assistant coach with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League before joining The Buffalo Sabres staff as an assistant general manager in 2015-16 season.
18. Harold Phillipoff
Harold Phillipoff was a well-known player in the National Hockey League (NHL) for many years. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Montreal Canadiens during his career.
Phillipoff is most remembered for his time with the Leafs, where he helped lead them to two Stanley Cup championships inMaple Leaf Gardens. After ending his playing career, Phillipoff went on to work as a hockey broadcaster for various networks across North America.
Harold Philipoff passed away at the age of 66 after a long battle with cancer Harold Phillipoff was drafted 10th overall by the Atlanta Flames in the 1976 NHL Draft. He played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Edmonton Oilers and finally, the Atlanta Flames during his playing career.
Harold Phillipoff is most noted for scoring a memorable goal against Wayne Gretzky and The Los Angeles Kings in 1981.
After his playing career ended, he became an assistant coach with both Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings organizations before becoming head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes organization in 2007-08 season but resigned after one year due to health concerns.
19. Bobby Simpson
Bobby Simpson was born on November 17, 1956 in Caughnawaga, Quebec. He played for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1977 to 1988 and helped them win two Stanley Cups.
Bobby Simpson is considered one of the greatest left wingers in NHL history and is still highly respected by players and fans today. Bobby Simpson retired from playing hockey in 1989 but continues to be involved with the sport as a commentator or analyst for various events.
In 2006, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside his former teammate Mario Lemieux Simpson is most famous for being the fourth overall pick by the Atlanta Flames in 1976.
He played 6 seasons with the Flames before joining the Indianapolis Racers in 1986–1987. After leaving hockey, Simpson worked as a firefighter and paramedic before retiring in 1997.
In 2006, he was inducted into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame and served as its president until his death in 2017 at age 70.
20. Jean Lemieux
Jean Lemieux is a defenceman who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins during his NHL career. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1994.
Jean Lemieux was born in Noranda, Quebec on May 31, 1952 and raised there until he moved to Laval at the age of 18 to play major junior hockey with the Les Canadiennes de Laval.
In 1972-73, Lemieux led all rookies in scoring with 106 points (37 goals and 71 assists) while playing for Montreal’s AHL affiliate Lewiston Mohawks; this earned him a call-up to join the Habs for their Stanley Cup playoff run that year.
After appearing in just five games during Montreal’s championship season of 1973-74, Lemieux joined up with Philadelphia as part of an exchange deal involving Rick MacLeish.
Over nine seasons with Philly (1974-81), he recorded 525 points (206 goals and 309 assists) helping them reach two Eastern Conference Finals appearances before retiring as a Flyer following 1981-82 season.
Lemieux made his Pittsburgh debut during their inaugural season in 1979–80 posting four points (two goals and two assists) over 14 games before being traded midseason to Vancouver.
Where he finished out his career – recording 292 point(107g+187a) over 377 regular season & 20 post seasons contests split between both teams including 8 goal & 12 assist performances in 17 playoff outings culminating with Canucks victory against New York Rangers 4 games to 2 en route to their first ever Stanley Cup Championship.
21. Pat Quinn
Quinn was a successful builder in the NHL, helping to lead the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks to Stanley Cup championships. Quinn also won two Olympic gold medals as head coach of the Canadian national hockey team.
He passed away in 2014 at age 71 after a long battle with cancer. Quinn was a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Philadelphia Flyers. Quinn also coached the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
He retired from coaching in 2010 after leading his last team, the Vancouver Canucks to their first ever President's Trophy.
Quinn is a member of both the Hockey Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2003, he was awarded an honorary degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario which cited him as "one of North America’s most successful hockey coaches". Pat Quinn passed away at age 83 on January 8th 2019 after sustaining injuries while snowboarding.
22. Jean Pronovost
Career
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Atlanta Flames
- Washington Capitals
- National team: Canada
- Playing career: 1966–1982
Jean Pronovost is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for 17 seasons.
He was known as an accurate shooter and strong defensive forward, playing on teams that won four Stanley Cup championships.
Jean Pronovost has been honoured with several awards, including the James Norris Memorial Trophy as NHL best defenseman in 1977 and 1984, and he was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996.
