Youngest / Oldest NHL deaths

[The Panther]

Sorry if this is a bit morbid, but I'm wondering who is the youngest and the oldest NHLer to pass away?

For example, has any player (with at least one game's experience) ever died at 18 or 19?

And, on a more, er... "positive" note, who has thus far been the longest-living ex-NHLer?

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[Hockey Stick]

This thread just reminds me of all the young MLB players who have passed in the last few years alone

 

[K Fleur]

The Rangers 2007 1st round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov passed out on the bench(sitting next to teammate Jaromir Jagr) during a KHL game and was pronounced dead later that night at the hospital. He was 19, never actually played in an NHL game. That is the youngest someone drafted into the NHL has passed away that I can remember

 

[Staniowski]

The Rangers 2007 1st round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov passed out on the bench(sitting next to teammate Jaromir Jagr) during a KHL game and was pronounced dead later that night at the hospital. He was 19, never actually played in an NHL game. That is the youngest someone drafted into the NHL has passed away that I can remember

I was just going to mention Cherepanov. Not an NHL player, but a certain future NHLer. Performed very well in U18, World Juniors, KHL.

Pelle Lindbergh was 26.

 

[Staniowski]

Jim Conacher is the oldest living former NHLer, he'll be 98 in a couple days.

Milt Schmidt died in his 99th year.

There must be some who lived longer.

 

[McRpro]

Michel Briere, Luc Bourdon and Dmitry Tertyshny were the first 3 players that came to mind.

 

[The Panther]

Milt Schmidt died in his 99th year.

Lou Holmes, who played a couple seasons with Chicago in the 1930s, died aged 99 (I guess that's his 100th year).

I guess the question is if anyone has made it to 100?

 

[The Panther]

Michel Briere, Luc Bourdon and Dmitry Tertyshny were the first 3 players that came to mind.

The youngest of these (slightly) was Luc Bourdon.

 

[kaiser matias]

The Rangers 2007 1st round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov passed out on the bench(sitting next to teammate Jaromir Jagr) during a KHL game and was pronounced dead later that night at the hospital. He was 19, never actually played in an NHL game. That is the youngest someone drafted into the NHL has passed away that I can remember

In that regard, which doesn't fit in with the criteria (playing an NHL game), the Flames 1986 first round pick (16th overall) was George Pelawa, who died three months after the draft, aged 18.

 

[SabbathBloodySabbath]

Dudley "Red" Garrett died at 20 in World War II after playing part of a season with NYR.

The Rangers 2007 1st round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov passed out on the bench(sitting next to teammate Jaromir Jagr) during a KHL game and was pronounced dead later that night at the hospital. He was 19, never actually played in an NHL game. That is the youngest someone drafted into the NHL has passed away that I can remember

* George Pelawa died in a car crash at 18, two months after being picked 16th overall by CGY. (1986)
* Neil Carnes died in a motorcycle crash at 18, a year after being drafted by MTL and a few weeks short of turning 19. (1989)
* Another CGY pick, Mickey Renaud, died at 19 of a heart problem. (2008)
* AHL player and EDM prospect Kristiāns Pelšs drowned at 20. He might be the youngest AHL player to die. (2013)

Jim Conacher is the oldest living former NHLer, he'll be 98 in a couple days.

Milt Schmidt died in his 99th year.

There must be some who lived longer.

Al Suomi made it to 100, and died five weeks short of 101.

 

[Big Phil]

Jim Conacher is the oldest living former NHLer, he'll be 98 in a couple days.

Milt Schmidt died in his 99th year.

There must be some who lived longer.

Jim Conacher will be 98 this May. Now that Kelly is gone, is he the last - or one of - that played in the NHL in the 1940s who is still alive? I can't believe I am saying this because the 1940s is a moment in the NHL frozen in time and it is hard to believe no one is alive who played in it. Give it 10 years and no one will be left that played in the 1950s.

 

[Staniowski]

Jim Conacher will be 98 this May. Now that Kelly is gone, is he the last - or one of - that played in the NHL in the 1940s who is still alive? I can't believe I am saying this because the 1940s is a moment in the NHL frozen in time and it is hard to believe no one is alive who played in it. Give it 10 years and no one will be left that played in the 1950s.

Well, Howie Meeker is 95, and of course he played in the '40s. Not sure about others.

 

[Big Phil]

Well, Howie Meeker is 95, and of course he played in the '40s. Not sure about others.

Yes, how can I forget about him?

 

[Staniowski]

Yes, how can I forget about him?

I'm sure you can hear his voice just thinking about him, as I can.

 

[VMBM]

Meeker's pronunciation of Russian names is legendary! (Hey, I'm not claiming that I'd do a very great job myself.)

 

[The Panther]

Yes, how can I forget about him?

Golly gee whiz, Phil, you forgot me!!

 

[scribe114]

Marty Pavelich is 91 and still around. Broke in with Kelly in 1947-48.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Pelle lindbergh

 

[blood gin]

Jim Conacher will be 98 this May. Now that Kelly is gone, is he the last - or one of - that played in the NHL in the 1940s who is still alive? I can't believe I am saying this because the 1940s is a moment in the NHL frozen in time and it is hard to believe no one is alive who played in it. Give it 10 years and no one will be left that played in the 1950s.

Amazing when you think about it, Jim Conacher is old enough to have played against Dit Clapper. And was coached by Jack Adams

 

[blood gin]

Murray Balfour is a sad one. Died of (what I imagine was) pretty aggressive lung cancer in 1965. Died the same year the tumor was discovered

 

[Pominville Knows]

Murray Balfour is a sad one. Died of (what I imagine was) pretty aggressive lung cancer in 1965. Died the same year the tumor was discovered

Yeah, but i see that his stats the season before is suspiciuosly bad as well.

 

[blood gin]

Yeah, but i see that his stats the season before is suspiciuosly bad as well.

True yes. Believe his respiratory issues began the year before. Don't know if he was a smoker or not.