STEVE WOCHY - THE OLDEST LIVING FORMER NHL PLAYER

When Jim Conacher passed away earlier this month, Steve Wochy became the oldest living former National Hockey League player.

Born Steven Wojciechowski on December 25, 1922, in Fort William, Ontario, the spelling of his surname was altered to Wochy at a young age, as it was difficult to pronounce. One scribe wrote, "Steve became a real favourite with sports writers, copy readers and linotype operators - not to mention radio sportscasters when he shortened his name to Steve Wochy.

Beginning in 1938-39, Wochy, who skated on the right side, had a four year run in the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League. His first team was the Fort William Maroons, then in 1939-40, he joined the Port Arthur West Ends. When their post-season came to a close, Wochy played senior hockey with the Port Arthur Bearcats in pursuit of an Allan Cup championship.

In 1941-42, Wochy had an off the charts year with Port Arthur. In a stunning display of offensive hockey, he scored 22 goals and 41 assists for 63 points in only 18 games. Although he didn't lead the league in goals, he led all players with 41 helpers.

As planned, Wochy switched sweaters and helped the senior Bearcats battle the Ottawa R.C.A.F. Flyers in the Allan Cup final. The best-of-five final went the distance with game five taking place on April 25, 1942, at Maple Leaf Gardens. Unfortunately for Wochy and his teammates, they were crushed 7-1. In the final, Wochy earned an assist in game one, and scored his lone goal in period three of game three, with assists going to future Hockey Hall of Famer Edgar Laprade and Lyn McDougall.

Also, in October 1941, Wochy attended the New York Americans training camp in Port Arthur, Ontario. The NHL club held their camp in Port Arthur, Ontario, and Wochy skated alongside veterans like Lorne Carr, Buzz Boll, Mel Hill and Harvey "Busher" Jackson.

The next year, Wochy moved south to play senior hockey in the OHA with the St. Catharines Saints. In 17 games, he amassed 39 points in 17 contests.

Wochy's next stop blended his love of both Country and hockey. At the age of 21, he joined the Canadian Army and was able to spend time on the ice. In 1943-44, he participated in 10 games with Winnipeg Army of the National Defence Hockey League.

After his discharge from the Army, and with NHL rosters ravaged by regulars still serving, Wochy got a chance to play for the Detroit Red Wings. He made his National Hockey League debut on October 29, 1944, at home against the Boston Bruins.

Detroit remained in the Motor City for game two on their schedule and Wochy scored his first two NHL goals. The Red Wings hosted the New York Rangers and in net for the visitors was Ken McAuley. A native of Edmonton, Alberta, McAuley was shell-shocked as the Red Wings hammered the Rangers by a score of 10-3.

His first year in Detroit was a huge success as Wochy put up 39 points in 49 games. This included 19 goals, which was one shy of the 20 goal benchmark for elite scorers. He was in the hunt for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, but finished far behind the winner, Toronto goalie Frank McCool, and runner-up Ken Smith of Boston. His teammate, Ted Lindsay, was third in the voting.

Despite his production in his freshman year, Wochy couldn't land a job with the Red Wings. Instead, he split the 1945-46 season between the Indianapolis Capitols and Omaha Knights. These were Detroit's farm teams in American Hockey League and the United States Hockey League.

In a November 1945 newspaper story, Montreal coach, Dick Irvin, referred to Wochy and Ken Smith being sent to the minors after they made an impact. The article on wartime hockey observed how in certain cases, those who returned from the service made it difficult for their replacements to remain in the NHL.

Clearly, Wochy and others fell under those parameters.

When the Red Wings opened their 1946-47 campaign, Wochy skated in 5 matches, and by late October was shipped to Indianapolis along with Cliff Simpson and Hugh Millar. This marked the end of Wochy's journey in the National Hockey League.

The final tally reveals he played in 54 regular season games and scored 19 goals and 20 assists for 39 points. In 6 playoff contests, he assisted on one goal.

During the balance of his career, Wochy was a solid performer in the American Hockey League.

With Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Buffalo, he scored 20 or more goals from 1947 to 1954. The one exception was his final year as a Buffalo Bison in 1954-55. He scored 5 goals in 17 games. Wochy hung up his skates after finishing '54-'55 in the Northern Ontario Hockey League with the S. S. Marie Greyhounds.

Wochy's best work in the AHL came as a member of the Cleveland Barons.

In Wochy's second term with the Barons, they won the 1951 Calder Cup championship over the Pittsburgh Hornets in the seventh and deciding game. Unfortunately for Wochy, his season and playoffs, ended when he suffered a broken cheek bone in a tilt against Hershey on March 4, 1951. Up to the point of being sidelined, Wochy was having a banner year. He posted 56 points in 58 outings.

The following year, Wochy led the AHL in goals scored with 37, and he accumulated 78 points in 68 contests. The 40 points he gathered in the All-Star voting earned him the right wing spot on the First Team.

Cleveland reached the AHL final in 1953, and once again, squared off against the Pittsburgh Hornets. This time around, Wochy after another 37 goal campaign, was able to join his teammates as they captured the title in game 7. After regulation time expired, the game went to overtime and Barons' defenceman Bob Chrystal settled the matter with his goal at 6:23 of OT. The Barons defeated the Hornets 1-0, with future Toronto Maple Leaf goalie Johnny Bower, getting the shutout.

After a hockey career that began in 1938, which included 54 NHL games, 97 year-old Steven Wojciechowski aka Wochy, can take his place as the oldest living former National Hockey League player.