Dale Hawerchuk has passed away. We here at NHL Trade Talk send our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to the Hawerchuk family and his many friends.
After losing a battle with stomach cancer, Dale’s son Erik Hawerchuk wrote on Twitter Tuesday:
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.
Hawerckuk Was One of the NHL’s Great All-Time Players
Hawerchuk was one of the great players of the game and certainly one of the most iconic Winnipeg Jets players in the history of the franchise. When he retired from the game as a player, he became a dynamic coach and his imprint on the game will be felt for generations.
A five-time All-Star, Hawerchuk appeared in 1,188 games over 16 seasons with the Jets, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, and Philadelphia Flyers. His former teams have taken to social media in the wake of the news and fondly remembered the legacy he leaves behind.
Hawerchuk posted seven seasons of 40 or more goals, including 53 in 1984-85, Hawerchuk, a centre, finished his career with 518 goals and 891 assists. His 1,409 points are 20th all-time in National Hockey League history.
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Hawerchuk Will Always Be Remembered as a Winnipeg Jet
Winnipeg will always remember Hawerchuk as one of their own. He was perhaps the most well-known star the city has ever produced. He carried the Jets team season after season; and, during his time with the Jets, he had six seasons where he scored more than 100+ points.
Hawerchuk was the 1st overall pick in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. When he was drafted, he signed an unheard of at the time five-year, $800,000 contract. It was so much money at the time that an armored car escorted by police drove to the historic middle of Winnipeg – the intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street (Winnipeg’s main intersection) – and dropped off the 18-year-old.
It’s simply almost impossible for a hockey fan anywhere hard not to think of the Winnipeg Jets without first thinking Dale Hawerchuk, and vice versa.
Blues
August 18, 2020 at 2:34 pm
57? Just too young .. very sad..what a great player.. God speed Dale Hawerchuk