Hockey Fans...What has been the biggest hockey (NHL or other hockey leagues) tragedy?

Question

I do not think this question has been asked yet in the hockey forum, so I thought I would take the podium on it.

With all the great triumph we as hockey fans have witnessed in our lives, there has been terrible tragedy that has come along the way. The qesution I pose to everyone here is, in your opinion, what has been one of the saddest tragedies that has befallen the hockey world?

For me, it would be the September 11, 2001 deaths of Los Angeles Kings scouts Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis. Learning of the terrorist attacks was horrible, naturally. Finding out that those two men were among the thousands killed in the ambush (simply, that was what it was) was painful. The Kings dedicated their 2001-02 season to those men, who were not only good at their jobs, but good men as well.

Share some of what you deem are the worst hockey tragedies of all time.

Answer 1

Bill Masterson is a great answer to this question as are the Kings staff killed on 9/11. I am going to take a slightly different route.

The death of Brittanie Cecil is the biggest tragedy. She was struck in the forehead with a slap shot from Columbus center Espen Knutsen in a game between Columbus and Calgary. Her death was actually caused by damage done to an artery in her neck, caused by her head snapping back from the impact. Unlike decade + the NHL took to make helmets mandatory following the Masterson injury, they recognized that they had a potential hazard on their hands and made netting behind the nets mandatory the following season.

I am nominating this because that little girl could have been any one of us hockey fans out enjoying a game.

Answer 2

One that I have not seen yet, is Sergei Zholtok dying of a heart attack on the ice. This is why he was so important to me...

In 2003 I was an admirer of the sport of hockey but I wouldn't say I was a great fan yet. My dad decided for my early birthday present to take me to a Wild game. Mr. Zholtok was on the team that season. It was Oct. 29 and the Wild were playing the Avalanche. It was a close game all the way and ended up in overtime. After a few close calls Sergei scored the game winner. The Xcel was roaring. I have never felt that kind of passion ever at any sporting event. I was hooked on the sport and the Wild. To cement this 2 days later a friend approached me at school and said he had an extra ticket for the Oct 31 game against the Sharks. Once again the game went to OT and once again Sergei Zholtok scored the game winner.

Mr. Zholtok and my Dad are the reasons why I am a die hard hockey fan today. Thank you.

Hockey aside, I want to say, my thoughts go out to all those affected by the 35W bridge collapse. I was there when it happened and to see that tragedy up close will stick with me forever. I travel that bridge almost daily and know that could have been me. I also want to thank the brave citizens of Minnesota who were the first to jump into the river to save those who had fallen.

Answer 3

I know this sounds typical, but Gary Bettman may end up killling the game. His advertising is horrible. Nobody likes him. It's scary how every year I wonder if the NHL is going to be around. I'm from St. Louis so, not sure what pick since everyone looks to have had alot of feedback. 9/11 Kings members deaths was horrible. Doug Wickenheiser,(if that's how you spell it) dying from some disease who played for the St Louis Blues I believe during the 1980s, scoring the winning goal in the Monday Night Miracle against the Calgary Flames in the playoffs. Everytime I see that highlight I get goosebumps...the beauty of NHL playoffs and overtime!

Answer 4

The 3 major ones for me were already mentioned. The Dan Snyder accident. I think about that everytime I see Dany Heatly's face or hear his name. I cant imagine the guilt that guy has to live with. Clint Malarchuk getting his throat slashed by a skate blade. I didnt see it happen and I dont even want to think about what that must've been like. And the one that hit me the hardest is the Travis Roy accident. As a hockey player myself, it makes me a little more aware of the way I go into the boards, the way I throw a body check and the way I take one. That's something that can happen to anybody and it should make all hockey players more aware of things like that. Im not saying they need to be lookin over their shoulders or be out there playing scared, just be a little more cautious.

Answer 5

Michel Briere was drafted in the 3rd round (26th overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1969. In juniors, Briere was a force, tallying 129 goals & 191 assists which amounted to 320 points in just 100 games.

In 1969-70, his first season with the Pens, Briere scored 12 goals and scored a total of 44 points, helping the Penguins to the 2nd round of the playoffs that year. Briere was a hot commodity, being compared to the likes of Phil Esposito and Bobby Clarke.

Sadly, his life ended on April 13, 1971, after being in a car accident on May 15, 1970, as his injuries were too severe to overcome.

Briere's #21 was the only Penguins number retired until Mario Lemieux's #66 was lifted to the rafters after his retirement.

Who knows what heights Briere could have led the Penguins in the 70's, but that is life, and a prime example of enjoying every day as if it's your last.

Go Pens!

Answer 6

As a Flyers fan mine has to be Pelle Lindberg. Granted he was at fault (blood/alcohol level something like .25), it was the end of a potentially brilliant career. The spooky thing about his death was that the Flyers were on an unusually long break(about 11 days) between games. Then the next scheduled game against Edmonton, Lindberg was the featured player on the game ticket. Keep in mind that these were the tickets sent to season ticket holders.

Answer 7

Depends on what you mean by biggest, I suppose. Biggest in general? I'd say Bill Masterson. Biggest to me? Definitely Dan Snyder.

I think tragedy extends to more than the death of a person. The pain his family and friends went/go through was/is a tragedy. I think what Dany Heatley must go through is a tragedy, as well, but I don't want to get into a debate about Heatley's involvement.

Lu Ann and Graham Snyder (Dan's parents) went on a roadtrip to meet with every NHL team and have them sign something to auction off to raise money for the Dan Snyder Memorial Foundation. And I think the OHL named a trophy/award after him.

Answer 8

"The accident that ended the career of Detroit Red Wing Vlad Konstantinov and put him and Wings trainer Sergie Manastkonov in wheelchairs just a week after the Wings won their first Cup in over 50 years."

That and when Jiri Fischer went down during the game against Nashville and nearly died right there in the tunnel entrance. Watching the video of what happend, even though you can't see him, really breaks me up expecially when you see one of the doctors/first responders start doing CPR on Fischer. Even though Fischer is still has his contract for 1 more year with the Wings, his career is pretty much over and probably will have to retire at the end of the season.

Answer 9

Here's one. When I was 13, there was a Islanders draft pick named Duncan MacPherson who went missing in the Swiss Alps. A few years later investigators found his frozen body in a snow embankment.

Another is Bill Barilko. He scored a game winner for the Maple Leafs in the 1951 Stanley Cup final. He went on a fishing trip in Ontario and his plane crashed. Eleven years later the wreckage was found and the Leafs retired his number, one of two.

Answer 10

I will take another trail with the question and say the 1970s-1980s expansion-mania of the NHL. It was short-term thinking on the league's part - owners were reaping ''free" money in fees for new cities/owners to have seats at the table - which caused an over-saturation of the marketplace and that continues to be a major problem today.