Such sad news. Former Winnipeg Jets superstar Dale Hawerchuk has passed away after a battle with cancer leaving behind his wife Crystal, children Alexis, Ben and Eric, who made the sad announcement on Twitter. Dale Hawerchuk was only 57.
After an incredibly brave and difficult battle with cancer, our dad has passed away. My family is so proud of him and the way he fought. #HawerchukStrong pic.twitter.com/xZ1xcaqAOv
— Eric Hawerchuk (@EricHawerchuk) August 18, 2020
Growing up in the Eighties in the Thunder Bay, hockey was huge and Dale Hawerchuk was an absolute superstar. Throw in the fact that he was the face of the Jets, just up the road, and he was automatically the favourite of so many of us.
Dale’s nickname was Ducky. He got that handle when he was in Junior. A teammate thought he skated like a duck and, poetically, it stuck. Reporters overhead people calling him that in the Jets dressing room and from there, Ducky was flying!
During his NHL career, Hawerchuk potted 518 goals, and 891 assists totaling 1,409 points. When he retired that was 10th on the career points list, now ranking 20th. He lead the Cornwall Royals to the Memorial Cup, earning the title of Most Valuable Player along the way along with Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year. He made an impact in the big league right away by winning the Calder as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. After a mega-successful career he went on to become a well-respected coach. Oh, and a Hockey Hall of Famer.
Let’s not forget that he was at the helm for one of the biggest face-offs in this country’s hockey history. The decisive game of the 1987 Canada Cup, 2 minutes left, Canada tied up with the Soviets 5 – 5 … And how’s this for a line? Arguably the three best centres in the NHL … Wayne Gretzky .. .Mario Lemieux … and Dale Hawerchuk. He tied up his man, and kept him from getting to Mario. Plus had a goal and two assists in that championship- winning game. WHAT A LEGEND! Check out the clip below and then an amazing tribute from the NHL Network.
An iconic Hawerchuk memory ❤️
At the 1987 Canada Cup, it was Dale Hawerchuk that won the faceoff that led to the Gretzky-to-Lemieux game winner 🇨🇦
🎥: via @cspotweetpic.twitter.com/XoGSz4c3JP
— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) August 18, 2020
NHL Network mourns the passing of Dale Hawerchuk. pic.twitter.com/LXPtEpYs3y
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 18, 2020
