Dale Hawerchuk

Dale Martin Hawerchuk (April 4, 1963 – August 18, 2020) was a Canadian professional ice
hockey player and coach. Drafted first overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft,
Dale Hawerchuk
Hawerchuk played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 16 seasons as a member of the Jets, Hockey Hall of Fame, 2001
Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, and Philadelphia Flyers. He won the NHL's Calder Memorial
Trophy as rookie of the year in 1982 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his second
year of eligibility in 2001. Hawerchuk served as the head coach of the Barrie Colts of the Ontario
Hockey League from 2010 to 2019.

Playing career
Hawerchuk was a young prodigy who received his first pair of skates at age two and, according
to his father Ed, "was skating before he could walk."[2] Beginning competitive hockey at age
four, Hawerchuk demonstrated superior skills almost immediately. At the Quebec International
Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, he scored all eight goals during an 8–1 victory in the finals,
smashing the longstanding record by the legendary Guy Lafleur. By age 15, the famed Oshawa
Generals offered him a tryout, though he did not make the team. In 1979, Hawerchuk was
selected sixth overall by the Cornwall Royals of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Hawerchuk in 2008
became somewhat of a rarity: a Toronto-born player starring in the QMJHL. He recorded 103 Born April 4, 1963
points and was named Rookie of the Year. Hawerchuk was the playoff MVP and led the Royals to Toronto, Ontario, Canada
the Memorial Cup championship. In his second junior year, he scored 81 goals and 183 points Died August 18, 2020 (aged 57)
and led the Royals to their second consecutive Memorial Cup title. He was named a QMJHL Barrie, Ontario, Canada[1]
First Team All-Star, the Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year, and Memorial Cup MVP. Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
The Winnipeg Jets selected Hawerchuk first overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, ahead of
fellow future Hall of Famers Ron Francis, Grant Fuhr, and Chris Chelios. Hawerchuk Position Centre
immediately became Winnipeg's star attraction, leading the Jets to what was at the time the Shot Left
largest single-season turnaround in NHL history, a 48-point improvement. He set the NHL record Played for Winnipeg Jets
for most points by an 18-year-old, finishing with 103, and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Buffalo Sabres
the NHL's Rookie of the Year. He also played in that season's All-Star Game. Hawerchuk St. Louis Blues
recorded 91 points in his second season, then hit the 100-plus point plateau for the next five Philadelphia Flyers
consecutive years, including a career-high 53 goals and 130 points in 1984–85. National team Canada

During the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, Hawerchuk was involved in a blockbuster trade. Along with NHL draft 1st overall, 1981
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg's first-round choice (14th overall pick, Brad May) in the draft, he was dealt to the
Buffalo Sabres for Phil Housley, Scott Arniel, Jeff Parker and Buffalo's first-round choice (19th Playing career 1981–1997
overall, Keith Tkachuk). Over the next four years, he recorded no fewer than 86 points in a
season. His point totals fell off during an injury-plagued and lockout-shortened 1994–95 season. In 1995, with the Sabres looking to slash team
salary, he signed a three-year contract with the St. Louis Blues,[3] recording 41 points in 66 games before a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers in
March 1996. He finished the season strongly, with 20 points in the final 16 regular-season games and adding nine points in the playoffs. The next
season, he was plagued by injuries but managed 34 points and played in his fifth All-Star Game. Hawerchuk announced his retirement following the
1996–97 season at age 34 due to a degenerative left hip.[4] His appearance with the Flyers in the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals marked the only time any
of his teams advanced past the second round of the playoffs.

He played for Team Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup tournament, and had a goal and two assists in the decisive third game of the Finals against the
Soviets. Late in the third period, he won the face-off that led to Canada's most famous goal and tied up with the Russian player who tried to check
Mario Lemieux at centre ice, allowing Lemieux to take Wayne Gretzky's pass in the slot for the series winner. Hawerchuk was named Canada's
MVP for that decisive game. Commentators remarked on his ability in the series to switch from being a goal scorer to a mucker and grinder.
Hawerchuk was also key to Canada's 1991 Canada Cup victory.

In a poll of NHL general managers during the mid-1980s asking them to select the player they would start a franchise with, Hawerchuk was voted
third behind only Gretzky and Paul Coffey. He retired with 518 goals, 891 assists and 1,409 points, placing him 18th on the career NHL points list.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

The Phoenix Coyotes (successor to the Jets) retired Hawerchuk's No. 10 during the 2006–07 NHL season.
Post-playing career
Hawerchuk became the president, director of hockey operations, and primary owner of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League's
Orangeville Crushers in 2007. He left this position in 2010.