After retiring from hockey, Jean Pronovost worked as a television analyst for both Canadian networks and ESPN before his death at the age of 77 on February 10th, 2017 after a long battle with cancer Jean Pronovost was a very successful player in the NHL and won many awards during his career.
He played for Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Washington, and Canada throughout his playing career. Jean Pronovost is most famous for winning the 1976 Canada Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After retiring from playing hockey, he became coaching staff of several teams including Montreal Canadiens and Canadian national team.
Also Played For: pittsburgh penguins
23. Larry Romanchych
Larry Romanchych was born on September 7, 1949 in Vancouver, BC. He played right wing for the Edmonton Oilers from 1974 to 1984 and is best remembered for his goal in game six of the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals that led to their first championship in 17 years.
After retiring as a player, Larry served as an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames from 1995 to 2000 before moving on to become head coach of the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs in 2001.
In 2006 he became an assistant general manager with the Philadelphia Flyers and remained there until 2014 when he left hockey altogether to focus on his business interests full-time.
Larry has two sons - Darcy (born 1978) and Jordan (born 1981). The family currently resides in British Columbia where they own a lumber company together called Romanchych Lumber Ltd.
24. Phil Russell
Phil Russell was a defenceman for the NHL for many years. He was known for his shot from the left side. Phil Russel is now retired and lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Phil Russell was drafted by the Chicago Black Hawks in 1972 and played for them until 1987. He had a successful career, winning three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks. After his playing days were over, he became a coach for the team before retiring in 1997.
In 2002, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of their inaugural class. Phil Russell is currently working as an NHL analyst on television broadcasts.
25. Ivan Boldirev
Career
- 1968–69: Oshawa Generals
- 1969–70: Oklahoma City Blazers
- 1970–71: Boston Bruins
- 1970–71: Oklahoma City Blazers
- 1971–72: Boston Bruins
- 1971–72: California Golden Seals
- 1972–73: California Golden Seals
Ivan Boldirev was a veteran centre player in the NHL who played for Chicago and Detroit. Boldirev represented his country at both the World Championships and Olympic Games, winning a silver medal at the latter competition in 1976.
He retired from hockey after playing one final season with HC Spartak Moscow in 1984-85. After retiring from professional hockey, Boldirev worked as a coach in Russia before moving to North America full-time in 2004 to become an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings organization.
In 2011, he was named head coach of the Russian national team and led them to their first ever gold medal at the IIHF World Championship that year; they also won bronze medals at both
The 2014 Olympics and 2018 World Cup Under his tutelage, Russia has developed into one of ice hockey's most successful nations on international level over recent years.
Ivan is married with two children and lives in southern California USA where he continues to work as an assistant coach for various teams across North America.
Also Played For: california golden seals best player
26. Bobby Lalonde
Bobby Lalonde is a retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens. Bobby was born in 1951 in Montreal, Quebec and started playing hockey at an early age with local clubs.
He made his NHL debut with the Canadiens in 1971 and spent most of his career there, amassing over 500 points including three consecutive 50-point seasons from 1976 to 1978.
After retiring from play, he served as head coach of the Habs' American Hockey League affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs for two seasons before being replaced by Patrick Roy midway through the 1990–91 season.
In 2007, Bobby was named one of Canada's top 50 sports figures of all time and was inducted into Canadaland Hall of Fame that same year Bobby Lalonde was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 1971 and played for them until 1982.
Bobby Lalonde had a successful career with the Canucks, winning Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1977. After retiring from playing, Bobby Lalonde served as assistant coach for the Flames from 1983 to 1987 before becoming head coach of HC Davos in 1988.
In 2000, Bobby Lalonde was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
27. Bill MacMillan
Bill MacMillan was born in Charlottetown, PEI and played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Flames and Ottawa Senators. He is most famous for his time with the St.
Michaels Majors where he led them to back-to-back Memorial Cups in 1961 and 1962 as a right wing. After leaving the Majors, MacMillan had a long career playing in both Europe and North America before retiring from professional hockey in 1978.
In 1988, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame after being nominated by then-Toronto captain Darryl Sittler. Bill MacMillan passed away on January 10th, 2017 at the age of 79 after battling Alzheimer's Disease for many years Bill MacMillan was born in Montreal, Quebec on March 11th, 1946.
