PAT STAPLETON: 1940-2020

Mostly known for his time with the Chicago Black Hawks and as a member of Team Canada 1972, former NHL defenceman Pat Stapleton passed away on April 8, 2020, at the age of 79.

Pat Stapleton played his junior A hockey in the OHA with the St. Catharines Teepees from 1958 to 1960. Stapleton not only looked after his defensive responsibilities, but was highly effective at moving the puck and penetrating enemy territory.

In his last year with St. Catharines, Stapleton and his teammates faced the St. Mike's Majors in the OHA final. Game four epitomized Stapleton's career as a junior. The contest ended in a 3-3 tie, with Stapleton scoring two goals and gaining an assist on the Teepees third tally by Chico Maki.

The 1959-60 Teepees were a potent team on offence with Maki, Ray Cullen, and Vic Hadfield leading the way, but Stapleton's production aided the cause. In 47 regular season games, he recorded 47 points. He scored 12 goals and chipped in with 35 assists.

St. Catharines advanced when they defeated St. Mike's in game six. In his post-game comments, St. Mike's coach, Bob Goldham, called Stapleton "the best pro prospect in the league."

Stapleton became a Memorial Cup champion when the Teepees defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings in six games.

His rights were owned by the Chicago Black Hawks and Stapleton spent the 1960-61 season in the Eastern Professional Hockey League with the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds.

At the League meetings in 1961, Stapleton was claimed in the intra-league draft by the Boston Bruins from the Chicago Black Hawks.

Needing help in all positions, the Bruins welcomed Stapleton to their roster. The previous season, they only earned 15 wins in 70 games.

Stapleton made his NHL debut with the Bruins on October 11, 1961, at Boston Garden. By December, Boston general manager, Lynn Patrick called Stapleton the best of seven rookies in his team's line-up.

During his four seasons in the Bruins organization, Stapleton went from Boston to Kingston (EPHL), then to Portland (WHL). In Portland with the Buckaroos, Stapleton was named to the First All-Star Team in 1964-65, and was named the top defenceman in the WHL. During that season, he showed his versatility, being used as both a defenceman and forward. In 70 games, he racked up 86 points, 29 of which were goals. They Buckaroos won the WHL championship.

On June 8, 1965, Stapleton was on the move again when the Bruins dealt him along with Andy Hebenton and Orland Kurtenbach to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Ron Stewart. Later, Stapleton reflected on his stay in Beantown. "I thought I was ready for the NHL with Boston, but the way things turned out I guess I wasn't."

In a colossal blunder the next day, the Leafs, via the intra-league draft, lost both Stapleton and goalie Gerry Cheevers. The Chicago Black Hawks claimed Stapleton, and Cheevers was claimed by Boston. At the time, Toronto was a veteran team, and although they captured the Stanley Cup in 1967, their cupboard was empty when it came to quality prospects.

When Chicago trimmed their roster to begin the 1965-66 season, they sent Stapleton to the St. Louis Braves, their farm team in the CPHL.

He played in 14 games with the Braves, but was summoned by the Black Hawks to replace an injured Elmer Vasko. In his first contest with the Hawks on November 28, at home, Stapleton scored his first National Hockey League goal. On the play, his 25-foot shot got past Montreal goalie Gump Worsley. Stapleton scored the lone Chicago goal in Montreal's 2-1 victory.

On December 19, Stapleton recorded his second tally in a 5-4 win over Detroit at Chicago Stadium. His game-winner beat Roger Crozier in the Red Wings' net. Stapleton and Crozier were teammates on Teepees Memorial Cup team in 1960.

With Chicago's defence riddled with injuries, Stapleton garnered valuable ice time and experience. As was the case when Pierre Pilote was sidelined with a broken thumb in early January.

Chicago coach, Billy Reay, talked about what Stapleton brought to the table. The two worked together with the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds as coach and player.

"Pat gets away about four or five shots, compared to one or two for the average defenceman. He's pretty good as a point man on our power play unit. He can bring up the puck well to set up plays, he passes well and he's consistent."

For his part, Stapleton, said, "I try to put the puck on the net and hope someone will be there for the rebound."

When training camp rolled around in the fall, there was no question Stapleton was ready to remain in the Windy City. Over the next seven seasons, he became a mainstay on the Hawks blueline.

Stapleton had two cracks at getting his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. The first opportunity was in 1971, but the Hawks lost to Montreal in game seven of the final. The second chance was in the 1973, when Stapleton led all playoff performers in the assist category with 15. The Canadiens bounced Chicago in six games.

After the 1971-72 season, Stapleton had a tough decision to make concerning possible surgery on his left knee. Usually, there wouldn't be any hesitation to go under the knife and solve the problem. If the operation wasn't done, he could still play, but with degree of pain. Also, there was an underlying factor in Stapleton's thought process that made him avoid a stay in the hospital.

Now considered a veteran defenceman at the age of 32, Stapleton didn't want to put himself out of the running to compete for a spot on Team Canada 1972. This was the Summit Series when Canada and the USSR battled for world dominance in the game of hockey.

"It was in the back of my mind then that I might be asked to play in the series against Russia," said Stapleton in an August 1972 interview. Surgery over the summer meant Stapleton couldn't lace up his skates until October 1. "That way, it would have been impossible to play in this series. I decided to forget the surgery."

Stapleton and his Chicago defence partner, Bill White, didn't dress for game one of the Summit Series in Montreal. "We were told we were only going to play in one game and maybe that wasn't our game," said White. "We watched in the crowd and the team started out well. After the first period we went into the dressing room and you could see the guys were starting to fade because of the lack of conditioning."

Trounced by a 7-3 score in game one, Team Canada inserted Stapleton and White into the line-up and they played the last seven battles in the war on ice. Team Canada emerged victorious when Paul Henderson's goal with 34 seconds remaining on the clock in game eight gave them a 6-5 lead. As the story goes, Stapleton retrieved the puck and kept it in his possession.

After his success in the 1973 Stanley Cup final, Stapleton jumped ship and joined the WHA Chicago Cougars as playing coach.

As a Black Hawk, Stapleton was named to the Second All-Star Team in 1966, 1971, and 1972. He played in a total of five All-Star Games. He skated in 635 NHL games (Boston & Chicago) and registered 337 points (43 goals & 294 assists). In 65 playoff contests, he scored 10 goals and added 49 helpers.

"It gives me an opportunity to expand my hockey career and I'm going to put every ounce of effort into doing a good job for them," Stapleton explained of his decision to leave the Hawks.

He  remained in various roles - player, coach, and co-owner - with the Cougars until they went bust after the 1974-75 season.

On the international front, Stapleton participated in the 1974 Summit Series which featured Team Canada against the Soviets. Team Canada was composed of players from the World Hockey Association. Stapleton served as team captain. The Soviets won the series 4-1-3.

Also, Stapleton made stops in Indianapolis and Cincinnati.

When the Indianapolis Racers bit the dust in December 1978, Stapleton was their coach and general manager. In a message from owner Nelson Skalbania, Stapleton was told, "The incentive to keep writing checks to cover the cost of playing hockey in Indianapolis seems ludicrous."

That was a way of life for Stapleton and many others in the World Hockey Association.

Patrick James "Whitey" Stapleton was born on July 4, 1940, in Sarnia, Ontario. He passed away on April 8, 2020, in Strathroy, Ontario.