On June 4, 2010, the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League named Hawerchuk as their head coach and director of hockey operations.[5] The
2010–11 season was a rebuilding one for the Colts, as the team went 15–49–2–2, missing the playoffs for the first time in team history. In his
sophomore year, the 2011–12 season, Hawerchuk amassed a record of 40–23–3–2; a significant improvement over his rookie season as bench boss
of the Colts.[6]

Personal life
Hawerchuk was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in Oshawa, Ontario. He was married to Crystal, whom he met in Manitoba while playing for
the Jets. The couple had three children.[7]

Hawerchuk's son Ben Hawerchuk plays professional hockey as a forward for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. Ben had previously played for
the Barrie Colts.[8]

Illness and death

In 2019, Hawerchuk announced he would be taking a leave of absence from the Colts for health reasons,[9] which was later revealed to be stomach
cancer. Hawerchuk completed a course of chemotherapy in April 2020, but died on August 18, 2020, at the age of 57.[7] He was buried in Thornton
Cemetery in Oshawa.

The new incarnation of the Jets, as a tribute to Hawerchuk, would include said tribute as part of their 10th anniversary logo for the 2020/21 season
(the logo also being worn as a patch on all team jerseys), with his number 10 in the center enclosed in a black circle.[10]

Awards and achievements

RDS Cup (QMJHL Rookie of the Year) (1980)
Guy Lafleur Trophy (QMJHL Playoff MVP) (1980)
QMJHL Championships (1980 and 1981)
Memorial Cup championships (1980 and 1981)
Memorial Cup All-Star First Team (1980 and 1981)
Jean Béliveau Trophy (QMJHL Scoring Champion) (1981)
QMJHL First Team All-Star (1981)
Michel Brière Memorial Trophy (QMJHL Player of the Year) (1981)
Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy (Memorial Cup MVP) (1981)
CHL Player of the Year (1981)
Played in NHL All-Star Game 5 times - 1982,1985,1986,1988,1997
Calder Memorial Trophy winner (1982)
World Championships bronze medal (1982 and 1986)
World Championships silver medal (1989)
NHL Second Team All-Star Centre (1985)
Canada Cup Championships (1987 and 1991)
First NHL player to reach 1000 career NHL games before age 31
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001
Honoured Member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
Member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (2013)
Inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 2011[11]
Inducted into the Phoenix Coyotes Ring of Honor in 2007,[1] ([Link]
team/app?articleid=309670&page=NewsPage&service=page) joining Bobby Hull and Thomas Steen. The Jets/Coyotes franchise
retired his number 10 on April 5, 2007. Unlike Hull and Steen, who were honored in Jets colors, Hawerchuk's number was retired
in Coyotes apparel, despite the fact that Hawerchuk never played in Phoenix.
Honored by the second Winnipeg Jets franchise: named captain of the Jets' alumni squad at the 2016 Heritage Classic, inducted
into the team's Hall of Fame in 2017, and by a statue near the Canada Life Centre, the Jets' current arena located in downtown
Winnipeg. Out of respect for Hawerchuk, number 10 has not been worn by any Jets player since that team relocated to Winnipeg
in 2011.
Holds the record for most assists in a period, with five in the second period of Winnipeg's 7-3 win at Los Angeles on March 6, 1984
[2] ([Link] ([Link]
m/records/skater-records/assists/most-assists-one-period).
Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1978–79 Oshawa Legionnaires MetJHL 36 32 52 84 — — — — — —
1979–80 Cornwall Royals QMJHL 72 37 66 103 21 18 20 25 45 0
1979–80 Cornwall Royals M-Cup — — — — — 5 1 5 6 0
1980–81 Cornwall Royals QMJHL 72 81 102 183 69 19 15 20 35 8
1980–81 Cornwall Royals M-Cup — — — — — 5 8 4 12 4
1981–82 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80 45 58 103 47 4 1 7 8 5
1982–83 Winnipeg Jets NHL 79 40 51 91 31 3 1 4 5 8
1983–84 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80 37 65 102 73 3 1 1 2 0
1984–85 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80 53 77 130 74 3 2 1 3 4
1985–86 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80 46 59 105 44 3 0 3 3 0
1986–87 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80 47 53 100 52 10 5 8 13 4
1987–88 Winnipeg Jets NHL 80 44 77 121 59 5 3 4 7 16
1988–89 Winnipeg Jets NHL 75 41 55 96 28 — — — — —
1989–90 Winnipeg Jets NHL 79 26 55 81 70 7 3 5 8 2
1990–91 Buffalo Sabres NHL 80 31 58 89 32 6 2 4 6 10
1991–92 Buffalo Sabres NHL 77 23 75 98 27 7 2 5 7 0
1992–93 Buffalo Sabres NHL 81 16 80 96 52 8 5 9 14 2
1993–94 Buffalo Sabres NHL 81 35 51 86 91 7 0 7 7 4
1994–95 Buffalo Sabres NHL 23 5 11 16 2 2 0 0 0 0
1995–96 St. Louis Blues NHL 66 13 28 41 22 — — — — —
1995–96 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 16 4 16 20 4 12 3 6 9 12
1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 51 12 22 34 32 17 2 5 7 0
NHL totals 1,188 518 891 1,409 740 97 30 69 99 67

