Dale Hawerchuk

Dale Martin Hawerchuk (April 4, 1963 – August 18, 2020) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Drafted first overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, Hawerchuk played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 16 seasons as a member of the Jets, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers. He won the NHL's Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's Rookie of the Year in 1982 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility in 2001. Hawerchuk served as the head coach of the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League from 2010 to 2019.

Dale Hawerchuk
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2001
Hawerchuk in 2008
Born (1963-04-04)April 4, 1963
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died August 18, 2020(2020-08-18) (aged 57)
Barrie, Ontario, Canada[1]
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Winnipeg Jets
Buffalo Sabres
St. Louis Blues
Philadelphia Flyers
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 1st overall, 1981
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 19811997

Playing career

Hawerchuk was a young prodigy who received his first pair of skates at age two and, according to his father Ed, "was skating before he could walk."[2] Beginning competitive hockey at age four, Hawerchuk demonstrated superior skills almost immediately. At the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, he scored all eight goals during an 8–1 victory in the finals, smashing the long-standing record set by the legendary Guy Lafleur. By age 15, the famed Oshawa Generals offered him a tryout, though he did not make the team. In 1979, Hawerchuk was selected 6th overall by the Cornwall Royals of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and became somewhat of a rarity; a Toronto-born player starring in the QMJHL. He recorded 103 points and was named Rookie of the Year. Hawerchuk was the playoff MVP and led the Royals to the Memorial Cup championship. In his second junior year, he scored 81 goals and 183 points and led the Royals to their second consecutive Memorial Cup title. He was named a QMJHL First Team All-Star, the Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year, and Memorial Cup MVP.

The Winnipeg Jets selected Hawerchuk first overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, ahead of fellow future Hall of Famers Ron Francis, Grant Fuhr, and Chris Chelios. Hawerchuk immediately became Winnipeg's star attraction, leading the Jets to what was at the time the largest single season turn-around in NHL history, a 48-point improvement. He set the NHL record for most points by an 18 year old finishing with 103, and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year. He also played in that season's All-Star Game. Hawerchuk recorded 91 points in his second season, then hit the 100-plus point plateau for the next five consecutive years, including a career-high 53 goals and 130 points in 1984–85.

During the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, Hawerchuk was involved in a blockbuster trade. Along with Winnipeg's 1st round choice (14th overall pick, Brad May) in the draft, he was dealt to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Phil Housley, Scott Arniel, Jeff Parker and Buffalo's 1st round choice (19th overall pick, Keith Tkachuk). Over the next four years he recorded no fewer than 86 points. His point totals fell off during an injury plagued and lockout shortened 1994–95 season. In 1995, he signed with the St. Louis Blues, recording 41 points in 66 games before a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers in March, 1996. He finished the season strongly, scoring 20 points in the season's final 16 games and adding 9 points in the playoffs. The next season, he was plagued by injuries but managed 34 points and played in his fifth All-Star Game. Hawerchuk announced his retirement from the game following the 1996–97 season at age 34 due to a degenerative left hip.[3] His appearance with the Flyers in the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals marked the only time any of his teams advanced past the second round of the playoffs.

He played for Team Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup tournament, and had a goal and two assists in the decisive third game of the Finals against the Soviets. Late in the third period, he won the face-off that led to Canada's most famous goal and tied up with the Russian player who tried to check Mario Lemieux at centre ice, allowing Lemieux to take Wayne Gretzky's pass in the slot for the series winner. Hawerchuk was named Canada's MVP for that decisive game. Commentators remarked on his ability in the series to switch from being a goal scorer to a mucker and grinder. Hawerchuk was also key to Canada's 1991 Canada Cup victory.

In a poll of NHL general managers during the mid-1980s asking them to select the player they would start a franchise with, Hawerchuk was voted third behind only Gretzky and Paul Coffey. He retired with 518 goals, 891 assists and 1,409 points, placing him 18th on the career NHL points list. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

The Phoenix Coyotes (successor to the Jets) retired Hawerchuk's No. 10 during the 2006–07 NHL season.

Post-playing career

Hawerchuk became the president, director of hockey operations, and primary owner of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League's Orangeville Crushers in 2007. He left this position in 2010.

