Lafleur, Bossy, Gillies among deaths in hockey world in 2022

The hockey community was hit hard in 2022 with the deaths of a beloved Montreal Canadiens icon and one of the most electrifying players in NHL history, two-thirds of "The Trio Grande" line from the New York Islanders dynasty seasons of the 1980s and a pioneer who helped change the perception of players from Sweden.

The year also saw the death of a philanthropist who owned the Ottawa Senators for 19 years, and a color analyst for the Colorado Avalanche who was inducted into the the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
Here's a look at some of those in the hockey world who died during the year, in chronological order:
Teddy Balkind
Jan. 6 (age 16)
A sophomore defenseman at St. Luke's School in New Canaan, Connecticut, Balkind collided with a player from Brunswick School in Greenwich during a high school hockey game and sustained a severe neck injury. He was transported to Greenwich Hospital but did not survive surgery. Balkind was a longtime hockey player, often wearing No. 5. The Carolina Hurricanes dedicated a locker to him labeled with his name and number. His family, others in mourning and the hockey community started the Twitter hashtag #SticksOutForTeddy that showed NHL players and more displaying their sticks outside houses and buildings in remembrance.
Randy Boyd
Jan. 20 (age 59)
The defenseman played 257 regular-season NHL games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Islanders and Vancouver Canucks. He played four games for the Islanders during the 1987 Patrick Division semifinals, including the 3-2, four-overtime win against the Washington Capitals in Game 7 known as the "Easter Epic."
Clark Gillies
Jan. 21 (age 67)
The forward was the muscle behind Islanders teams that won the Stanley Cup four consecutive seasons (1980-83). Gillies had 663 points (304 goals, 359 assists), fourth in Islanders history, in 872 regular-season games, fifth all-time for New York. He was selected by the Islanders with the No. 4 pick of the 1974 NHL Draft and was their second captain, replacing Ed Westfall in 1976-77, and held the role until Denis Potvin took over at the start of the 1979-80 season. Skating on the Islanders' top line with Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy, Gillies helped New York win its first of four straight championships that season, beginning an NHL-record run of 19 consecutive Stanley Cup Playoff series that lasted until the 1984 Stanley Cup Final, a five-game loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Gillies' No. 9 was retired Dec. 7, 1996, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. He played the final two of his 14 NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres and retired with 697 points (319 goals, 378 assists) in 958 regular-season games, and 94 points (47 goals, 47 assists) in 164 playoff games.
Mike Nykoluk
Jan 30 (age 87)
Nykoluk became the first full-time assistant coach in the NHL when he was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers to work with Fred Shero in 1972. Nykoluk helped the Flyers win the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975, and was an assistant to Shero for two seasons (1978-80) with the New York Rangers. He later coached the Toronto Maple Leafs for four seasons (1980-84), going 89-144 with 47 ties in 280 regular-season games and 1-6 in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. Prior to his coaching career, Nykoluk had four points (three goals, one assist) in 32 games as a forward for the Maple Leafs in 1956-57.
Emile Francis
Feb. 19 (age 95)
"The Cat" was the architect of the Rangers revival in the late 1960s. He went 388-273 with 117 ties coaching 778 NHL games in 13 seasons for the Rangers and St. Louis Blues. He helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 1972, where they lost in six games to the Boston Bruins. In all, Francis' teams made the playoffs 11 times in 13 seasons, going 39-50 in 89 games. He was general manager of the Rangers from 1964-1976, the Blues from 1976-83 and the Hartford Whalers from 1983-89. The Rangers enjoyed one of the most successful periods in their history when Francis was GM. He was coach for 10 seasons during three stints and is first in games coached (654), wins (342) and points percentage (.602; minimum 100 games). He helped the front office build the famed "G-A-G Line" of Vic Hadfield, Jean Ratelle, and Rod Gilbert. Francis was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982 as a Builder.