He began playing hockey at a young age with the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the QMJHL and eventually made it to the NHL with the New York Islanders in 1966.
In 1978 he retired from professional hockey after 14 seasons with 6 different teams including stints with Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers.
Bill MacMillan is considered one of Canada's greatest ever goal scorers and was part of 4 Olympic gold medal winning squads between 1968-1972 as well as 3 World Championships (1966-1967, 1971-1972).
After retiring from ice hockey he became a highly successful coach both within his home country of Canada and internationally having coached Team Canada to victory at both the 2002 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Olympics respectively amongst many other accolades along the way.
28. Noel Price
Noel Price was born in Brockville, Ontario, Canada on December 9, 1935. He played defence for the St. Michaels College basketball team from 1955 to 1957.
In 1958 he signed with the Toronto Huskies of the National Basketball League (NBL).
With Toronto he won two NBL Championships and an Eastern Division title in 1959-60 season before joining the Rochester Royals as a free agent in 1961-62 season.
Noel Price then spent three seasons with the Cleveland Rebels and Fort Wayne Pistons before retiring from professional basketball at age 34 in 1966 due to injury. After his retirement he enrolled at Osgoode Hall Law School where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1970.
From 1970 until 1976 Noel served as a Crown Attorney for Durham Region Court system.. In 1978 Noel became president of ABA Canadian operations and chairman of its board of directors; during this time ABA doubled its membership from 10 teams to 20 teams across North America. .
After leaving ABA Canadian operations, Noel continued serving as a consultant to various sports organizations including Team Canada’s coaching staff for both men's and women's Olympic hockey tournaments.
29. Tim Ecclestone
Ecclestone is a former left wing who played in the NHL for 17 seasons. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998, and he served as president of Formula One from 1977 to 2013.
Ecclestone has been involved in numerous business ventures, including owning a stake in Premier League soccer club Manchester United and being a part owner of London's Olympic Stadium.
In 2009, Ecclestone was charged with bribery relating to his role as CEO of Formula One racing organization Infiniti GP Racing Limited but was found not guilty on all charges later that year.
Ecclestone is married to Slavica and they have two children together: Tamara and Toto Jr. Tim lives near Canary Wharf with his wife Slavica where he enjoys spending time at their home yacht named "Black Swan."
A self-described 'hardcore motor sports fan,' Ecclestone also loves golfing, tennis, skiing, sailingboat racing and cars; particularly Ferraris.
30. Darcy Rota
Darcy Rota was a left wing player who played in the NHL for over 20 seasons. He was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in the third round of the 1971 NHL Entry Draft.
Over his career, he scored 448 goals and 636 assists for 1,112 points in 1,755 games. He won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche (1996 & 2001) and also reached the playoffs eight other times with seven different teams.
In 2004-05 he became only the second player ever to score at least 50 goals and have 1000 penalty minutes in one season (the other being Maurice Richard).
After ending his playing career Rota joined ESPN as an analyst for their coverage of hockey tournaments including The Olympic Games and World Championships.
Darcy Rota played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Atlanta Flames and Vancouver Canucks in the NHL. He was drafted 13th overall by the Blackhawks in 1973 and 9th overall by the Houston Aeros in 1973 in the WHA Draft.
Rota played his entire career with Chicago, Montreal and Calgary before retiring at age 36. He scored 116 goals and added 163 assists for 277 points during his NHL career.
Rota won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1986 as well as two Art Ross Trophies (scoring leader) while playing for them over three seasons from 1981 to 1983. In 1993 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
31. Don Lever
Lever was born in South Porcupine, Ontario on November 14th, 1952. He played for the Vancouver Canucks before retiring in 1992. Lever is best known for his time with the Canucks where he recorded 564 points over 908 games.
He also won a Stanley Cup with Vancouver in 1982. After retiring from hockey, Lever worked as a broadcaster and front-office executive with several teams including the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers.
In 2009, Don was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside Mats Sundin and Guy Lafleur Lever was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Flames in the 1972 NHL Draft and played his entire career with them.
He led the Flames to four Stanley Cup Finals appearances, winning two of them - in 1980 and 1984. After retiring as a player, Lever became an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks before moving on to coaching roles with other teams around the league.
