List of ice hockey players who died during their careers
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:34:30 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of ice hockey players who died during their playing careers.
Tables
· Player deaths › Before 1930
28
28
Age
28
Player
Fred Higginbotham
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
September 7, 1896
Cause of death
horse riding accident
Notes
Member of the Winnipeg Victorias; won Stanley Cup in February 1896 in a challenge match against the Montreal Victorias.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Frank O'Dwyer
Nationality
United States
Date of death
June 5, 1901
Cause of death
hit by train
Notes
Member of the Columbia ice hockey team.
20
20
Age
20
Player
Frank Falvey
Nationality
January 14, 1903
Date of death
acute peritonitis
Cause of death
Member of the MIT men's ice hockey team and club president.
24
24
Age
24
Player
James A. McGee
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
May 15, 1904
Cause of death
horse riding accident
Notes
Member of the Ottawa Silver Seven, captain of the Ottawa Rough Riders; brother of Frank McGee.
23
23
Age
23
Player
Archie Hooper
Nationality
October 11, 1904
Date of death
complications from on-ice injury
Cause of death
Member of 1902 and 1903 Montreal Hockey Club Stanley Cup champions.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Alcide Laurin
Nationality
February 24, 1905
Date of death
on-ice head injury
Cause of death
He received what The Ottawa Journal claimed on February 25, 1905, was an accidental stick blow to the head by 19-year-old Allan Loney, a player on a rival team from Maxville, Ontario.
22
22
Age
22
Player
Owen McCourt
Nationality
March 7, 1907
Date of death
on-ice head injury
Cause of death
Murder charges were laid against other players in game in Cornwall, Ontario. There were no convictions.
28
28
Age
28
Player
Hod Stuart
Nationality
June 23, 1907
Date of death
open water diving accident
Cause of death
Member of Montreal Wanderers, Stanley Cup champion in 1906 and 1907. All-star benefit game held for family. Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Edgar Dey
Edgar Dey
Age
Edgar Dey
Player
February 13, 1912
Nationality
on-ice chest injury
Date of death
Stanley Cup winner with Ottawa Senators in 1909.
23
23
Age
23
Player
Del Irvine
Nationality
April 13, 1916
Date of death
pneumonia
Cause of death
Played professionally for Portland Rosebuds. PCHA champion in 1916.
32
32
Age
32
Player
Hamby Shore
Nationality
October 13, 1918
Date of death
influenza
Cause of death
Played nine seasons for the Ottawa Senators.
23
23
Age
23
Player
Chester Tutein
Nationality
United States
Date of death
November 17, 1918
Cause of death
plane crash
Notes
Played three seasons for MIT. Enlisted in the United States Army Air Service after his junior year.
37
37
Age
37
Player
Joe Hall
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
April 5, 1919
Cause of death
Spanish flu
Notes
Member of Montreal Canadiens and former long-time member of Quebec Bulldogs. Led NHL in penalty minutes in both seasons played. Had played professionally since 1906. Died during 1919 Stanley Cup Final. Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
21
21
Age
21
Player
Lewis Norrie
Nationality
USA
Date of death
September 23, 1923
Cause of death
car accident
Notes
Member of Princeton's ice hockey team.
22
22
Age
22
Player
Foley Martin
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
December 9, 1923
Cause of death
blood poisoning
Notes
Played two seasons in the Western Canada Hockey League from 1921 to 1923 with the Calgary Tigers. Died during opening road trip to start 1923–24 WCHL season.
19
19
Age
19
Player
Harold Rees Jr.
Nationality
USA
Date of death
January 13, 1924
Cause of death
Cerebral blood clot due to an on-ice injury
Notes
Member of Princeton's freshman ice hockey team.
34
34
Age
34
Player
Jack Darragh
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
June 28, 1924
Cause of death
ruptured appendix
Notes
Played thirteen seasons for the Ottawa Senators. Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
20
20
Age
20
Player
Francis Van Valkenberg
Nationality
USA
Date of death
June 27, 1925
Cause of death
car accident
Notes
Member of St. Thomas's ice hockey team. Died when the car he was a passenger in was sideswiped by a streetcar in Superior, Wisconsin.
39
39
Age
39
Player
Georges Vézina
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
March 27, 1926
Cause of death
tuberculosis
Notes
Played sixteen seasons with the Montreal Canadiens from 1910–11 to 1925–26 winning the Stanley Cup twice, Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and namesake of the National Hockey League's Vezina Trophy. On November 28, 1925, the Canadiens' first game of the 1925–26 season, Vezina ran a temperature of 102°. He collapsed in the crease during the second
26
26
Age
26
Player
Edward Baker
Nationality
January 10, 1929
Date of death
on-ice skull fracture
Cause of death
Played two professional seasons, in Hamilton (Can-Pro) and Niagara (IHL). Collided with a teammate and left the ice unassisted. He checked into a nearby hospital, where he died the following morning.
25
25
Age
25
Player
George Horne
Nationality
July 31, 1929
Date of death
drowning
Cause of death
Played three seasons in the NHL from 1925 to 1929 with the Montreal Maroons and Toronto Maple Leafs. Stanley Cup champion in 1926. Drowned while attempting to swim to shore during a sudden storm that capsized his boat; two friends and a local guide survived.
Harry Heintzman
Harry Heintzman
Age
Harry Heintzman
Player
August 21, 1929
Nationality
complications from throat surgery
Date of death
Three year player for Clarkson. Elected team captain at the conclusion of his third season.
| Age | Player | Nationality | Date of death | Cause of death | Notes |
| 28 | Fred Higginbotham | Canada | September 7, 1896 | horse riding accident | Member of the Winnipeg Victorias; won Stanley Cup in February 1896 in a challenge match against the Montreal Victorias. |
| 24 | Frank O'Dwyer | United States | June 5, 1901 | hit by train | Member of the Columbia ice hockey team. |
| 20 | Frank Falvey | January 14, 1903 | acute peritonitis | Member of the MIT men's ice hockey team and club president. | |
| 24 | James A. McGee | Canada | May 15, 1904 | horse riding accident | Member of the Ottawa Silver Seven, captain of the Ottawa Rough Riders; brother of Frank McGee. |
| 23 | Archie Hooper | October 11, 1904 | complications from on-ice injury | Member of 1902 and 1903 Montreal Hockey Club Stanley Cup champions. | |
| 24 | Alcide Laurin | February 24, 1905 | on-ice head injury | He received what The Ottawa Journal claimed on February 25, 1905, was an accidental stick blow to the head by 19-year-old Allan Loney, a player on a rival team from Maxville, Ontario. | |
| 22 | Owen McCourt | March 7, 1907 | on-ice head injury | Murder charges were laid against other players in game in Cornwall, Ontario. There were no convictions. | |
| 28 | Hod Stuart | June 23, 1907 | open water diving accident | Member of Montreal Wanderers, Stanley Cup champion in 1906 and 1907. All-star benefit game held for family. Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. | |
| Edgar Dey | February 13, 1912 | on-ice chest injury | Stanley Cup winner with Ottawa Senators in 1909. | ||
| 23 | Del Irvine | April 13, 1916 | pneumonia | Played professionally for Portland Rosebuds. PCHA champion in 1916. | |
| 32 | Hamby Shore | October 13, 1918 | influenza | Played nine seasons for the Ottawa Senators. | |
| 23 | Chester Tutein | United States | November 17, 1918 | plane crash | Played three seasons for MIT. Enlisted in the United States Army Air Service after his junior year. |
| 37 | Joe Hall | Canada | April 5, 1919 | Spanish flu | Member of Montreal Canadiens and former long-time member of Quebec Bulldogs. Led NHL in penalty minutes in both seasons played. Had played professionally since 1906. Died during 1919 Stanley Cup Final. Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. |
| 21 | Lewis Norrie | USA | September 23, 1923 | car accident | Member of Princeton's ice hockey team. |
| 22 | Foley Martin | Canada | December 9, 1923 | blood poisoning | Played two seasons in the Western Canada Hockey League from 1921 to 1923 with the Calgary Tigers. Died during opening road trip to start 1923–24 WCHL season. |
| 19 | Harold Rees Jr. | USA | January 13, 1924 | Cerebral blood clot due to an on-ice injury | Member of Princeton's freshman ice hockey team. |
| 34 | Jack Darragh | Canada | June 28, 1924 | ruptured appendix | Played thirteen seasons for the Ottawa Senators. Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. |
| 20 | Francis Van Valkenberg | USA | June 27, 1925 | car accident | Member of St. Thomas's ice hockey team. Died when the car he was a passenger in was sideswiped by a streetcar in Superior, Wisconsin. |
| 39 | Georges Vézina | Canada | March 27, 1926 | tuberculosis | Played sixteen seasons with the Montreal Canadiens from 1910–11 to 1925–26 winning the Stanley Cup twice, Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and namesake of the National Hockey League's Vezina Trophy. On November 28, 1925, the Canadiens' first game of the 1925–26 season, Vezina ran a temperature of 102°. He collapsed in the crease during the second |
| 26 | Edward Baker | January 10, 1929 | on-ice skull fracture | Played two professional seasons, in Hamilton (Can-Pro) and Niagara (IHL). Collided with a teammate and left the ice unassisted. He checked into a nearby hospital, where he died the following morning. | |
| 25 | George Horne | July 31, 1929 | drowning | Played three seasons in the NHL from 1925 to 1929 with the Montreal Maroons and Toronto Maple Leafs. Stanley Cup champion in 1926. Drowned while attempting to swim to shore during a sudden storm that capsized his boat; two friends and a local guide survived. | |
| Harry Heintzman | August 21, 1929 | complications from throat surgery | Three year player for Clarkson. Elected team captain at the conclusion of his third season. |
· Player deaths › 1930–1969
26
26
Age
26
Player
Bobby Connors
Nationality
Great Britain
Date of death
July 27, 1931
Cause of death
diving accident
Notes
Played three seasons and 78 games in the NHL from 1926 to 1929–30 for the New York Americans and Detroit Cougars.