On June 4, 2010, the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League named Hawerchuk as their head coach and director of hockey operations.[4] The 2010–11 season was a rebuilding one for the Colts, as the team went 15–49–2–2, missing the playoffs for the first time in team history. In his sophomore year, the 2011–12 season, Hawerchuk amassed a record of 40–23–3–2; a significant improvement over his rookie season as bench boss of the Colts.[5]

Personal life

Hawerchuk was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in Oshawa, Ontario. He was married to Crystal, whom he met in Manitoba while playing for the Jets. The couple had three children.[6]

Hawerchuk's son Ben Hawerchuk plays professional hockey as a forward for the Jacksonville Icemen of the ECHL. Ben had previously played for the Barrie Colts.[7]

Illness and death

In 2019, Hawerchuk announced he would be taking a leave of absence from the Colts for health reasons,[8] which was later revealed to be stomach cancer. Hawerchuk completed a course of chemotherapy in April 2020, but died on August 18, 2020, at the age of 57.[6] He was buried in Thornton Cemetery in Oshawa.

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1978–79 Oshawa Legionnaires MetJHL 36325284
1979–80 Cornwall Royals QMJHL 72376610321 182025450
1979–80 Cornwall Royals M-Cup 51560
1980–81 Cornwall Royals QMJHL 728110218369 191520358
1980–81 Cornwall Royals M-Cup 584124
1981–82 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80455810347 41785
1982–83 Winnipeg Jets NHL 7940519131 31458
1983–84 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80376510273 31120
1984–85 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80537713074 32134
1985–86 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80465910544 30330
1986–87 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80475310052 1058134
1987–88 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80447712159 534716
1988–89 Winnipeg Jets NHL 7541559628
1989–90 Winnipeg Jets NHL 7926558170 73582
1990–91 Buffalo Sabres NHL 8031588932 624610
1991–92 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7723759827 72570
1992–93 Buffalo Sabres NHL 8116809652 859142
1993–94 Buffalo Sabres NHL 8135518691 70774
1994–95 Buffalo Sabres NHL 23511162 20000
1995–96 St. Louis Blues NHL 6613284122
1995–96 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 16416204 1236912
1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 5112223432 172570
NHL totals 1,1885188911,409740 9730699967

International

Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
1981 Canada WJC 55492
1982 Canada WC 103140
1986 Canada WC 82464
1987 NHL All-Stars RV-87 20112
1987 Canada CC 94260
1989 Canada WC 1048126
1991 Canada CC 82350
Junior totals 55492
Senior totals 4715193412

Coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLOTLPtsFinishResult
Barrie Colts2010–11 6815494345th in CentralMissed playoffs
Barrie Colts2011–12 6840235852nd in CentralLost in 2nd round (OTT)
Barrie Colts2012–13 6844204921st in CentralLost in final round (LDN)
Barrie Colts2013-14 6837283772nd in CentralLost in 2nd round (NBB)
Barrie Colts2014-15 6841243851st in CentralLost in 2nd round (NBB)
Barrie Colts2015-16 6843223891st in CentralLost in 3rd round (NIA)
Barrie Colts2016-17 6817447415th in CentralMissed playoffs
Barrie Colts2017-18 6842215891st in CentralLost in 2nd Round (KGN)
Barrie Colts2018-19 6826384565th in CentralMissed playoffs

See also

References

  1. "Dale Hawerchuk dies at 57 following cancer battle" Archived August 20, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Kim Phillips CTV News August 18, 2020
  2. "Dale Hawerchuk Stats and News". NHL.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  3. Panaccio, Tim (August 26, 1997). "Hip Injury Forces Hawerchuk To Retire". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  4. "Hawerchuk hired to coach OHL Colts - CBC Sports". CBC. June 5, 2010. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  5. "LS Season". Archived from the original on March 26, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  6. "Dale Hawerchuk dies after battle with cancer". CTV News. August 18, 2020. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  7. "Ben Hawerchuk". Elite Prospects. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  8. "Barrie Colts Hire Warren Rychel as Head Coach". OurSports Central. September 9, 2019. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  9. "JEANNERET AND HAWERCHUK HEADED TO SABRES HALL OF FAME". NHL.com. August 31, 2011. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
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