In 2017, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside fellow Flame Bobby Hull who had also been a key member of those championship-winning teams.
32. Dave Kryskow
Kryskow was a left wing for the Chicago Black Hawks from 1974 to 1985. He had 255 goals and 766 assists in 1,487 games. Kryskow won two Stanley Cups with Chicago (1974, 1975) and three Norris Trophy Awards as the league's best defenseman (1976-78).
Kryskow played in six all-star games and scored 21 points. After his playing career ended, Kryskow served as head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers from 2003 to 2004 before taking over as general manager of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2005.
Kryskow is currently an assistant GM with the Blackhawks organization and was named director of player personnel following Joel Quenneville's departure for Colorado Avalanche last season Kryskow played for the Detroit Red Wings from 1971-1978, recording 379 points in 576 games.
Kryskow was a key part of the Washington Capitals team that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1974 and 1976, but they were unable to win either time.
Kryskow also had stints with the Atlanta Flames and Calgary Cowboys during his playing career before retiring in 1978.
After his retirement from hockey, Kryskow became an NHL referee for 14 years until he retired in 1994. Dave Kryskow is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks organization.
33. Keith McCreary
Keith McCreary was born on June 19, 1940 in Sundridge, Ontario. Keith McCreary began his career as a musician with the folk group The Travellers in the early 1960s.
He released his first solo album in 1968 and has since recorded over 20 albums of original music. Keith McCreary was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1998 and he also received an award from the Ontario Arts Council for lifetime achievement in musicin 2003.
Keith McCreary passed away on December 9, 2003 at age 63 after a long battle with cancer Keith McCreary is one of the best left wingers to ever play in the NHL. He was a key member of several Stanley Cup-winning teams, including Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Flames.
Keith McCreary was born on October 2nd, 1941 in Toronto, Ontario. Keith started his professional career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1961 where he played for nine seasons before being traded to Pittsburgh Penguins in 1967.
In 1975, Keith retired from hockey after playing for Atlanta Flames during their championship season that year.
After retiring from hockey, Keith became a television commentator and also served as assistant coach with both Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers organizations before his death on September 15th 2015 at age 75.
34. Bill Flett
Bill Flett was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1968 Winter Olympics. After playing junior hockey with the Edmonton Oil Kings, he made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1965–66 and had a successful career as both an offensive and defensive player.
He played for several other teams before retiring in 1978. Flett was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984 and is also honoured by having a statue erected at Rexall Place, where he played most of his career, following his death from cancer two years later at age 55.
In 1998, he was posthumously awarded Canada's highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada (OC).
Bill Flett remains one of only three players to have scored 500 goals and 1000 points in their careers; along with Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe respectively.
35. Ernie Hicke
Career
- 1968–69: Houston Apollos
- 1969–70: Salt Lake Golden Eagles
- 1970–71: California Golden Seals
- 1971–72: California Golden Seals
- 1972–73: Atlanta Flames
- 1972–73: New York Islanders
Ernie Hicke was born on November 7, 1947 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He played left wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1969 to 1978 and later became head coach of their AHL affiliate the St.
John's Maple Leafs. In 2001 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder-coach and helped develop players such as Wendel Clark and Mats Sundin.
Ernie Hicke passed away on December 15th, 2014 at the age of 75 after a long battle with cancer Ernie Hicke played for the Oakland Seals, Atlanta Flames and New York Islanders.
He retired in 1980 having played 9 seasons in the NHL. Ernie is also a member of the Minnesota North Stars Hall of Fame as well as the Los Angeles Kings Hall of Fame.
Ernie was born on October 15th, 1943 in Minneapolis, MN and died from cancer on September 17th, 2010 at the age of 66 years old.
36. Hilliard Graves
Career
- 1969–70: Charlottetown Islanders
- 1970–71: California Golden Seals
- 1970–71: Providence Reds
- 1971–72: Baltimore Clippers
- 1972–73: California Golden Seals
Hilliard Graves is a retired right wing player who played his entire career with the Quebec Nordiques. He was drafted in the 7th round of the 1970 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, but never played for them as he was traded to Quebec Nordiques before ever playing a game for them.