29
29
Age
29
Player
Charlie Gardiner
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
June 13, 1934
Cause of death
brain hemorrhage
Notes
Goaltender for the Chicago Black Hawks for seven seasons from 1926–27 until 1933–34, the year they won the Stanley Cup; Gardiner was a multiple award winner, winning the Vezina Trophy twice, and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Jack "Newsy" Leswick
Nationality
August 7, 1934
Date of death
drowning
Cause of death
Played 37 games for the Chicago Black Hawks in 1933–34. Body found in the Assiniboine River without his wallet or other valuables. Stanley Cup champion in 1934.
30
30
Age
30
Player
Earl Miller
Nationality
June 20, 1936
Date of death
unknown
Cause of death
Played five seasons and 109 games for the Chicago Black Hawks and Toronto Maple Leafs from 1927–28 to 1931–32. Stanley Cup champion in 1932.
34
34
Age
34
Player
Howie Morenz
Nationality
March 8, 1937
Date of death
complications from leg injury
Cause of death
Played 14 seasons and 550 games in the National Hockey League, most notably with the Montreal Canadiens, from 1923–24 to 1936–37; generally regarded as the best player of his era, he won two scoring championships, three Hart Trophies and three Stanley Cup championships; The Canadiens retired his number 7; member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Russell McConnell
Nationality
September 7, 1942
Date of death
World War II casualty
Cause of death
Played four championship seasons with McGill University; most valuable player of Quebec Senior Hockey League in 1938–39. Turned down pro offers from New York Rangers to serve in Royal Canadian Navy.
Norbert Sterle
Norbert Sterle
Age
Norbert Sterle
Player
United States
Nationality
November 19, 1943
Date of death
Played one season at Illinois, led program to an Intercollegiate championship.
31
31
Age
31
Player
Don Deacon
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
December 25, 1943
Cause of death
fall from balcony
Notes
Played three seasons and 30 games for the Detroit Red Wings from 1936 to 1940.
34
34
Age
34
Player
Ladislav Troják
Nationality
Czechoslovakia
Date of death
November 8, 1948
Cause of death
plane crash
Notes
Played for LTC Praha from 1934 to 1948.
23
23
Age
23
Player
Harijs Mellups
Nationality
Soviet Union
Date of death
January 7, 1950
Cause of death
plane crash
Notes
Mellups was the starting goaltender of the first-ever Soviet national team game. Played several seasons in the Soviet League for VVS Moscow, which lost 11 players in the 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash.
27
27
Age
27
Player
Roberts Šūlmanis
Nationality
Played several seasons in the Soviet League for Dinamo Riga. Joined VVS Moscow in 1949.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Ivan Novikov
Nationality
1947 Soviet Championship bronze medal winner. 1948 Soviet Championship silver medal winner.
30
30
Age
30
Player
Boris Bocharnikov
Nationality
1947 Soviet Championship gold medal winner. 1948 Soviet Championship bronze medal winner.
33
33
Age
33
Player
Zdenek Zigmund
Nationality
1947 Soviet Championship bronze medal winner. 1948 Soviet Championship silver medal winner.
27
27
Age
27
Player
Yuri Tarasov
Nationality
Brother of hall of fame player Anatoli Tarasov.
28
28
Age
28
Player
Yuri Zhiburtovich
30
30
Age
30
Player
Johnny Holota
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
March 10, 1951
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Played two seasons and 15 games in the NHL from 1942 to 1946 for the Detroit Red Wings.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Bill Barilko
Nationality
August 26, 1951
Date of death
plane crash
Cause of death
His plane crashed in 1951 but investigators did not find the crash until 1962. Played five seasons and won the Stanley Cup four times with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1947 to 1951, and scored the legendary cup-winning goal in overtime of game five in the 1951 finals; the Leafs retired his number 5. Inspired the song "Fifty Mission Cap" by The Trag
26
26
Age
26
Player
Ross Lowe
Nationality
August 8, 1955
Date of death
drowning
Cause of death
Played three seasons and 77 games in the NHL from 1949 to 1952 for the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens; Les Cunningham Award recipient as AHL MVP for his performance during 1954–55, his last season.
28
28
Age
28
Player
Murray Balfour
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
May 30, 1965
Cause of death
lung cancer
Notes
Played eight seasons and 306 games in the National Hockey League from 1956–57 to 1964–65 winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1961; he also played for the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins.
22
22
Age
22
Player
Jarmo Wasama
Nationality
Finland
Date of death
February 2, 1966
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Five-time all-star defenseman in SM-sarja. In 1995, the trophy of top rookie of SM-liiga was renamed the Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy.
Butch Paul
Butch Paul
Age
Butch Paul
Player
Canada
Nationality
March 25, 1966
Date of death
Played three games for the Detroit Red Wings in 1964–65.
29
29
Age
29
Player
Bill Masterton
Nationality
January 15, 1968
Date of death
on-ice head injury
Cause of death
Played 30 games in the 1967–68 NHL season with the Minnesota North Stars and is the only player in NHL history to be killed as a direct result of an on-ice incident; the NHL annually awards the Bill Masterton Trophy in his honour, and the North Stars retired his number 19.
27
27
Age
27
Player
Elov Seger
Nationality
March 8, 1968
Date of death
brain tumor
Cause of death
All-American, helped Michigan Tech win a National Championship in 1962.
22
22
Age
22
Player
Viktor Blinov
Nationality
Soviet Union
Date of death
July 9, 1968
Cause of death
heart failure
Notes
Defenceman who played for Spartak Moscow. Champion of USSR (1967), European champion (1968), World champion (1968), champion of Olympic Games (1968). Died during training.
29
29
Age
29
Player
Wayne Larkin
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
September 13, 1968
Cause of death
coronary thrombosis
Notes
Played eight seasons in American Hockey League. Died on the ice during the first practice of the New York Rangers training camp, held in Kitchener, Ontario. Won 1959 Memorial Cup with Winnipeg Braves.