Jean Potvin
March 15 (age 72)
The older brother of Denis Potvin played 402 games as a defenseman for the Islanders from 1972-78 and 1979-81, helping New York win the Stanley Cup in each of his final two seasons. He had 287 points (63 goals, 224 assists) in 613 NHL games for the Los Angeles Kings, Flyers, Islanders, Cleveland Barons and Minnesota North Stars. After his playing days, he was a color commentator for Islanders radio broadcasts from 1980-89.
Gil Stein
March 24 (age 94)
Stein was the fifth and final president in NHL history. He worked for the Flyers as executive vice president and chief operating officer in 1976, and the next year was hired as NHL vice president and general counsel under NHL president John Ziegler. When Ziegler resigned, Stein was named NHL president and CEO. He held the role from June 1992 to July 1993, and oversaw the NHL expanding to add the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers. By the end of 1992, the Board of Governors selected Gary Bettman as the first Commissioner of the NHL. Bettman took office Feb. 1, 1993, and Stein remained an adviser before retiring from the NHL in October 1993.
Eugene Melnyk
March 28 (age 62)
Melnyk had owned the Senators since 2003 when he established Capital Sports & Entertainment. The company and its affiliates also owned and operated Canadian Tire Centre and managed Sensplex properties in Ottawa. Under Melnyk's ownership, the Senators reached the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, a five-game loss to the Anaheim Ducks, and the 2017 Eastern Conference Final, a seven-game loss to the Penguins. Melnyk also bred racehorses and twice was named Canada's Outstanding Owner. His horses won events such as the Canadian Triple Crown, the Travers Stakes in Saratoga, New York, and the Gold Cup in Barbados. Melnyk was fond of the Canadian military and visited troops in Afghanistan. He served as Honorary Colonel of the 414 (EWS) Squadron from 2014-19. He also supported numerous charitable causes, including St. Joseph's Health Centre, Help Us Help the Children and St. Michael's College School in Toronto, his alma mater.
Mike Bossy
April 15 (age 65)
Bossy was one of the greatest goal-scorers in NHL history during his 10 seasons, all with the Islanders. Though Bossy scored at least 70 goals in each of his four full seasons with Laval of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, he wasn't selected until the No. 15 pick of the 1977 NHL Draft. Islanders coach Al Arbour reportedly persuaded general manager Bill Torrey to take Bossy, saying that, "I can teach a player to check, but I can't teach a player to score, and we need goals." Skating with Trottier at center and Gillies at left wing to form The Trio Grande line, Bossy scored 573 goals and had 1,126 points in 752 games before a back injury forced him to retire. His average of 0.76 goals per game is the best in NHL history among players with at least 150 games, his nine 50-goal seasons are tied with Wayne Gretzky and Alex Ovechkin for the most in NHL history, and his five 60-goal seasons are tied with Gretzky for the most. Bossy had 100 points in a season seven times, fourth-most in the NHL after Gretzky (15), Mario Lemieux (10) and Marcel Dionne (eight).
Guy Lafleur
April 22 (age 70)
A cornerstone of the Canadiens dynasty in the 1970s, "The Flower" was the top junior player in Canada after scoring 130 goals in 62 games in 1970-71, his final season with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. The Canadiens chose him with the No. 1 pick in the 1971 NHL Draft, and after three 20-goal seasons, Lafleur blossomed into the star Montreal fans anticipated. He scored at least 50 goals and had at least 119 points in six straight seasons from 1974-80, and arguably was the most exciting player in the NHL, bringing fans out of their seats with his speed and skill. He won the Hart Trophy as most valuable player in the NHL in 1976-77 and 1977-78 and was the leading scorer each season during Montreal's four consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1976-79. "Le demon blond" -- the blonde demon -- was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988 but he joined Gordie Howe as the only members of the Hall to come back and play in the NHL when he signed with the Rangers for the 1988-89 season. He retired for good in 1991 after two final seasons with the Quebec Nordiques, with 560 goals and 1,353 points in 1,126 NHL games. He was voted one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players for the NHL Centennial in 2017.