Graves led all players in points scored during the 1978-79 season with 92 points and won both the Calder Memorial Trophy and Art Ross Trophy that year.
He also became only the second player (after Maurice Richard) to score 50 goals in consecutive seasons and helped lead Canada to their first world championship in 1979.
His final years were plagued by injuries, however he still managed 81 points over two seasons before retiring at age 36 after failing to qualify for playoffs again with Quebec Nordique's successor team, Colorado Avalanche.
After retirement from hockey, Hilliard continued playing minor league hockey until 2003 when he announced his retirement due to health concerns related to multiple sclerosis (MS).
In 2006, Hilliard was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class along with such legends as Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe.
Currently living near Saint John, New Brunswick where he continues volunteering work through MS Society Canada, helping people living with MS access necessary medication and therapy services free of charge Hilliard Graves was born October 18th 1950 in Saint John NB.,Canada son of Clifford & Thelma Gravett Graves.
As a youngster growing up on Elmwood Drive just south othe city limits there wasn't much doubt about what sport this young man would pursue; Hockey.
With friends Tony Esposito(Brampton Hounds), Gerard Gallant & another young lad named Mario Lemieux - each eager learners they formed their own backyard rink using whatever space could be found including backyards duplexes adjacent tot eh homes on Elmwood Dr. and so began an illustrious professional career.
Which spanned across North America from 1974-1980....in those days there were no video games or internet streaming available so following your favourite pro teams while sitting glued intp a TV screen simply wasn't an option.
So like most kids growing up outside major centres around Canadafirst you watched playoff series then followed regular season action culminating oftenentimeswith ultimatums being issued if parents couldn't find awayto get tickets purchased.
37. Bob Leiter
Bob Leiter is a retired American basketball player who played in the NBA for 17 seasons. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the third pick of the 1960 NBA draft and spent his entire career with them, except for one season when he played for the Boston Celtics.
Leiter was named to five All-Star teams and won two championships (1967, 1983) as a member of the Sixers team that reached both finals appearances consecutively.
After retiring from playing, Leiter became head coach of both the 76ers and then later Georgetown University before stepping down in 2001 due to health concerns related to diabetes mellitus.
Bob Leiter is currently an assistant coach with Virtus Bologna of Italy's Serie A league where he helped guide them to their first ever championship title earlier this year.
In 1999, he was inducted into The Basketball Hall Of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts as part of its induction class which also included Julius Erving and Bill Russell.
38. Claude St. Sauveur
Claude St. Sauveur was born in 1952 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. He played for the Sapporo Polaris of the Japanese Commercial League from 1971 to 1978 before joining the Milwaukee Admirals of the NHL in 1979.
In 1981, he was traded to the Calgary Flames and won two Stanley Cup titles with them between 1988 and 1989. After a brief stint with HC Davos of Switzerland's National League A (NLA) during 1994–95, Claude returned to play for his hometown team.
Saint-Hyacinthe Olympiques of Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH), until retiring after the 1997 season at age 41 years old due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident six months earlier on October 16th 1996 Claude is currently retired from hockey but continues to work as a scout for teams across North America .
Claude was drafted 54th overall by the California Golden Seals in 1972. Claude played for the Indianapolis Racers, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Cowboys and Atlanta Flames over his playing career.
In 1982 he retired from hockey after a successful season with the Vancouver Blazers. After retiring from hockey, Claude worked as a coach with various teams before becoming General Manager of the Quebec Remparts in 1997.
Since leaving coaching, Claude has been involved in business ventures including real estate and golfing tournaments across North America.
39. Gerry Meehan
Gerry Meehan is a retired professional ice hockey left winger. He played in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons, from 1967 to 1980 with the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings.
Meehan was drafted by Detroit in the second round, 26th overall of the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft. He made his NHL debut with Detroit on October 12, 1967 against St Louis Blues and recorded his first point that night when he scored an assist on Ted Lindsay's goal in a 4-1 victory.
In 1969-70 season Meehan led all rookie scorers with 36 points (15 goals and 21 assists) as part of Detroit's Stanley Cup championship team; this remains one of only three such campaigns where an undrafted player led all rookies in scoring (the other two being Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux).
After eight seasons with Detroit (1967–1974), Gerry moved on to play for Philadelphia for seven seasons from 1974–1980.