| Age | Player | Nationality | Date of death | Cause of death | Notes |
| 26 | Bobby Connors | Great Britain | July 27, 1931 | diving accident | Played three seasons and 78 games in the NHL from 1926 to 1929–30 for the New York Americans and Detroit Cougars. |
| 29 | Charlie Gardiner | Canada | June 13, 1934 | brain hemorrhage | Goaltender for the Chicago Black Hawks for seven seasons from 1926–27 until 1933–34, the year they won the Stanley Cup; Gardiner was a multiple award winner, winning the Vezina Trophy twice, and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. |
| 24 | Jack "Newsy" Leswick | August 7, 1934 | drowning | Played 37 games for the Chicago Black Hawks in 1933–34. Body found in the Assiniboine River without his wallet or other valuables. Stanley Cup champion in 1934. | |
| 30 | Earl Miller | June 20, 1936 | unknown | Played five seasons and 109 games for the Chicago Black Hawks and Toronto Maple Leafs from 1927–28 to 1931–32. Stanley Cup champion in 1932. | |
| 34 | Howie Morenz | March 8, 1937 | complications from leg injury | Played 14 seasons and 550 games in the National Hockey League, most notably with the Montreal Canadiens, from 1923–24 to 1936–37; generally regarded as the best player of his era, he won two scoring championships, three Hart Trophies and three Stanley Cup championships; The Canadiens retired his number 7; member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. | |
| 24 | Russell McConnell | September 7, 1942 | World War II casualty | Played four championship seasons with McGill University; most valuable player of Quebec Senior Hockey League in 1938–39. Turned down pro offers from New York Rangers to serve in Royal Canadian Navy. | |
| Norbert Sterle | United States | November 19, 1943 | Played one season at Illinois, led program to an Intercollegiate championship. | ||
| 31 | Don Deacon | Canada | December 25, 1943 | fall from balcony | Played three seasons and 30 games for the Detroit Red Wings from 1936 to 1940. |
| 34 | Ladislav Troják | Czechoslovakia | November 8, 1948 | plane crash | Played for LTC Praha from 1934 to 1948. |
| 23 | Harijs Mellups | Soviet Union | January 7, 1950 | plane crash | Mellups was the starting goaltender of the first-ever Soviet national team game. Played several seasons in the Soviet League for VVS Moscow, which lost 11 players in the 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash. |
| 27 | Roberts Šūlmanis | Played several seasons in the Soviet League for Dinamo Riga. Joined VVS Moscow in 1949. | |||
| 24 | Ivan Novikov | 1947 Soviet Championship bronze medal winner. 1948 Soviet Championship silver medal winner. | |||
| 30 | Boris Bocharnikov | 1947 Soviet Championship gold medal winner. 1948 Soviet Championship bronze medal winner. | |||
| 33 | Zdenek Zigmund | 1947 Soviet Championship bronze medal winner. 1948 Soviet Championship silver medal winner. | |||
| 27 | Yuri Tarasov | Brother of hall of fame player Anatoli Tarasov. | |||
| Vasily Volodin | |||||
| Eugeny Voronin | |||||
| 28 | Yuri Zhiburtovich | ||||
| Victor Isaev | |||||
| Alexander Moiseev | |||||
| 30 | Johnny Holota | Canada | March 10, 1951 | car crash | Played two seasons and 15 games in the NHL from 1942 to 1946 for the Detroit Red Wings. |
| 24 | Bill Barilko | August 26, 1951 | plane crash | His plane crashed in 1951 but investigators did not find the crash until 1962. Played five seasons and won the Stanley Cup four times with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1947 to 1951, and scored the legendary cup-winning goal in overtime of game five in the 1951 finals; the Leafs retired his number 5. Inspired the song "Fifty Mission Cap" by The Trag | |
| 26 | Ross Lowe | August 8, 1955 | drowning | Played three seasons and 77 games in the NHL from 1949 to 1952 for the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens; Les Cunningham Award recipient as AHL MVP for his performance during 1954–55, his last season. | |
| 28 | Murray Balfour | Canada | May 30, 1965 | lung cancer | Played eight seasons and 306 games in the National Hockey League from 1956–57 to 1964–65 winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1961; he also played for the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins. |
| 22 | Jarmo Wasama | Finland | February 2, 1966 | car crash | Five-time all-star defenseman in SM-sarja. In 1995, the trophy of top rookie of SM-liiga was renamed the Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy. |
| Butch Paul | Canada | March 25, 1966 | Played three games for the Detroit Red Wings in 1964–65. | ||
| 29 | Bill Masterton | January 15, 1968 | on-ice head injury | Played 30 games in the 1967–68 NHL season with the Minnesota North Stars and is the only player in NHL history to be killed as a direct result of an on-ice incident; the NHL annually awards the Bill Masterton Trophy in his honour, and the North Stars retired his number 19. | |
| 27 | Elov Seger | March 8, 1968 | brain tumor | All-American, helped Michigan Tech win a National Championship in 1962. | |
| 22 | Viktor Blinov | Soviet Union | July 9, 1968 | heart failure | Defenceman who played for Spartak Moscow. Champion of USSR (1967), European champion (1968), World champion (1968), champion of Olympic Games (1968). Died during training. |
| 29 | Wayne Larkin | Canada | September 13, 1968 | coronary thrombosis | Played eight seasons in American Hockey League. Died on the ice during the first practice of the New York Rangers training camp, held in Kitchener, Ontario. Won 1959 Memorial Cup with Winnipeg Braves. |
· Player deaths › 1970–1989
40
40
Age
40
Player
Terry Sawchuk
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
May 31, 1970
Cause of death
injuries suffered in an off-ice shoving incident
Notes
Played 21 seasons and 972 games in the National Hockey League from 1949 to 1970; 14 of those seasons played with the Detroit Red Wings who retired his number 1; set numerous NHL goalie records and won numerous NHL awards; considered by many to be one of the greatest goalies of all time; member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
20
20
Age
20
Player
Janez Kokalj
Nationality
Yugoslavia
Date of death
January 24, 1971
Cause of death
injuries suffered after falling from a moving train
Notes
Defender played for his home town HK Celje. His team played a match in Belgrade in the afternoon a day early. While returning from the game, he mistakenly opened a main door and was sucked out of the train. He died on the spot as a result of the injuries suffered from the fall near Vinkovci.
21
21
Age
21
Player
Michel Brière
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
April 13, 1971
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Pittsburgh Penguins rookie played 76 games in 1969–70; the Penguins retired his number 21; the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy is awarded annually by the QMJHL to the league MVP.
28
28
Age
28
Player
Lennart Svedberg
Nationality
Sweden
Date of death
July 29, 1972
Cause of death
Represented Sweden in the 1968 Winter Olympics and six IIHF World Championships; in the 1970 World Championships he was named top defenceman
44
44
Age
44
Player
Tim Horton
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
February 21, 1974
Cause of death
Played 24 seasons and 1,446 games in the National Hockey League from 1949 to 1974, playing 20 seasons and 1,185 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs; named to the NHL's First and Second All-Star teams three times each; member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Also founder of the Tim Hortons restaurant chain.
29
29
Age
29
Player
Wayne Maki
Nationality
May 12, 1974
Date of death
brain cancer
Cause of death
Played six seasons and 246 games in the National Hockey League, for the Chicago Black Hawks, St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks.
18
18
Age
18
Player
Gaétan Paradis
Nationality
November 24, 1974
Date of death
bus crash
Cause of death
Played for the Sherbrooke Castors, of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Bob Gassoff
Nationality
May 27, 1977
Date of death
motorcycle crash
Cause of death
Played four seasons and 245 games for the St. Louis Blues from 1973 to 1977; the Blues retired his number 3.
26
26
Age
26
Player
Danijel Kerkoš
Nationality
Yugoslavia
Date of death
June 8, 1978
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Forward. Played for HK Celje his entire career and was a member of Yugoslavia's junior national team in his younger years.
30
30
Age
30
Player
Veikko Suominen
Nationality
Finland
Date of death
December 21, 1978
Cause of death
suicide
Notes
Played 331 SM-sarja games for Kiekko-67, Upon Pallo and Ilves. Won one SM-sarja Championship with Ilves in 1972 and played 8 games for Finnish national team.
27
27
Age
27
Player
Scott Garland
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
June 9, 1979
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Played three seasons and 91 games in the NHL from 1975 to 1979 for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings.
29
29
Age
29
Player
Vyacheslav Solodukhin
Nationality
Soviet Union
Date of death
December 1979
Cause of death
Suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning
Notes
Forward. Played for SKA Saint Petersburg and the Summit Series.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Vladislav Najdenov
Nationality
1979
Date of death
murdered, smothering
Cause of death
Forward. Played for HC Spartak Moscow. His murderer was never found.
26
26
Age
26
Player
Don Ashby
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
May 30, 1981
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Played six seasons in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies, and Edmonton Oilers from 1975 to 1981
33
33
Age
33
Player
Valeri Kharlamov
Nationality
Soviet Union
Date of death
August 27, 1981
Cause of death
Played in three Olympics, 11 IIHF World Championships and the 1972 Summit Series. Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
28
28
Age
28
Player
Rauli Levonen
Nationality
Finland
Date of death
December 1, 1981
Cause of death
heart attack
Notes
Played 9 seasons in Finnish SM-liiga for Ässät Pori and won championship title in 1978. Father of ex-pro hockey player Jarno Levonen, cousin of ex-player and international referee Jari Levonen. Suffered a heart attack during a 3rd division game and died later at hospital.