Larry Hillman
June 3 (age 85)
The six-time Stanley Cup champion forever will hold an NHL record as the youngest player to win the trophy with the 1954-55 Detroit Red Wings at age 18 years, two months, nine days; a player must be 18 years old at the start of a season to be eligible to play in the NHL. The native of Kirkland Lake, Ontario also won the Cup with the Maple Leafs in 1961-62, 1962-63, 1963-64 and 1966-67, and with the Canadiens in 1968-69. Hillman had 232 points (36 goals, 196 assists) in 790 NHL regular-season games between 1954-55 and 1972-73 with the Red Wings, Bruins, Maple Leafs, North Stars, Canadiens, Flyers, Kings and Sabres. Hillman also played two seasons in the World Hockey Association with the Cleveland Crusaders and another for the Winnipeg Jets before retiring in 1976. He was named Jets coach for the 1977-78 WHA season and led to the Avco Cup title.
Eric Nesterenko
June 6 (age 88)
The dependable, defensive-minded forward and key penalty killer played 21 NHL seasons and helped the Chicago Black Hawks win the Stanley Cup in 1961, the team's first championship since 1938, with 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists) in 68 regular-season games and five points (two goals, three assists) in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Nesterenko also helped Chicago reach the Cup Final in 1962, 1965 and 1971. Off the ice, he is remembered for playing Blane Youngblood, the father of star Rob Lowe's Dean Youngblood in the 1986 hockey film "Youngblood."
Jim Pappin
June 29 (age 82)
The forward won the Stanley Cup twice with the Maple Leafs (1964, 1967), and had 573 points (278 goals, 295 assists) in 767 NHL games for four teams between 1963-76. His goal at 19:24 of the second period in Game 6 of the 1967 Final was the game-winner and helped the Maple Leafs clinch the Cup against the heavily favored, two-time defending champion Canadiens. The goal remains a topic of debate, with film showing Pappin's shot glancing off the skate of linemate Pete Stemkowski and past Canadiens goalie Gump Worsley. Confusion about the play initially gave the goal to Stemkowski, but the latter gave credit to Pappin in a clandestine agreement between the two because Pappin was in line for a bonus should he win the playoff goal-scoring race. The Game 6 goal was his NHL-best seventh, one more than Jean Beliveau of the Canadiens.
Jean-Guy Gendron
June 30 (age 87)
The forward had 383 points (182 goals, 201 assists) in 864 NHL games for the Rangers, Bruins, Canadiens and Flyers, and 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in 42 playoff games. Gendron scored at least 20 goals in five seasons, including an NHL career-high 24 for the Bruins in 1959-60. "Smitty" also played 127 games for the Quebec Nordiques in the WHA from 1972-74 before going 96-59 with four ties in two seasons as Nordiques coach, including a run to the 1975 Avco Cup Final, where they were swept in four games by the Houston Aeros. Following his hockey career, Gendron became a professional golfer and was associated with Club Bic in Rimouski, Quebec, and Club du Lac Saint-Joseph in the Quebec City area.
Bryan Marchment
July 6 (age 53)
The physical, hard-nosed defenseman had 182 points (40 goals, 142 assists) and 2,307 penalty minutes in 926 NHL games for the Jets, Blackhawks, Whalers, Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, San Jose Sharks, Avalanche, Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames. Marchment retired in 2006 and joined the Sharks front office in August 2007, working with the scouting and player development departments. In 2001-02, Marchment had NHL career highs of 20 assists and 22 points. The previous season, he scored an NHL career-high seven goals, three of them game-winners. His son, Mason Marchment, is a forward with the Dallas Stars.
Larry Jeffrey
July 18 (age 81)
Jeffrey had 101 points (39 goals, 62 assists) in 368 regular-season games for the Red Wings, Maple Leafs and Rangers and helped Toronto win the Stanley Cup in 1967. Jeffrey joined the Red Wings in 1961-62 after four seasons of junior hockey and five games with Hershey in the American Hockey League in 1959-60. He had 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 1963-64 and scored 7:52 into overtime to help the Red Wings defeat the Maple Leafs 5-4 in Game 2 of the 1964 Stanley Cup Final. He was the last Red Wings player to score in overtime of a Cup Final game until Kris Draper against the Capitals in Game 2 of the 1998 Final.