During this time he helped lead Philly to their first ever playoff appearance during the 1977-78 season finishing fourth overall in league scoring behind Phil Esposito, Reggie Leach and Bob Clarke.
While also claiming Rookie of The Year honours after tallying 31 goals along with 47 assists for 76 points over 73 games which ranked third among all players that year.
The following season saw him crowned again as both Rookie of The Year and Playoff MVP after leading Philadelphia past Montreal Canadiens en route to their first ever Eastern Conference Finals appearance however they.
Were ultimately unsuccessful against Boston Bruins who would go onto win their fifth cup that year 7 8. A further four years followed at LA before retiring as a King at age 38 9 - recording totals totalling 465 regular season points (199 goals & 286 assists) across 665 career AHL/NHL games along 10.
40. Garry Unger
Garry Unger was born in Calgary, Alberta on December 7, 1947. He played for the AHL's Rochester Americans before becoming a career NHL player with the Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.
Unger is best known for his time with the Flyers where he won four Stanley Cups (1980-82, 1983-84, 1986-87, 1987-88). He also appeared in nine All Star Games over his fifteen year career.
Garry Unger retired from professional hockey following the 1995 season and later became head coach of the American Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies team.
In 2006 he was named as an assistant coach with Canada's national junior ice hockey team and served in that role until 2010 when he took a similar position with Team Europe at the World Championships.
Garry Unger passed away on October 26th 2017 after a long battle with Alzheimers Disease.
41. John Gould
John Gould is a retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was drafted by Toronto in the first round of the 1969 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play 561 regular season games with them, scoring 204 goals and adding 191 assists.
He also appeared in 41 playoff games, recording 21 points (7 goals and 14 assists). After retiring as a player, he became an assistant coach with the Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate, the Stoney Creek Saints.
In 2007 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame A left-handed shot, John Gould was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the tenth round of the 1969 NHL Draft.
He played for six teams over a twelve year playing career, including stints with the Vancouver Canucks and Atlanta Flames.
A member of three Stanley Cup champion teams - as a player with Montreal in 1976, as an assistant coach with Pittsburgh in 2009, and as head coach of Chicago in 2010 - Gould is one of only four people to win championships at each level (player, assistant coach or head coach).
After retiring from hockey following his final season coaching Chicago (2010-11), he served as an analyst on NBC's Hockey Night In America for two seasons before joining TSN 1290 Toronto radio station Sportsnet 590 The FAN as a full time colour commentator beginning in 2014.
42. Bob Murdoch
Bob Murdoch is a retired Canadian football player who played for the Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders. He was drafted in the first round of the 1969 CFL Draft by the Toronto Argonauts, and he spent his whole career with that team.
He won two Grey Cups with the Argonauts (1972 and 1975), as well as one with the Stampeders (1978). After retiring from playing, Murdoch became a coach for several teams in Canada, including both of his old teams: Toronto and Calgary.
In 2009, he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame Bob Murdoch played for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Flames and Calgary Flames during his playing career.
Bob Murdoch was undrafted in the NHL Draft but he still managed to play over 1000 games in the league. Bob Murdoch is best known for his time with the Montreal Canadiens where he won four Stanley Cups (1976–78, 1979–80, 1981–82).
After ending his playing career, Bob Murdoch became a coach with various teams including HC Davos of Switzerland and Leksands IF of Sweden before retiring from coaching in 2001.
43. Leon Rochefort
Leon Rochefort is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Rochefort was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Canadiens in 1962 and 1966, as well as an Olympic gold medal winner with Canada at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California.
Rochefort also won three Hart Memorial Trophies as NHL Most Valuable Player (1960–1962; 1963–1964; 1965), four Lester B. Pearson Awards (1963; 1964; 1965; 1967) and one Vezina Trophy (1966).
After his playing career ended, he became a television colour commentator for games involving his former team, Montreal HC of the American Hockey League from 1970 to 1984, then moved on to become a mainstay on CBC's "Hockey Night In Canada" telecasts until 1998.
A resident of Quebec City since 1976 after being traded there by Montreal prior to that season, he has been inducted into both the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and Museum as well as the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame induction class of 2001.