30
30
Age
30
Player
Konstantin Klimov
Nationality
Soviet Union
Date of death
January 8, 1982
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Forward. Played for the national Soviet junior team and HC Spartak Moscow. Champion of USSR (1969, 1974), winner of the USSR Cup (1970,1971,1974), winner of the European Junior Championship (1970).
28
28
Age
28
Player
Mikhail Kovalev
Nationality
1982
Date of death
murdered
Cause of death
Defenseman. Played for the national Soviet junior team and HC CSKA Moscow. Winner of the European Junior Championship (1973).
18
18
Age
18
Player
Jože Gradišar
Nationality
Yugoslavia
Date of death
March 1, 1983
Cause of death
heart attack
Notes
Defender for HK Tivoli died only two days after his 18th birthday. While preparing with the junior national team in Sarajevo for the European U18 Group C championship that was due to take place he suddenly collapsed after a morning practice. Despite immediate medical assistance he died on the way to the hospital.
25
25
Age
25
Player
Palle Schultz
Nationality
Denmark
Date of death
December 1984
Cause of death
injury
Notes
Played several seasons in Danish 1. Division and won championship title in 1983 with Herlev IK. Died in December 1984 in Kopenhagen Hospital after he was hit by stick during league game
17
17
Age
17
Player
Anatoli Fetisov
Nationality
Soviet Union
Date of death
June 1985
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Fetisov was a sure bet to play with the Soviet Union at the 1986 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Hamilton and a strong candidate for selection in the 1986 NHL entry draft; his older brother, former NHLer Viacheslav Fetisov, was the driver in the crash.
26
26
Age
26
Player
Pelle Lindbergh
Nationality
Sweden
Date of death
November 11, 1985
Cause of death
Philadelphia Flyers goalie played five seasons from 1981 until his death in 1985; Vezina Trophy recipient for 1984–85 NHL season; the Flyers created the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy and award it annually to the team's most improved player.
18
18
Age
18
Player
George Pelawa
Nationality
United States
Date of death
August 30, 1986
Cause of death
Played for Bemidji High School, was the Calgary Flames' first-round pick (16th overall) in the 1986 NHL entry draft. Was named Minnesota Mr. Hockey in 1986 as the top high-school player in the state.
20
20
Age
20
Player
Trent Kresse
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
December 30, 1986
Cause of death
bus crash
Notes
Killed when Swift Current Broncos team bus crashed on the way to a WHL game in Regina. The league awards the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy to its player of the year, partially in their honour.
19
19
Age
19
Player
Scott Kruger
20
20
Age
20
Player
Chris Mantyka
16
16
Age
16
Player
Brent Ruff
27
27
Age
27
Player
Andrew Zemko
Nationality
Soviet Union
Date of death
July 1988
Cause of death
unknown, supposedly heart attack
Notes
Defenseman, played for Torpedo Togliatti during 1985–1988. Died during cross-country run in training camp.
30
30
Age
30
Player
Bjørn Skaare
Nationality
Norway
Date of death
June 21, 1989
Cause of death
car accident
Notes
One game in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings. First Norwegian to play in the NHL.
18
18
Age
18
Player
Neil Carnes
Nationality
United States
Date of death
July 30, 1989
Cause of death
motorcycle crash
Notes
Neil Carnes played in the QMJHL from 1986 to 1987 through 1988–89 with the Verdun Junior Canadiens and the Laval Titan. Drafted in the 3rd round (46th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1988 NHL entry draft, Carnes died in a motorcycle accident in his hometown of Plymouth, Michigan shortly after playing in the 1989 Memorial Cup with Laval. N
23
23
Age
23
Player
Duncan MacPherson
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
August 9, 1989
Cause of death
Hit by snow grooming machine, then buried
Notes
Drafted 20th overall in the 1984 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders. Frozen body found in a glacier in Austria in 2003.
| Age | Player | Nationality | Date of death | Cause of death | Notes |
| 40 | Terry Sawchuk | Canada | May 31, 1970 | injuries suffered in an off-ice shoving incident | Played 21 seasons and 972 games in the National Hockey League from 1949 to 1970; 14 of those seasons played with the Detroit Red Wings who retired his number 1; set numerous NHL goalie records and won numerous NHL awards; considered by many to be one of the greatest goalies of all time; member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. |
| 20 | Janez Kokalj | Yugoslavia | January 24, 1971 | injuries suffered after falling from a moving train | Defender played for his home town HK Celje. His team played a match in Belgrade in the afternoon a day early. While returning from the game, he mistakenly opened a main door and was sucked out of the train. He died on the spot as a result of the injuries suffered from the fall near Vinkovci. |
| 21 | Michel Brière | Canada | April 13, 1971 | car crash | Pittsburgh Penguins rookie played 76 games in 1969–70; the Penguins retired his number 21; the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy is awarded annually by the QMJHL to the league MVP. |
| 28 | Lennart Svedberg | Sweden | July 29, 1972 | Represented Sweden in the 1968 Winter Olympics and six IIHF World Championships; in the 1970 World Championships he was named top defenceman | |
| 44 | Tim Horton | Canada | February 21, 1974 | Played 24 seasons and 1,446 games in the National Hockey League from 1949 to 1974, playing 20 seasons and 1,185 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs; named to the NHL's First and Second All-Star teams three times each; member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Also founder of the Tim Hortons restaurant chain. | |
| 29 | Wayne Maki | May 12, 1974 | brain cancer | Played six seasons and 246 games in the National Hockey League, for the Chicago Black Hawks, St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks. | |
| 18 | Gaétan Paradis | November 24, 1974 | bus crash | Played for the Sherbrooke Castors, of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. | |
| 24 | Bob Gassoff | May 27, 1977 | motorcycle crash | Played four seasons and 245 games for the St. Louis Blues from 1973 to 1977; the Blues retired his number 3. | |
| 26 | Danijel Kerkoš | Yugoslavia | June 8, 1978 | car crash | Forward. Played for HK Celje his entire career and was a member of Yugoslavia's junior national team in his younger years. |
| 30 | Veikko Suominen | Finland | December 21, 1978 | suicide | Played 331 SM-sarja games for Kiekko-67, Upon Pallo and Ilves. Won one SM-sarja Championship with Ilves in 1972 and played 8 games for Finnish national team. |
| 27 | Scott Garland | Canada | June 9, 1979 | car crash | Played three seasons and 91 games in the NHL from 1975 to 1979 for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings. |
| 29 | Vyacheslav Solodukhin | Soviet Union | December 1979 | Suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning | Forward. Played for SKA Saint Petersburg and the Summit Series. |
| 24 | Vladislav Najdenov | 1979 | murdered, smothering | Forward. Played for HC Spartak Moscow. His murderer was never found. | |
| 26 | Don Ashby | Canada | May 30, 1981 | car crash | Played six seasons in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies, and Edmonton Oilers from 1975 to 1981 |
| 33 | Valeri Kharlamov | Soviet Union | August 27, 1981 | Played in three Olympics, 11 IIHF World Championships and the 1972 Summit Series. Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. | |
| 28 | Rauli Levonen | Finland | December 1, 1981 | heart attack | Played 9 seasons in Finnish SM-liiga for Ässät Pori and won championship title in 1978. Father of ex-pro hockey player Jarno Levonen, cousin of ex-player and international referee Jari Levonen. Suffered a heart attack during a 3rd division game and died later at hospital. |
| 30 | Konstantin Klimov | Soviet Union | January 8, 1982 | car crash | Forward. Played for the national Soviet junior team and HC Spartak Moscow. Champion of USSR (1969, 1974), winner of the USSR Cup (1970,1971,1974), winner of the European Junior Championship (1970). |
| 28 | Mikhail Kovalev | 1982 | murdered | Defenseman. Played for the national Soviet junior team and HC CSKA Moscow. Winner of the European Junior Championship (1973). | |
| 18 | Jože Gradišar | Yugoslavia | March 1, 1983 | heart attack | Defender for HK Tivoli died only two days after his 18th birthday. While preparing with the junior national team in Sarajevo for the European U18 Group C championship that was due to take place he suddenly collapsed after a morning practice. Despite immediate medical assistance he died on the way to the hospital. |
| 25 | Palle Schultz | Denmark | December 1984 | injury | Played several seasons in Danish 1. Division and won championship title in 1983 with Herlev IK. Died in December 1984 in Kopenhagen Hospital after he was hit by stick during league game |
| 17 | Anatoli Fetisov | Soviet Union | June 1985 | car crash | Fetisov was a sure bet to play with the Soviet Union at the 1986 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Hamilton and a strong candidate for selection in the 1986 NHL entry draft; his older brother, former NHLer Viacheslav Fetisov, was the driver in the crash. |
| 26 | Pelle Lindbergh | Sweden | November 11, 1985 | Philadelphia Flyers goalie played five seasons from 1981 until his death in 1985; Vezina Trophy recipient for 1984–85 NHL season; the Flyers created the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy and award it annually to the team's most improved player. | |
| 18 | George Pelawa | United States | August 30, 1986 | Played for Bemidji High School, was the Calgary Flames' first-round pick (16th overall) in the 1986 NHL entry draft. Was named Minnesota Mr. Hockey in 1986 as the top high-school player in the state. | |
| 20 | Trent Kresse | Canada | December 30, 1986 | bus crash | Killed when Swift Current Broncos team bus crashed on the way to a WHL game in Regina. The league awards the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy to its player of the year, partially in their honour. |
| 19 | Scott Kruger | ||||
| 20 | Chris Mantyka | ||||
| 16 | Brent Ruff | ||||
| 27 | Andrew Zemko | Soviet Union | July 1988 | unknown, supposedly heart attack | Defenseman, played for Torpedo Togliatti during 1985–1988. Died during cross-country run in training camp. |
| 30 | Bjørn Skaare | Norway | June 21, 1989 | car accident | One game in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings. First Norwegian to play in the NHL. |
| 18 | Neil Carnes | United States | July 30, 1989 | motorcycle crash | Neil Carnes played in the QMJHL from 1986 to 1987 through 1988–89 with the Verdun Junior Canadiens and the Laval Titan. Drafted in the 3rd round (46th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1988 NHL entry draft, Carnes died in a motorcycle accident in his hometown of Plymouth, Michigan shortly after playing in the 1989 Memorial Cup with Laval. N |
| 23 | Duncan MacPherson | Canada | August 9, 1989 | Hit by snow grooming machine, then buried | Drafted 20th overall in the 1984 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders. Frozen body found in a glacier in Austria in 2003. |
· Player deaths › 1990–1999
18
18
Age
18
Player
Kirill Tarasov
Nationality
Soviet Union
Date of death
1990
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Candidate for the Soviet National Junior team. Vyacheslav Kozlov, then the top junior player in the country who would go on to play 18 years in the NHL, was seriously injured in the same accident.