Ben Stelter
Aug. 9 (age 6)
The Oilers superfan befriended captain Connor McDavid and encouraged them to "Play La Bamba, baby" after each playoff win during their run to the 2022 Western Conference Final. Stelter was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, in March 2021 and had surgery, four rounds of chemotherapy and 30 sessions of radiation treatment. On March 24 he joined McDavid and the Oilers for their game against the Sharks as the Scotiabank Skater, lined up with McDavid for the national anthems and gave fist bumps, and attended a postgame press conference with forward Zach Hyman following Edmonton's 5-2 win. Stelter rejoined the Oilers on April 28 for the morning skate and afterward was presented his own Upper Deck "Heroic Inspirations" card by McDavid. The card was an officially licensed trading card, with 4,000 printed to be given to the Oilers and the Stelter family.
Orval Tessier
Aug. 25 (age 89)
Tessier coached the Blackhawks from 1982-85, going 99-93 with 21 ties and winning the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 1983. That season Chicago went 47-23 with 10 ties and finished eight points ahead of the North Stars for first place in the Norris Division. The Blackhawks reached the Campbell Conference Final, losing to the Oilers in four games. Tessier also was a scout with the Avalanche when they won the Stanley Cup in 2001. As a player he had 12 points (five goals, seven assists) 59 NHL games between 1954-55 and 1960-61 with the Canadiens and Bruins.
Dan Schachte
Sept. 6 (age 64)
The NHL in a statement called Schachte "a consummate professional, mentor of young officials and devoted family man." His NHL career began when the Blackhawks played the Maple Leafs at Chicago Stadium on Oct. 1, 1982, and he became the first United States-born official to work 2,000 NHL games when the Blues hosted the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 18, 2012. Schachte's final game was March 18 of that season when the Blackhawks defeated the Capitals 5-2 at United Center. He worked at the 1991 Canada Cup, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, and the Stanley Cup Final five times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002), including the Avalanche's 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of the 2001 Final. He later was supervisor of officials for Hockey East.
Bob Tindall
Oct. 4 (age 86)
Tindall was a key figure in the history of the Bruins whose life was celebrated during Hall of Fame induction weekend. Tindall was hired as a full-time scout in 1983 after working part time for Boston for 10 years, beginning an 18-year run highlighted by becoming head of the Bruins scouting department during the 1990s. Among the Bruins stars selected during Tindall's tenure were Joe Thornton (No. 1, 1997 NHL Draft), Glen Murray (No. 18, 1991 NHL Draft), Andrew Raycroft (No. 135, 1998 NHL Draft) and Don Sweeney (No. 166, 1984 NHL Draft), who now is Boston's general manager.
Dave Dryden
Oct. 7 (age 81)
The former NHL goalie and brother of Hall of Fame goalie Ken Dryden was remembered by Bettman as an innovator, educator and philanthropist, his legacy secured upon designing the fiberglass/birdcage helmet that has become standard for goalies. Dave Dryden played 120 games for the Sabres between 1970-74, historically facing Ken in a game against the Canadiens at Montreal Forum on March 20, 1971. He played 203 NHL games, with the Sabres, Blackhawks and Rangers, going 69-76 with 27 ties. Dave joined the WHA in 1974, playing first for the Chicago Cougars and then with Edmonton, and in 1978-79 he allowed Wayne Gretzky's first professional goal when Gretzky was a rookie with the Indianapolis Racers.
Joe Crozier
Oct. 11 (age 93)
Crozier coached the Sabres to their first postseason berth in 1973 after replacing Punch Imlach, who stepped down because of health concerns in January 1972. Crozier is credited with putting together the famed "French Connection" line of Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin and Rene Robert. In 1972-73, Crozier's second season and the Sabres' third in the NHL, they went 37-27 with 14 ties and qualified for the first time, losing to the Canadiens in six games in the quarterfinals. He coached the Sabres for three seasons and the Maple Leafs in 1980-81, with a record of 90-102 with 40 ties in 232 games.