International
Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1981 Canada WJC 5 5 4 9 2
1982 Canada WC 10 3 1 4 0
1986 Canada WC 8 2 4 6 4
1987 NHL All-Stars RV-87 2 0 1 1 2
1987 Canada CC 9 4 2 6 0
1989 Canada WC 10 4 8 12 6
1991 Canada CC 8 2 3 5 0
Junior totals 5 5 4 9 2
Senior totals 47 15 19 34 12

Coaching record

Regular season Post season

Team Year
G W L OTL Pts Finish Result
Barrie Colts 2010–11 68 15 49 4 34 5th in Central Missed playoffs
Barrie Colts 2011–12 68 40 23 5 85 2nd in Central Lost in 2nd round (OTT)
Barrie Colts 2012–13 68 44 20 4 92 1st in Central Lost in final round (LDN)
Barrie Colts 2013–14 68 37 28 3 77 2nd in Central Lost in 2nd round (NBB)
Barrie Colts 2014–15 68 41 24 3 85 1st in Central Lost in 2nd round (NBB)
Barrie Colts 2015–16 68 43 22 3 89 1st in Central Lost in 3rd round (NIA)

Barrie Colts 2016–17 68 17 44 7 41 5th in Central Missed playoffs

Barrie Colts 2017–18 68 42 21 5 89 1st in Central Lost in 2nd Round (KGN)
Barrie Colts 2018–19 68 26 38 4 56 5th in Central Missed playoffs
See also
Captain (hockey)
List of NHL players with 1000 points
List of NHL players with 500 goals
List of NHL statistical leaders

References
1. "Dale Hawerchuk dies at 57 following cancer battle" ([Link]
1.5069292) Archived ([Link]
cancer-battle-1.5069292) August 20, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Kim Phillips CTV News August 18, 2020
2. "Dale Hawerchuk Stats and News" ([Link] [Link]. Archived ([Link]
[Link]/web/20221019124236/[Link] from the original on October 19, 2022.
Retrieved April 1, 2023.
3. Paul Romanuk (presenter), Bob McKenzie (presenter) (July 8, 1995). 1995 NHL Draft Round 1 on TSN (television broadcast).
Edmonton, Canada: TSN.
4. Panaccio, Tim (August 26, 1997). "Hip Injury Forces Hawerchuk To Retire" ([Link]
[Link]/1997-08-26/sports/25568819_1_flyers-general-manager-dale-hawerchuk-flyers-plan). The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Archived from the original ([Link]
-plan) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
5. "Hawerchuk hired to coach OHL Colts - CBC Sports" ([Link]
241). CBC. June 5, 2010. Archived ([Link]
red-to-coach-ohl-colts-1.885241) from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
6. "LS Season" ([Link]
btype/1). Archived from the original ([Link] on March 26,
2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
7. "Dale Hawerchuk dies after battle with cancer" ([Link]
85). CTV News. August 18, 2020. Archived ([Link]
chuk-dies-after-battle-with-cancer-1.5069285) from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
8. "Ben Hawerchuk" ([Link] Elite Prospects. Archived ([Link]
rg/web/20221024155933/[Link] from the original on October 24, 2022.
Retrieved October 24, 2022.
9. "Barrie Colts Hire Warren Rychel as Head Coach" ([Link]
hel-as-head-coach/n-5551299). OurSports Central. September 9, 2019. Archived ([Link]
tps://[Link]/services/releases/barrie-colts-hire-warren-rychel-as-head-coach/n-5551299) from the original on
March 19, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
10. [Link]: "Winnipeg Jets 2021 Anniversary Logo" ([Link]
021/Anniversary_Logo)
11. "JEANNERET AND HAWERCHUK HEADED TO SABRES HALL OF FAME" ([Link]
erchuk-headed-to-sabres-hall-of-fame/c-587544). [Link]. August 31, 2011. Archived ([Link]
720/[Link] from the original on
June 30, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2020.

External links
Official website ([Link]
Biographical information and career statistics from [Link] ([Link] or [Link] ([Link]
[Link]/[Link]?player=21405&lang=en), or [Link] ([Link]
s/h/[Link]), or Legends of Hockey ([Link]
or The Internet Hockey Database ([Link]
Dale Hawerchuk's biography ([Link]
html?category=8&id=33) at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame ([Link]
[Link]/[Link])
Profile at [Link] ([Link]

Retrieved from "[Link]