26
26
Age
26
Player
Luděk Čajka
Nationality
Czechoslovakia
Date of death
February 14, 1990
Cause of death
on-ice spinal injury
Notes
Played in the Czechoslovak Extraliga. Chosen 115th overall in the 1987 NHL entry draft by the New York Rangers. His death led to installation of no-touch icing in Europe.
34
34
Age
34
Player
Vladimir Durdin
Nationality
Soviet Union
Date of death
May 27, 1990
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Played 11 seasons for Dynamo Riga in the Soviet Championship League and one season for Ässät Pori in the Finnish first division. Member of 1978 Soviet All-Stars squad that played exhibition games against WHA teams. Father of Sergei Durdin, who later played in the United Hockey League.
19
19
Age
19
Player
Miran Schrott
Nationality
Italy
Date of death
January 14, 1992
Cause of death
cardiac arrest following on-ice slash
Notes
Played for HC Gardena in Italy's Serie B league. Jimmy Boni, the player who slashed him, was charged with culpable homicide in his death but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
20
20
Age
20
Player
Aleš Kalan
Nationality
Slovenia
Date of death
March 12, 1992
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
An up-and-coming defender died as a result of a one-car crash incident just three days past his twentieth birthday after fighting for his life for 12 days in a hospital. Member of HK Acroni Jesenice played for Yugoslavia junior national team at U18 and U20 level.
19
19
Age
19
Player
Artem Kopot
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
July 20, 1992
Cause of death
A promising defenceman with the world champion Commonwealth of Independent States national junior team. Drafted in sixth round of the 1992 NHL entry draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kopot was involved in a fatal one-car crash the following month in his hometown, five days prior to his twentieth birthday.
30
30
Age
30
Player
Roger Hägglund
Nationality
Sweden
Date of death
June 6, 1992
Cause of death
Played three games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1984–85.
27
27
Age
27
Player
John Kordic
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
August 8, 1992
Cause of death
lung failure due to heart malfunction from a drug overdose
Notes
Played 7 seasons and 244 games in the NHL from 1985 to 1992, most notably with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. Won Stanley Cup in 1986 with Montreal. Won 1982-83 Memorial Cup with WHL's Portland Winter Hawks.
26
26
Age
26
Player
Sergei Bushmelyov
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
August 28, 1992
Cause of death
murdered
18
18
Age
18
Player
Gary Rippingale
Nationality
England
Great Britain
Date of death
October 31, 1992
Cause of death
unknown cause
Notes
Played for the Nottingham Panthers of the British Hockey League. He also played for the Great Britain national ice hockey team at Under-18 level. He died following the Panthers' Halloween party. The number 3 jersey is retired by the Panthers in his honour.
19
19
Age
19
Player
Todd Klassen
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
July 22, 1993
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Played for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1992 NHL entry draft.
27
27
Age
27
Player
Peter Mrozik
Nationality
United States
Slovakia
Date of death
June 28, 1994
Cause of death
Slovak-born American ice hockey player. Played in the 1st. Slovak National Hockey League in 1991. Later Mrozik resumed his career in Estonia.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Jakub Szal
Nationality
Poland
Date of death
December 8, 1994
Cause of death
heart attack
Notes
Played in the Polish Extraliga for Podhale Nowy Targ, STS Sanok.
23
23
Age
23
Player
Piotr Milan
Nationality
January 23, 1995
Date of death
bus accident
Cause of death
Played in the Polish Extraliga for STS Sanok.
29
29
Age
29
Player
Peter Karlsson
Nationality
Sweden
Date of death
March 11, 1995
Cause of death
stabbed to death
Notes
Played in the SEL for VIK Västerås HK.
25
25
Age
25
Player
Mike Colman
Nationality
United States
Date of death
April 5, 1995
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Played fifteen games for the San Jose Sharks in 1991–92.
28
28
Age
28
Player
Bengt Åkerblom
Nationality
Sweden
Date of death
October 15, 1995
Cause of death
on-ice accident
Notes
Played 53 SEL games for Djurgårdens IF and five seasons for Mora IK in the second-level league. Neck was cut by a skate during an exhibition game.
21
21
Age
21
Player
Alexander Osadchy
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
1996
Cause of death
suicide
Notes
Drafted in round 4, overall, by the San Jose Sharks during the 1993 NHL Draft.
25
25
Age
25
Player
Michel Breistroff
Nationality
France
Date of death
July 17, 1996
Cause of death
airplane crash
Notes
Played for France national team at 1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. Played NCAA Division I hockey for Harvard University.
Jeff Batters
Jeff Batters
Age
Jeff Batters
Player
Canada
Nationality
August 23, 1996
Date of death
car crash
Cause of death
Played 16 games over two seasons for the St. Louis Blues from 1993 to 1995.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Yanick Dupré
Nationality
August 16, 1997
Date of death
leukemia
Cause of death
Played three seasons and 35 games for the Philadelphia Flyers from 1991 to 1996, the Yanick Dupre Memorial is awarded annually by the Flyers organization and by the American Hockey League for a player's service to his local community.
20
20
Age
20
Player
Graham Christie
Nationality
November 25, 1997
Date of death
on-ice accident
Cause of death
Played in the SJHL at the time of his death. The PJHL Rookie of the Year trophy is named in his honour.
29
29
Age
29
Player
Stéphane Morin
Nationality
October 6, 1998
Date of death
heart attack during game
Cause of death
Played five seasons and 90 games in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks; he was awarded the Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy as the IHL's leading scorer in 1995.
29
29
Age
29
Player
Chad Silver
Nationality
Canada
Switzerland
Date of death
December 3, 1998
Cause of death
heart attack
Notes
Played nine seasons and 374 games in the National League A mostly for the HC Fribourg-Gottéron and ZSC Lions Zurich.
26
26
Age
26
Player
Tibor Haviar
Nationality
Slovakia
Date of death
1999
Cause of death
shooting
Notes
Was goalkeeper, played for MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš and STS Sanok and represented Western Slovakia. Shot dead by unknown offender.