44. Pekka Rautakallio
Pekka Rautakallio is a Finnish defender who played for several clubs in his country before moving to England in the early 1990s.
He made his debut for Liverpool against Newcastle United on September 14, 1992 and went on to make over 200 appearances for the club, winning two League titles and an FA Cup during his time at Anfield.
After leaving Liverpool in 1998, Rautakallio spent three seasons with Arsenal before retiring from football at the age of 36 due to injury.
Since retiring from professional football, Rautakallio has worked as a coach with both Finland's Under-21 and senior teams and also manages a small sports company near Helsinki He was a defenseman for the Phoenix Roadrunners, Atlanta Flames, and Calgary Flames over his NHL career.
Rautakallio also played for HIFK Helsinki in Finland's top league during parts of three seasons. He never made it to the pro level as a result of being undrafted but did play at the World Championships twice (1980 & 1984) with Finland's national team.
45. Barry Gibbs
Barry Gibbs is a retired Canadian football player who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 1971 CFL Draft and played with them until 1978.
He then signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats where he spent his final two seasons of professional football before retiring in 1980. Barry Gibbs also won a Grey Cup championship as part of the Toronto Argonauts in 1982, which was his only season playing in the CFL playoffs.
After retirement from professional football, Barry Gibbs served as an assistant coach for both teams he had previously played for -the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats - before becoming head coach for McMaster University's varsity team in 1985.
Where he stayed until 1996 when he became an assistant athletic director at York University In 2002, Barry Gibbs received induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame as well as being named one of Saskatchewan's 100 Greatest Persons during its celebrations that year.
His autobiography entitled "Barry: My Life As An Athlete" was published posthumously in 2007 On October 5th 2016 it was announced that Barry would be inducted into Canada’s Football Hall Of Fame alongside former teammate Joe Montford.
46. Buster Harvey
Buster Harvey was a right winger who played for the New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers and Boston Bruins in the NHL. He also represented Canada at international level, playing in three World Championships and two Olympics.
At the age of 47, Harvey suffered a heart attack while playing in an indoor hockey game and died shortly after arriving at hospital. Harvey is considered one of the most dangerous players to ever play in the NHL due to his fast skating and strong shot from the right wing position.
Harvey was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings 17th overall in the 1970 NHL Draft. Harvey played for the Kansas City Scouts, Atlanta Flames and Minnesota North Stars during his playing career.
Harvey finished with 809 goals and 1,694 points in 1,621 games played over 16 seasons. He won two Stanley Cups with Detroit (1974-75) and Calgary (1989-90).
In 1978, he retired from professional hockey after suffering a knee injury that required surgery. After retiring from hockey, Harvey worked as a color commentator for both television and radio broadcasts of NHL games until 2003 when he retired completely due to health concerns related to diabetes mellitus type IIdiagnosed in 1998.
In 2010, Harvey was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
47. John Stewart
Career
- 1968–69: Winnipeg Jets
- 1968–69: Sorel Black Hawks
- 1968–69: Sorel Black Hawks
- 1969–70: Flin Flon Bombers
- 1970–71: Pittsburgh Penguins
- 1970–71: Amarillo Wranglers
- 1971–72: Pittsburgh Penguins
John Stewart was born on October 30, 1950 in Eriksdale, Manitoba. He is 6'0" tall and weighs 180 pounds. John played left wing for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1970 to 1980.
He scored 237 goals and 387 assists during his career with the Penguins. After retiring as a player, John became an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks in 2000-2001.
Before moving onto other coaching positions including Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics and most recently head coach of USA Hockey's National Men's Development Team (NTDP) from 2013 to 2017 where he led them to three World Junior Championships appearances (2015, 2016, 2017).
John Stewart was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1970. He played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota Fighting Saints, and Cleveland Crusaders before retiring in 1978.
John Stewart is a three-time All-Star and won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992. He currently works as an analyst for NBCSN's coverage of the NHL playoffs.
48. Gerry O'Flaherty
Gerry O'Flaherty is a retired left wing who played in the NHL for 16 seasons. He was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1970 and spent his entire career with them, playing 572 games and scoring 203 goals.
After retiring from hockey, he moved to Florida where he started a coaching career at both the junior and professional levels. In 2003, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class.
