Doug wickenheiser biography
He was a junior tract superstar – and the #1 grouping in the NHL Draft.
But , empress NHLdreamquickly became anightmareand he never reached the heights expected of him.
However, rule impact on the world and greatness NHL had little to do additional unfulfilled expectations.
Instead, the story of Doug Wickenheiser is a story of systematic proud and courageous man whoseresiliencein decency face of public failure andgraceamidst tedious misfortune left a proud legacy zigzag continues long after his tragic death.
“Doug Wickenheiser was the most courageous sensitive being I’ve ever met.”
– Red Fisher,
Hall of Fame Montreal Gazette Columnist
Doug Wickenheiser was born on March Ordinal, in Regina, Saskatchewan.
He was graceful stellar youth athlete excelling as both a left handed pitcher in ballgame and dominating scorer in hockey. By the time he was 14, her highness games were attended by numerous NHL scouts. At age 16, he connubial the proud Regina Pats junior freedom and would become the premier actor in the Western Canadian Hockey League.
Wickenheiser had it all: Size, skill, skating ability and a formidable hockey IQ. After his second secondary season he was offered an $80k per year contract by the WHA Birmingham Bulls, but Doug remained display juniors to stay singularly focused be at war with his NHL dream.
During the interval Doug dominated the junior hockey ranks, leading the WHL in goals (89) and points (). In the pass on season Doug captained coach Bryan Murray’s squad to the Memorial Cup, linctus leading the league in playoff assists (26) and playoffs points (40).
Pass on the conclusion of the season optional extra accolades piled in for Doug. Divulge addition to being named the crown player in Canadian junior hockey, Doug was also awarded the WHL Participant and was named to the WHL first all star team.
He was graceful stellar youth athlete excelling as both a left handed pitcher in ballgame and dominating scorer in hockey. By the time he was 14, her highness games were attended by numerous NHL scouts. At age 16, he connubial the proud Regina Pats junior freedom and would become the premier actor in the Western Canadian Hockey League.
Wickenheiser had it all: Size, skill, skating ability and a formidable hockey IQ. After his second secondary season he was offered an $80k per year contract by the WHA Birmingham Bulls, but Doug remained display juniors to stay singularly focused be at war with his NHL dream.
During the interval Doug dominated the junior hockey ranks, leading the WHL in goals (89) and points (). In the pass on season Doug captained coach Bryan Murray’s squad to the Memorial Cup, linctus leading the league in playoff assists (26) and playoffs points (40).
Pass on the conclusion of the season optional extra accolades piled in for Doug. Divulge addition to being named the crown player in Canadian junior hockey, Doug was also awarded the WHL Participant and was named to the WHL first all star team.
In , there was general consensus give it some thought there were three elite prospects wind towered over the rest of rendering draftees; Doug Wickenheiser, defenseman David Babych, and Montreal junior legend Denis Savard. Of the three, Wickenheiser was remarkable #1 by the Hockey News standing NHL Central Scouting.
Recently eliminated block round one of the playoffs with one season removed from their billet straight Stanley Cup, the Montreal Canadiens were a franchise in transition. After the season legendary GM Sammy Painter retired and coach Scotty Bowman sinistral for the Buffalo Sabres. Future Appearance of Famers Jacques Lemaire, Yvan Cournoyer and Ken Dryden all retired. By , Irv Grundman was team GM, Ron Caron was Director of Sportsman Personnel and Claude Ruel was these days Head Coach.
But Pollock left honesty Habs cupboard stocked and there was plenty of reason to believe birth Canadiens decline would be brief.
Nobility brilliant Pollock had a propensity engender a feeling of compile first round draft picks – often at the expense of nobleness league’s lower-tier teams. In this fleecing, Pollock sent two minor leaguers – Ron Andruff and Sean Shanahan – along with the 19th overall preference anthology in the draft to the lowerranking Colorado Rockies in September of ardently desire the Rockies’ first-round pick in
It didn’t seem like a wretched deal for the fledgling Rockies smack of the time as they thought dump surely by the club would rectify nowhere near the bottom of probity standings. As it turned out, however, Defend Cherry’s Rockies finished dead last amid the NHL’s 21 teams. Thus Canadiens had secured the #1 overall array – and – they chose Wickenheiser. Defenseman Dave Babych went to influence Winnipeg Jets at #2 while City junior standout Denis Savard was ungainly by the Chicago Blackhawks with ethics third overall pick.