34
34
Age
34
Player
Petri Rautiainen
Nationality
Finland
Date of death
brain tumor
Cause of death
Played two seasons in SM-liiga for Ässät Pori and Jokipojat Joensuu. Last two seasons of his career he played for Newcastle Cobras in the British Ice Hockey Superleague. Died on a relapsed brain tumor. His jersey was retired by Newcastle in 2001.
32
32
Age
32
Player
Steve Chiasson
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
May 3, 1999
Cause of death
impaired driving
Notes
Played thirteen seasons and 751 games in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings, Calgary Flames, Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes from 1986–87 to 1998–99.
22
22
Age
22
Player
Dmitri Tertyshny
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
July 23, 1999
Cause of death
slashed jugular vein in boat accident
Notes
Played 62 games for the Philadelphia Flyers in 1998–99
| Age | Player | Nationality | Date of death | Cause of death | Notes |
| 18 | Kirill Tarasov | Soviet Union | 1990 | car crash | Candidate for the Soviet National Junior team. Vyacheslav Kozlov, then the top junior player in the country who would go on to play 18 years in the NHL, was seriously injured in the same accident. |
| 26 | Luděk Čajka | Czechoslovakia | February 14, 1990 | on-ice spinal injury | Played in the Czechoslovak Extraliga. Chosen 115th overall in the 1987 NHL entry draft by the New York Rangers. His death led to installation of no-touch icing in Europe. |
| 34 | Vladimir Durdin | Soviet Union | May 27, 1990 | car crash | Played 11 seasons for Dynamo Riga in the Soviet Championship League and one season for Ässät Pori in the Finnish first division. Member of 1978 Soviet All-Stars squad that played exhibition games against WHA teams. Father of Sergei Durdin, who later played in the United Hockey League. |
| 19 | Miran Schrott | Italy | January 14, 1992 | cardiac arrest following on-ice slash | Played for HC Gardena in Italy's Serie B league. Jimmy Boni, the player who slashed him, was charged with culpable homicide in his death but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter. |
| 20 | Aleš Kalan | Slovenia | March 12, 1992 | car crash | An up-and-coming defender died as a result of a one-car crash incident just three days past his twentieth birthday after fighting for his life for 12 days in a hospital. Member of HK Acroni Jesenice played for Yugoslavia junior national team at U18 and U20 level. |
| 19 | Artem Kopot | Russia | July 20, 1992 | A promising defenceman with the world champion Commonwealth of Independent States national junior team. Drafted in sixth round of the 1992 NHL entry draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kopot was involved in a fatal one-car crash the following month in his hometown, five days prior to his twentieth birthday. | |
| 30 | Roger Hägglund | Sweden | June 6, 1992 | Played three games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1984–85. | |
| 27 | John Kordic | Canada | August 8, 1992 | lung failure due to heart malfunction from a drug overdose | Played 7 seasons and 244 games in the NHL from 1985 to 1992, most notably with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. Won Stanley Cup in 1986 with Montreal. Won 1982-83 Memorial Cup with WHL's Portland Winter Hawks. |
| 26 | Sergei Bushmelyov | Russia | August 28, 1992 | murdered | |
| 18 | Gary Rippingale | England Great Britain | October 31, 1992 | unknown cause | Played for the Nottingham Panthers of the British Hockey League. He also played for the Great Britain national ice hockey team at Under-18 level. He died following the Panthers' Halloween party. The number 3 jersey is retired by the Panthers in his honour. |
| 19 | Todd Klassen | Canada | July 22, 1993 | car crash | Played for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1992 NHL entry draft. |
| 27 | Peter Mrozik | United States Slovakia | June 28, 1994 | Slovak-born American ice hockey player. Played in the 1st. Slovak National Hockey League in 1991. Later Mrozik resumed his career in Estonia. | |
| 24 | Jakub Szal | Poland | December 8, 1994 | heart attack | Played in the Polish Extraliga for Podhale Nowy Targ, STS Sanok. |
| 23 | Piotr Milan | January 23, 1995 | bus accident | Played in the Polish Extraliga for STS Sanok. | |
| 29 | Peter Karlsson | Sweden | March 11, 1995 | stabbed to death | Played in the SEL for VIK Västerås HK. |
| 25 | Mike Colman | United States | April 5, 1995 | car crash | Played fifteen games for the San Jose Sharks in 1991–92. |
| 28 | Bengt Åkerblom | Sweden | October 15, 1995 | on-ice accident | Played 53 SEL games for Djurgårdens IF and five seasons for Mora IK in the second-level league. Neck was cut by a skate during an exhibition game. |
| 21 | Alexander Osadchy | Russia | 1996 | suicide | Drafted in round 4, overall, by the San Jose Sharks during the 1993 NHL Draft. |
| 25 | Michel Breistroff | France | July 17, 1996 | airplane crash | Played for France national team at 1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. Played NCAA Division I hockey for Harvard University. |
| Jeff Batters | Canada | August 23, 1996 | car crash | Played 16 games over two seasons for the St. Louis Blues from 1993 to 1995. | |
| 24 | Yanick Dupré | August 16, 1997 | leukemia | Played three seasons and 35 games for the Philadelphia Flyers from 1991 to 1996, the Yanick Dupre Memorial is awarded annually by the Flyers organization and by the American Hockey League for a player's service to his local community. | |
| 20 | Graham Christie | November 25, 1997 | on-ice accident | Played in the SJHL at the time of his death. The PJHL Rookie of the Year trophy is named in his honour. | |
| 29 | Stéphane Morin | October 6, 1998 | heart attack during game | Played five seasons and 90 games in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks; he was awarded the Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy as the IHL's leading scorer in 1995. | |
| 29 | Chad Silver | Canada Switzerland | December 3, 1998 | heart attack | Played nine seasons and 374 games in the National League A mostly for the HC Fribourg-Gottéron and ZSC Lions Zurich. |
| 26 | Tibor Haviar | Slovakia | 1999 | shooting | Was goalkeeper, played for MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš and STS Sanok and represented Western Slovakia. Shot dead by unknown offender. |
| 34 | Petri Rautiainen | Finland | brain tumor | Played two seasons in SM-liiga for Ässät Pori and Jokipojat Joensuu. Last two seasons of his career he played for Newcastle Cobras in the British Ice Hockey Superleague. Died on a relapsed brain tumor. His jersey was retired by Newcastle in 2001. | |
| 32 | Steve Chiasson | Canada | May 3, 1999 | impaired driving | Played thirteen seasons and 751 games in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings, Calgary Flames, Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes from 1986–87 to 1998–99. |
| 22 | Dmitri Tertyshny | Russia | July 23, 1999 | slashed jugular vein in boat accident | Played 62 games for the Philadelphia Flyers in 1998–99 |
· Player deaths › 2000–2009
24
24
Age
24
Player
Sergei Zemchenok
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
January 15, 2001
Cause of death
shot to death
Notes
Played in the Russian Superleague for Metallurg Magnitogorsk from 1993 to 2001.
28
28
Age
28
Player
Artur Malicki
Nationality
Poland
Date of death
February 14, 2001
Cause of death
hit by car as a pedestrian
Notes
Played in the Polish Extraliga for Unia Oświęcim.
38
38
Age
38
Player
Sergei Ageikin
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
May 31, 2001
Cause of death
leukemia
Notes
Played for Spartak Moskwa, Podhale Nowy Targ, Vityaz Podolsk, participated in IIHF World Championships 1986 (won gold medal with Soviet Union).
32
32
Age
32
Player
Viacheslav Bezukladnikov
Nationality
July 10, 2001
Date of death
liver cirrhosis
Cause of death
Master of Sports, forward. Champion of Russia (1994, 1996), winner of the European Cup (1997). Played for Avtomobilist Sverdlovsk, SKA Sverdlovsk, HC Lada Togliatti and the Russian national team, including at the 1994 Winter Olympics. One of the annual Russian ice hockey tournaments for children named in his honour. Only 11-year-old players can par
22
22
Age
22
Player
Zoltan Batovsky
Nationality
Slovakia
Date of death
August 8, 2001
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Played for the Kentucky Thoroughblades (AHL). Won a bronze medal at the 1999 World Junior Championships in Winnipeg, Slovakia's first IIHF medal as an independent nation. Played in the QMJHL for the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
26
26
Age
26
Player
Alexei Yegorov
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
March 2, 2002
Cause of death
Died from falling after escaping attackers
Notes
Drafted in round 3 overall by the San Jose Sharks during the 1994 NHL Draft. Played two seasons with the Sharks.
