Gary Lupul

Gary John Lupul (April 20, 1959 – July 18, 2007) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League.[1]

Gary Lupul
Born (1959-04-20)April 20, 1959
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada
Died July 18, 2007(2007-07-18) (aged 48)
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 172 lb (78 kg; 12 st 4 lb)
Position Centre/Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Vancouver Canucks
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 1979–1986

Playing career

Born and raised in Powell River, British Columbia, Lupul played his junior hockey career with the Nanaimo Clippers and the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League.

He signed a free agent contract with the Canucks a day prior to the team opening their training camp in Powell River. Lupul, at 5-foot-9 in height and 175 pounds, immediately demonstrated his feistiness by fighting Gerry Minor in his first day at training camp.

Lupul, known as the Pride of Powell River, played seven seasons as a forward with the Canucks, from 1979 to 1986. In 1982, he scored five points in 10 playoff games as Vancouver made it to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time.

Lupul had his best years in 1983 and 1984 playing on a line with Lars Molin and Dave "Tiger" Williams.[2]

In 1984, Lupul was the first NHL player to fight Mario Lemieux and did so in Mario's home debut in his rookie season. Horribly overmatched by the much larger Lemieux, Lupul had to be rescued by goaltender John Garrett, who was then given a game misconduct for being the third player in the fight.[3]

Post-playing career

Following retirement from professional hockey, Lupul was a junior and college scout for the Vancouver Canucks in Ontario.[4] The Canucks first hired him to help Lupul address a substance abuse problem.[1]

Lupul, who was known to have cardiovascular concerns, was found lifeless in his nephew's Burnaby condo.[1][4]

Lupul was of Ukrainian descent.[5][6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1975–76 Nanaimo Clippers BCJHL 664968117— —————
1975–76 Victoria Cougars WCHL 41122 10000
1976–77 Victoria Cougars WCHL 713863101116 41012
1977–78 Victoria Cougars WCHL 5937498679 13615212
1978–79 Victoria Cougars WHL 71535410785 1510142419
1979–80 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 26915244 —————
1979–80 Vancouver Canucks NHL 519112024 41010
1980–81 Vancouver Canucks NHL 70222 —————
1980–81 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 5325325727 64155
1981–82 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 3122173976 —————
1981–82 Vancouver Canucks NHL 411071726 102354
1982–83 Fredericton Express AHL 3516264248 —————
1982–83 Vancouver Canucks NHL 4018102846 41342
1983–84 Vancouver Canucks NHL 6917274451 40117
1984–85 Vancouver Canucks NHL 6612172982 —————
1985–86 Vancouver Canucks NHL 1941512 30000
1985–86 Fredericton Express AHL 431321576 32024
1986–87 EV Brunico ITA 4228386634 —————
1987–88 Berlin Capitals GER 111236 1616203614
1987–88 EHC Kloten SUI ————— 11010
NHL totals 2937075145243 25471113

International
Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
1979 Canada WJC 52130
Junior totals 52130

References
  1. Powell River's pride, NHL scrapper Gary Lupul dead at 48, By Linda Nguyen and Greg Douglas, Vancouver Sun, July 20, 2007.
  2. Former Canuck Gary Lupul dead at 48, Staff Reporter, The Province, July 19, 2007.
  3. Biography of Mario Lemieux, Legends of Hockey.
  4. Nguyen, Linda (2007). "Former Canuck Lupul found dead". CanWest News Service. Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  5. Windsor Public Library (2006). "Famous Ukrainian-Canadians". Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  6. Czuboka, Michael (1983). Ukrainian Canadian, eh?. Winnipeg: Communigraphics. p. 158. ISBN 0-920073-00-X.
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