Former pro hockey players/management/others deaths (Wally Harris)

[Caser]

 

[Staniowski]

Koltsov's partner is tennis superstar Aryna Sabalenka, which will make this big news.

Sabalenka's dad was a hockey goaltender who passed away several years ago at a young age too.

 

[Albatros]

Much too young. Apparently he was in Florida for the Miami Open tennis tournament.

 

[mrhockey193195]

Chris Simon has died.

https://x.com/frank_seravalli/status/1770174028969545757?s=42

 

[Troy McClure]

Chris Simon has died.

https://x.com/frank_seravalli/status/1770174028969545757?s=42

Yet another former enforcer lost to suicide.

 

[Troubadour]

Seems Koltsov's death was suicide too.

 

[Nick Hansen]

Yet another former enforcer lost to suicide.

The first thing that popped up when I read that Chris Simon had passed away was 'suicide'.

I don't know if it's been confirmed but I looked into the circumstances and it says CTE, depression, the whole thing that we've seen so many times by now. So, so sad.

 

[ICM1970]

Probably not just from taking blows to the head area from punches, it would not surprise me that Simon took all sorts of high sticks and elbows and other types of cheap shot hits to the head area.

 

[archangel2]

foxnews is saying it was a self inflicted death

 

[Albatros]

foxnews is saying it was a self inflicted death

In any case fell from hotel balcony. Apparently his and Sabalenka's relationship had ended.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Dave Forbes passed March 25th.

https://aicyellowjackets.com/sports/mice/2023-24/releases/20240401gat50a

Forbes continued to impress in his junior and senior campaigns, and with 30 goals and 52 points in 1970-71, he earned College Division All-American status from the American Hockey Coaches Association; his tenure at AIC ended with a team-record 89 goals and second in points at 151, as well as with a degree in business management.​

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Having graduated, Forbes embarked on a pro career, and in 1973 became the first Yellow Jacket to reach the NHL. He earned his first NHL goal and first assist against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 21, 1973 in an 8-2 rout at the Boston Garden and ultimately played 63 games with the Bruins that season, scoring 26 points.​

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Ultimately, Forbes spent six seasons in the NHL from 1973-1979, playing for Boston and then the Washington Capitals, totaling 363 games with 64 goals and 64 assists for 128 points, all still by far the most for any AIC alumnus. He played in the Stanley Cup Final twice with Boston, in 1974 and 1977.​

 

[Robert Gordon Orr]

A few more NHL'ers who passed away earlier in the year not mentioned here.

Paul Masnick [1931-2024]
Remembering the life of PAUL MASNICK

Ron Busniuk [1948-2024]
https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/chroniclejournal/name/ronald-busniuk-obituary?id=54594938

Gerry James [1934-2024]
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nanaimo-bc/edwin-james-11670812

Moe L' Abbe [1947-2024]
Maurice "Moe" Joseph L'abbe - View Obituary & Service Information

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Longtime NHL referee Wally Harris dies at 88 | NHL.com

Worked 6 Stanley Cup Finals, became League’s 1st Director of Officials

www.nhl.com

MONTREAL -- Wally Harris, a former NHL referee who in retirement became the League’s first Director of Officials and subsequently an influential, highly respected supervisor of game crews, died Thursday in a Montreal-area hospital following a short illness.​

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He was 88.​

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Harris refereed 953 regular-season games and another 85 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs between 1966-83, working Stanley Cup Final series in 1973, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1982 and 1983. He also officiated in two NHL All-Star Games -- the League’s 28th in 1975 at the Montreal Forum, and the 34th in 1982 at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland.​

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The native of Montreal-suburban Lachine took ill during a recent trip to Florida. He returned home and was hospitalized in late March, remaining in the facility’s care until his passing.​

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“With a personality that would light up the room, Wally Harris was respected and revered by all officials he managed,” said Stephen Walkom, NHL Senior Vice-President and Director of Officiating. “There was an assuredness and confidence that he instilled in his people and an absolute love for the game of hockey.​

 

[Staniowski]

Wally Harris was a very well-known ref in the '70s and '80s.

 

[Habsfan18]

Bob Cole has passed away.

He was 90. So it’s not exactly unexpected news. But still a tough pill to swallow. The voice of a generation.