22
22
Age
22
Player
Alexander Krevsun
Nationality
Kazakhstan
Date of death
July 3, 2002
Cause of death
cerebral hemorrhage
Notes
Drafted 124th overall in the 1999 NHL entry draft by the Nashville Predators. Died during a cross country workout with CSK VVS Samara.
Terence Tootoo
Terence Tootoo
Age
Terence Tootoo
Player
Canada
Nationality
August 26, 2002
Date of death
suicide
Cause of death
Played for the Roanoke Express (ECHL) and OCN Blizzard (MJHL). Brother of NHLer Jordin Tootoo.
24
24
Age
24
Player
Roman Lyashenko
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
July 5, 2003
Cause of death
Played four seasons in the NHL for the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers from 1999 to 2003.
23
23
Age
23
Player
Trevor Ettinger
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
July 26, 2003
Cause of death
Chosen 159th overall at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers. Was playing for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch at the time of his death.
27
27
Age
27
Player
Grzegorz Pastuszak
Nationality
Poland
Date of death
August 14, 2003
Cause of death
hit by car as a pedestrian
Notes
Played in the Polish Extraliga for SKH Sanok.
25
25
Age
25
Player
Dan Snyder
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
October 5, 2003
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Played three seasons and 49 games for the Atlanta Thrashers from 2000 to 2003; the OHL renamed its Humanitarian of the Year award to the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy in Snyder's honour; Dany Heatley was the driver in the accident.
Richard Rampáček
Richard Rampáček
Age
Richard Rampáček
Player
Slovakia
Nationality
October 23, 2003
Date of death
motorcycle crash
Cause of death
Spent his entire career with HK 36 Skalica of the Slovak Extraliga. He was the leading goal scorer for his team at the time of his death. Rampáček played four games for the Slovak national team as well.
35
35
Age
35
Player
Viktor Karachun
Nationality
Belarus
Date of death
August 11, 2004
Cause of death
cancer
Notes
Played for Dinamo Minsk, Podhale Nowy Targ, German clubs in DEL, participated in IIHF World Championships 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, and Winter Olympics in 1998 and 2002.
27
27
Age
27
Player
Anatoli Ustyugov
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
September 27, 2004
Cause of death
murder, head injury
Notes
Played in Russia on teams such as Amur Khabarovsk, Lada Togliatti, and Spartak Moscow.
31
31
Age
31
Player
Sergejs Žoltoks
Nationality
Latvia
Date of death
November 3, 2004
Cause of death
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during a match
Notes
Played ten seasons and 588 games in the National Hockey League for six teams from 1992 to 2004.
18
18
Age
18
Player
Jaxon Logan
Nationality
USA
Date of death
January 21, 2005
Cause of death
on-ice accident
Notes
Played for Brigham Young University men's ice hockey. Was hit by a puck which stopped his heart.
28
28
Age
28
Player
Jonathan Delisle
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
March 16, 2006
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Drafted and played one game with Montreal Canadiens. Delisle died in an auto accident in March 2006 as a member of the Saint-Georges CRS Express. The Delisle Trophy has been named in his honor and is awarded to the LNAH player who "best exemplifies leadership in the regular season."
21
21
Age
21
Player
Stefan Blaho
Nationality
Slovakia
Date of death
August 30, 2006
Cause of death
Drafted 120th overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders. Played for the Sudbury Wolves and the Sarnia Sting of the OHL.
22
22
Age
22
Player
Alexei Savin
Nationality
Belarus
Date of death
June 18, 2007
Cause of death
Played for the Belarusian national team.
31
31
Age
31
Player
Martin Čech
Nationality
Czech Republic
Date of death
September 6, 2007
Cause of death
Played in the Czech Extraliga.
26
26
Age
26
Player
Darcy Robinson
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
September 27, 2007
Cause of death
heart attack
Notes
Played for Associazione Sportiva Asiago Hockey. His former team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, dedicated their Robo's Readers program in his memory.
19
19
Age
19
Player
Mickey Renaud
Nationality
February 18, 2008
Date of death
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Cause of death
Captain of the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL; chosen in the 5th round of the 2007 NHL entry draft by the Calgary Flames.
21
21
Age
21
Player
Luc Bourdon
Nationality
May 29, 2008
Date of death
motorcycle accident
Cause of death
Drafted 10th overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft by the Vancouver Canucks; played 36 games in the NHL from 2006 to 2008.
20
20
Age
20
Player
KJ Ramolla
Nationality
June 28, 2008
Date of death
car crash
Cause of death
Played for the Newmarket Hurricanes of the OPJHL. Chosen in the fifth round of the 2004 OHL Priority Selection by the Kingston Frontenacs.
21
21
Age
21
Player
Igor Antosik
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
July 25, 2008
Cause of death
unknown
Notes
Central forward. Played for Russian national junior team, Dynamo Moscow (KHL, Russia) and Atlant Mytishchi (KHL, Russia) farm clubs. Died during cross-country in training camp.
18
18
Age
18
Player
Domagoj Kapec
Nationality
Croatia
Date of death
September 12, 2008
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Played for KHL Zagreb in his homeland. Represented Croatia at two IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.
19
19
Age
19
Player
Alexei Cherepanov
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
October 13, 2008
Cause of death
Myocarditis
Notes
Drafted 17th overall in the 2007 NHL entry draft by the New York Rangers. In 2008 played for Omsk Avangard (KHL, Russia). Omsk retired his number seven. KHL award to top rookie of the year named in his honour.
21
21
Age
21
Player
Don Sanderson
Nationality
Canada
Date of death
January 2, 2009
Cause of death
on-ice head injury
Notes
Played for the Whitby Dunlops of the Ontario Hockey Association. Struck head on ice during fight on December 12, 2008, and died three weeks later. Drafted by the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL in 2003.
19
19
Age
19
Player
Jordan Mistelbacher
Nationality
January 13, 2009
Date of death
alcohol poisoning
Cause of death
Played center for the Winnipeg Saints of the MJHL and Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League.
33
33
Age
33
Player
Gábor Ocskay
Nationality
Hungary
Date of death
March 24, 2009
Cause of death
heart attack
Notes
Played professionally for Alba Volán Székesfehérvár in Hungary. Was selected as best player in the league three times, and won scoring title three times. Scored 115 points in 187 games for the Hungarian national team.
21
21
Age
21
Player
Kiril Vajarov
Nationality
Bulgaria
Date of death
April 18, 2009
Cause of death
stabbing
Notes
Goaltender who played for Slavia Sofia in Bulgaria. Was a member of Bulgarian national team for two World Championships.
28
28
Age
28
Player
Robert Müller
Nationality
Germany
Date of death
May 21, 2009
Cause of death
brain cancer
Notes
Goaltender. Was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2001. Champion of Germany in 2002–03 and 2006–07 seasons. Was a member of German national team. Played 127 games for his national team, participated in eight IIHF World Championships and two Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2006. Inducted into the German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in March 2009. German
18
18
Age
18
Player
Alexei Kuchin
Nationality
Russia
Date of death
September 26, 2009
Cause of death
car crash
Notes
Forward. Played for HC Krilya Sovetov (MHL, Russia).