Andrew Duncan
Oct. 31 (age unknown)
Duncan was an actor best known for portraying fictional Charlestown Chiefs broadcaster Jim Carr in the comedy classic "Slap Shot." The character is best remembered for wearing an outrageous hair piece and conducting a memorable interview with goalie Denis Lemieux, played by actor Yvon Barrette, where they discussed the finer points of hockey.
Peter McNab
Nov. 6 (age 70)
McNab had been a color analyst for the Avalanche since 1995, and worked this season despite being diagnosed with cancer in August and having chemotherapy treatments every three weeks. Prior to his broadcasting career, McNab played 14 seasons with the Sabres, Bruins, Canucks and Devils. He had 813 points (363 goals, 450 assists) in 955 regular-season games, and 82 points (40 goals, 42 assists) in 107 playoff games. His best season was 1976-77, when he had an NHL career-high 86 points (38 goals, 48 assists) in 80 games for the Bruins and played in the 1977 All-Star Game. He transitioned to broadcasting after he retired in 1987. He was inducted to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021 on Dec. 9 but was unable to attend the ceremony. McNab was the son of former NHL player and general manager Max McNab.
Borje Salming
Nov. 24 (age 71)
A pioneer who helped change the perception of Swedish hockey players, Salming died following a short battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was diagnosed at the end of April but did not announce it publicly until Aug. 10. Salming's willingness to play the physical North American style persuaded the Maple Leafs to bring him to the NHL. Though Salming had a respectable rookie season in 1973-74 with 39 points (five goals, 34 assists) in 76 games, he established himself as a hard-nosed player who could handle the physicality of the NHL. He finished with 787 points (150 goals, 637 assists) in 1,148 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs and Red Wings, and 49 points (12 goals, 37 assists) in 81 playoff games. Salming was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players for the NHL Centennial in 2017.
Steve Jensen
Nov. 29 (age 67)
Jensen had 220 points (113 goals, 107 assists) in 438 games for the North Stars and Kings after Minnesota chose the forward in the fourth round (No. 58) of the 1975 NHL Draft. He was one of four rookies to score at least 20 goals (22) with the North Stars in 1976-77, the first time one NHL team had four rookies score at least 20. In addition to his NHL success, Jensen played for the United States at the 1976 Canada Cup and the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics, where his six goals in six games led the U.S. Jensen helped Michigan Tech win the 1975 NCAA championship, and was founding owner and director of the Heartland Hockey Camp in Deerwood, Minnesota. His cousin, David Jensen, played 18 games for the North Stars between 1983 and 1986. His nephew, Nick Jensen, is a Capitals defenseman.
Barry Fraser
Dec. 4 (age 82)
The native of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, was director of scouting for the Oilers from 1979-2000, and was part of drafts that brought six future Hall of Famers in a span of three years to Edmonton. In the 1979 NHL Draft, Edmonton chose defenseman Kevin Lowe in the first round (No. 21), Messier in the third round (No. 48) and forward Glenn Anderson in the fourth round (No. 69). In the 1980 NHL Draft, they selected defenseman Paul Coffey in the first round (No. 6) and forward Jari Kurri in the fourth round (No. 69). Goalie Grant Fuhr was chosen with the No. 8 pick in the 1981 NHL Draft.
Abakar Kazbekov
Dec. 17 (age 18)
Kazbekov had two points (one goal, one assist) in 21 games in two seasons for London of the Ontario Hockey League. The center was born in Moscow and moved to Canada during the 2019-20 season from his Vityaz Podolskin prep school team to compete at the same level. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2021 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection draft and had one assist in 12 games this season.
Don McKenney
Dec. 19 (age 88)
McKenney played with the Bruins from 1954-63 and the forward was their captain his final two seasons, replacing Fern Flaman, who had retired. McKenney had 462 points (195 goals, 267 assists) in 592 games with Boston, and won the Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player in the NHL in 1959-60. He was in the top four in voting for the award in six consecutive seasons from 1956-62. McKenney also played for the Rangers, Maple Leafs, Red Wings and Blues, and finished with 582 points (237 goals, 345 assists) in 798 games.