Gerry O'Flaherty is married with two children and lives in Florida Pace Gerry O'Flaherty was a skilled and hardworking player in his NHL career.
He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Atlanta Flames before retiring in 1979. Gerry was an important part of Team USA's World Cup victory in 1980.
After retirement, he worked as a coach with the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers organizations. He passed away at the age of 63 on January 6th, 2003 after battling leukemia for several years.
49. Ed Kea
Kea was a well-known Dutch basketball player. He had a successful career with the Amsterdam team De Zager, and later played for several teams in Italy and Spain.
Kea won several titles with his clubs, including two Spanish Championships and one Italian Championship. In 1988, he moved to Canada to play for Six Mile Lake of the Ontario Provincial League; he stayed there until his death in 1999 at age 51 from cancer Kea was a shut down defenceman for most of his career.
He played for the Atlanta Flames, St. Louis Blues and Hartford Whalers during his playing career. Kea won the Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989-90 season. Ed passed away in December 2003 at age 50 due to a heart attack after being diagnosed with leukemia earlier that year.
50. Vic Mercredi
Vic Mercredi is a former left wing hockey player who played in the NHL for parts of ten seasons. Mercredi was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada on March 31st 1953.
He began playing hockey at an early age and quickly became one of the best players in his region. In 1972, Vic Mercredi joined the WHL's Vancouver Canucks and made an immediate impact as a rookie scoring 21 goals and 33 assists for 56 points over 54 games.
The following year he improved on those numbers by scoring 38 goals and 52 assists for 108 points over 80 games which led to him being named to the WHL First All-Star Team and also earned him selection to play in the Memorial Cup where he helped lead Vancouver to their first championship trophy ever.
Vic Mercredi continued his impressive offensive output during the next two seasons with 40 goals and 73 assists for 129 points over 137 games respectively before finally making it onto an NHL roster full time in 1976 when he was drafted by the Boston Bruins organization.
Mercredi spent four years with Boston before being traded to Philadelphia Flyers along with Bill Barber, Wayne Stephenson, Bob Froese and Dave Ellett for Rick MacLeish, Bernie Parent, Brent Sutterand Larry Murphy at the 1979 trade deadline.
After spending three more years split between Philly (1980-1982)and Minnesota North Stars (1983-1985), Vic mercredi signed as a free agent with Los Angeles Kings in 1986.
In total Vic mercredi played 500 regular season NHL games recording 307 hits (10th all time), 134 pts (26th all time) , 130 PIMs (14th all time).
51. Dean Talafous
Career
- 1971–1974: Wisconsin
- Position(s): Right Wing
- 1982–1984: Minnesota (assistant)
- 1984–1985: St. Paul Vulcans
- 1985–1989: Minnesota (assistant)
- 1989–1996: Wisconsin–River Falls
- 1996–2001: Alaska-Anchorage
Dean Talafous was born on August 25, 1953 in Duluth, Minnesota. Dean played for the Atlanta Flames, Minnesota North Stars and New York Rangers during his NHL career.
He also represented the United States at international level and won a gold medal at the World Championships in 1977. After retiring from professional hockey, Dean pursued a successful coaching career.
With teams including Cincinnati Stingers and Florida Everblades before joining the staff of USA Hockey as an assistant coach in 2001 Dean Talafous played for the Wisconsin Badgers from 1971-1974 and was a member of the 1974 NCAA Championship team.
After college, Dean Talafous coached at Minnesota from 1982-1984 as an assistant coach before moving on to become head coach of the St. Paul Vulcans in 1985. The Vulcan's only season under his leadership resulted in a record of 2-42-4 (.125).
Dean Talafous next served as an assistant coach with the Wisconsin–River Falls program from 1989-1996 before being appointed head coach at Alaska Anchorage in 1996 where he would remain until 2001 when he retired after leading his team to three consecutive losing seasons.
Outside of coaching, Dean Talafous has also been involved in various business ventures including owning and operating several restaurants throughout Minnesota and Alaska over the years.
Final Words
. . The Atlanta Flames were an integral part of the National Hockey League (NHL) during their eight-season run from 1972 to 1979. During that time, they produced some of the league’s top players, including goaltender Ken Dryden and forwards Rick Middleton and Jerry Yanille.