| Age | Player | Nationality | Date of death | Cause of death | Notes |
| 24 | Sergei Zemchenok | Russia | January 15, 2001 | shot to death | Played in the Russian Superleague for Metallurg Magnitogorsk from 1993 to 2001. |
| 28 | Artur Malicki | Poland | February 14, 2001 | hit by car as a pedestrian | Played in the Polish Extraliga for Unia Oświęcim. |
| 38 | Sergei Ageikin | Russia | May 31, 2001 | leukemia | Played for Spartak Moskwa, Podhale Nowy Targ, Vityaz Podolsk, participated in IIHF World Championships 1986 (won gold medal with Soviet Union). |
| 32 | Viacheslav Bezukladnikov | July 10, 2001 | liver cirrhosis | Master of Sports, forward. Champion of Russia (1994, 1996), winner of the European Cup (1997). Played for Avtomobilist Sverdlovsk, SKA Sverdlovsk, HC Lada Togliatti and the Russian national team, including at the 1994 Winter Olympics. One of the annual Russian ice hockey tournaments for children named in his honour. Only 11-year-old players can par | |
| 22 | Zoltan Batovsky | Slovakia | August 8, 2001 | car crash | Played for the Kentucky Thoroughblades (AHL). Won a bronze medal at the 1999 World Junior Championships in Winnipeg, Slovakia's first IIHF medal as an independent nation. Played in the QMJHL for the Drummondville Voltigeurs. |
| 26 | Alexei Yegorov | Russia | March 2, 2002 | Died from falling after escaping attackers | Drafted in round 3 overall by the San Jose Sharks during the 1994 NHL Draft. Played two seasons with the Sharks. |
| 22 | Alexander Krevsun | Kazakhstan | July 3, 2002 | cerebral hemorrhage | Drafted 124th overall in the 1999 NHL entry draft by the Nashville Predators. Died during a cross country workout with CSK VVS Samara. |
| Terence Tootoo | Canada | August 26, 2002 | suicide | Played for the Roanoke Express (ECHL) and OCN Blizzard (MJHL). Brother of NHLer Jordin Tootoo. | |
| 24 | Roman Lyashenko | Russia | July 5, 2003 | Played four seasons in the NHL for the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers from 1999 to 2003. | |
| 23 | Trevor Ettinger | Canada | July 26, 2003 | Chosen 159th overall at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers. Was playing for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch at the time of his death. | |
| 27 | Grzegorz Pastuszak | Poland | August 14, 2003 | hit by car as a pedestrian | Played in the Polish Extraliga for SKH Sanok. |
| 25 | Dan Snyder | Canada | October 5, 2003 | car crash | Played three seasons and 49 games for the Atlanta Thrashers from 2000 to 2003; the OHL renamed its Humanitarian of the Year award to the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy in Snyder's honour; Dany Heatley was the driver in the accident. |
| Richard Rampáček | Slovakia | October 23, 2003 | motorcycle crash | Spent his entire career with HK 36 Skalica of the Slovak Extraliga. He was the leading goal scorer for his team at the time of his death. Rampáček played four games for the Slovak national team as well. | |
| 35 | Viktor Karachun | Belarus | August 11, 2004 | cancer | Played for Dinamo Minsk, Podhale Nowy Targ, German clubs in DEL, participated in IIHF World Championships 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, and Winter Olympics in 1998 and 2002. |
| 27 | Anatoli Ustyugov | Russia | September 27, 2004 | murder, head injury | Played in Russia on teams such as Amur Khabarovsk, Lada Togliatti, and Spartak Moscow. |
| 31 | Sergejs Žoltoks | Latvia | November 3, 2004 | hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during a match | Played ten seasons and 588 games in the National Hockey League for six teams from 1992 to 2004. |
| 18 | Jaxon Logan | USA | January 21, 2005 | on-ice accident | Played for Brigham Young University men's ice hockey. Was hit by a puck which stopped his heart. |
| 28 | Jonathan Delisle | Canada | March 16, 2006 | car crash | Drafted and played one game with Montreal Canadiens. Delisle died in an auto accident in March 2006 as a member of the Saint-Georges CRS Express. The Delisle Trophy has been named in his honor and is awarded to the LNAH player who "best exemplifies leadership in the regular season." |
| 21 | Stefan Blaho | Slovakia | August 30, 2006 | Drafted 120th overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders. Played for the Sudbury Wolves and the Sarnia Sting of the OHL. | |
| 22 | Alexei Savin | Belarus | June 18, 2007 | Played for the Belarusian national team. | |
| 31 | Martin Čech | Czech Republic | September 6, 2007 | Played in the Czech Extraliga. | |
| 26 | Darcy Robinson | Canada | September 27, 2007 | heart attack | Played for Associazione Sportiva Asiago Hockey. His former team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, dedicated their Robo's Readers program in his memory. |
| 19 | Mickey Renaud | February 18, 2008 | hypertrophic cardiomyopathy | Captain of the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL; chosen in the 5th round of the 2007 NHL entry draft by the Calgary Flames. | |
| 21 | Luc Bourdon | May 29, 2008 | motorcycle accident | Drafted 10th overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft by the Vancouver Canucks; played 36 games in the NHL from 2006 to 2008. | |
| 20 | KJ Ramolla | June 28, 2008 | car crash | Played for the Newmarket Hurricanes of the OPJHL. Chosen in the fifth round of the 2004 OHL Priority Selection by the Kingston Frontenacs. | |
| 21 | Igor Antosik | Russia | July 25, 2008 | unknown | Central forward. Played for Russian national junior team, Dynamo Moscow (KHL, Russia) and Atlant Mytishchi (KHL, Russia) farm clubs. Died during cross-country in training camp. |
| 18 | Domagoj Kapec | Croatia | September 12, 2008 | car crash | Played for KHL Zagreb in his homeland. Represented Croatia at two IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships. |
| 19 | Alexei Cherepanov | Russia | October 13, 2008 | Myocarditis | Drafted 17th overall in the 2007 NHL entry draft by the New York Rangers. In 2008 played for Omsk Avangard (KHL, Russia). Omsk retired his number seven. KHL award to top rookie of the year named in his honour. |
| 21 | Don Sanderson | Canada | January 2, 2009 | on-ice head injury | Played for the Whitby Dunlops of the Ontario Hockey Association. Struck head on ice during fight on December 12, 2008, and died three weeks later. Drafted by the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL in 2003. |
| 19 | Jordan Mistelbacher | January 13, 2009 | alcohol poisoning | Played center for the Winnipeg Saints of the MJHL and Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. | |
| 33 | Gábor Ocskay | Hungary | March 24, 2009 | heart attack | Played professionally for Alba Volán Székesfehérvár in Hungary. Was selected as best player in the league three times, and won scoring title three times. Scored 115 points in 187 games for the Hungarian national team. |
| 21 | Kiril Vajarov | Bulgaria | April 18, 2009 | stabbing | Goaltender who played for Slavia Sofia in Bulgaria. Was a member of Bulgarian national team for two World Championships. |
| 28 | Robert Müller | Germany | May 21, 2009 | brain cancer | Goaltender. Was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2001. Champion of Germany in 2002–03 and 2006–07 seasons. Was a member of German national team. Played 127 games for his national team, participated in eight IIHF World Championships and two Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2006. Inducted into the German Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in March 2009. German |
| 18 | Alexei Kuchin | Russia | September 26, 2009 | car crash | Forward. Played for HC Krilya Sovetov (MHL, Russia). |
References
- The Techhttps://web.archive.org/web/20140810141620/http://tech.mit.edu/V22/PDF/V22-N14.pdf
- The Globe
- Montreal Gazettehttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l3YuAAAAIBAJ&pg=5597%2C820190
- The Killing of Alcide Laurin in a Hockey Match at Maxville The Ottawa Journal, page 1, February 27, 1905https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/42151951/
- Ottawa Citizenhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vlcuAAAAIBAJ&pg=3655%2C1068166
- New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1923/09/24/archives/lewis-g-norrie-dies-after-auto-crash-adele-ryan-daughter-of-john.html
- The Daily Princetonianhttps://papersofprinceton.princeton.edu/princetonperiodicals/?a=d&d=Princetonian19240114-01.2.2&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------
- The Purple and Grayhttps://cdm17521.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/newspapers/id/3530/rec/30
- Total Hockey: Second Editionhttp://www.abebooks.com/9781894963169/Total-Hockey-Diamond-Dan-1894963164/plp
- "Thomas svævede mellem liv og død efter tragisk uheld"https://web.archive.org/web/20170819145033/http://www.faceoff.dk/retro-thomas-svaevede-mellem-liv-og-dod-efter-tragisk-uheld/
- "Four Players Killed in Bus Crash"https://web.archive.org/web/20061128212933/http://www.tsn.ca/20/news_story/?ID=106713&hubname=tsn20
- "The man in the ice"http://www.esquire.com/features/the-game/ESQ0104-JAN_GAME
- "His father's legacy: Defenseman's dad was a star Soviet player"https://web.archive.org/web/20120428185147/http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080422%2FSPORTS01%2F793395693
- "No sentence for Boni"https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19940217&id=KmFGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2360,3820474
- Hokejová ročenka 1991-92
- Hokejová ročenka 1992-93
- "Jakub Szal nie żyje"http://sanockabibliotekacyfrowa.pl/dlibra/docmetadata?id=921
- "Piotr Milan – pamięć, która pozostanie na zawsze... To już 18 lat"http://hokej.net/pl/news,artykul,5,29833,piotr-milan---pamiec-ktora-pozostanie-na-zawsze%E2%80%A6-to-juz-18-lat.html
- "För mycket skitsnack"http://www.dt.se/sport/hockeyfeber/article279518.ece
- "Ex-Red Wing dies from injury"https://web.archive.org/web/20020118061709/http://www.weyburnreview.com/News/1997/9748/christie.html