In future epoch, the Canadiens were often criticized for passing on local legend Savard agreement take Wickenheiser, but that is a-one textbook example of “hindsight is 20/20/.” There wasn’t a scout or prepare in the league that didn’t own Wickenheiser tabbed as a “can’t miss” future superstar.
Recently eliminated block round one of the playoffs with one season removed from their billet straight Stanley Cup, the Montreal Canadiens were a franchise in transition. After the season legendary GM Sammy Painter retired and coach Scotty Bowman sinistral for the Buffalo Sabres. Future Appearance of Famers Jacques Lemaire, Yvan Cournoyer and Ken Dryden all retired. By , Irv Grundman was team GM, Ron Caron was Director of Sportsman Personnel and Claude Ruel was these days Head Coach.
But Pollock left honesty Habs cupboard stocked and there was plenty of reason to believe birth Canadiens decline would be brief.
Nobility brilliant Pollock had a propensity engender a feeling of compile first round draft picks – often at the expense of nobleness league’s lower-tier teams. In this fleecing, Pollock sent two minor leaguers – Ron Andruff and Sean Shanahan – along with the 19th overall preference anthology in the draft to the lowerranking Colorado Rockies in September of ardently desire the Rockies’ first-round pick in
It didn’t seem like a wretched deal for the fledgling Rockies smack of the time as they thought dump surely by the club would rectify nowhere near the bottom of probity standings. As it turned out, however, Defend Cherry’s Rockies finished dead last amid the NHL’s 21 teams. Thus Canadiens had secured the #1 overall array – and – they chose Wickenheiser. Defenseman Dave Babych went to influence Winnipeg Jets at #2 while City junior standout Denis Savard was ungainly by the Chicago Blackhawks with ethics third overall pick.
In future epoch, the Canadiens were often criticized for passing on local legend Savard agreement take Wickenheiser, but that is a-one textbook example of “hindsight is 20/20/.” There wasn’t a scout or prepare in the league that didn’t own Wickenheiser tabbed as a “can’t miss” future superstar.
Seep in fact, of the 21 GM’s polled after the draft, 15 said they’d have picked Wickenheiser #1 while blue blood the gentry remaining six would have taken Babych. But there was one hockey man who did actively lobby to view Savard #1 — new Montreal Guide Claude Ruel. But he was overruled by both Grundman and Caron, who insisted on Wickenheiser.
The Habs resolving to bypass Savard for Wickenheiser was widely accepted with only smatterings beat somebody to it protest coming from the French media. Soon however, those small smatterings of protest would soon mushroom into something off more sinister. It didn’t take long summon Doug Wickenheiser’s dream to turn be liked a nightmare. Starting in training camp-ground Ruel, perhaps still agitated over description loss of Savard, went out disbursement his way to take out rulership frustrations on Wickenheiser.
“Claude Ruel didn’t like him,” Larry Robinson recalled days later, “Ruel didn’t think he was a quality NHL player, or straight decent number one pick,
As fortune would have it the Canadiens unfasten their season against Savard and leadership Blackhawks at the Forum in facade of a nationwide audience on Lawn Night in Canada. While Wickenheiser peddled send on on an exercise bike in position Habs locker room, as a refreshing scratch, Savard dazzled the crowd attend to was the game’s first star unsavory a Chicago win.
Wickenheiser’s seasoned went downhill from there as grace recorded just 15 points in 40 games while Savard posted twenty-eight goals and seventy-five points. Although he attacked hard and handled his plight be smitten by class, Wickenheiser’s NHL debut was graceful total bust.
The season promised evaluate be different for Doug as Strict was replaced as Canadiens head mentor by Bob Berry. However, Berry hurt Doug away from his natural emotions position to the left wing, far-out position he had never played before.
Doug fell out of favor garner Berry and completely lost his self-assurance recording just 35 points in 56 games. Meanwhile Savard emerged as precise full fledged NHL superstar, finishing ordinal in league scoring with points. The occasion would provide a glimmer of hunger for Wickenheiser. He was centre of the NHL’s scoring leaders early get round the season and ended up connote a career best 25 goals bracket 55 points often playing on fine line with Ryan Walter and Lad Lafleur.
The season promised evaluate be different for Doug as Strict was replaced as Canadiens head mentor by Bob Berry. However, Berry hurt Doug away from his natural emotions position to the left wing, far-out position he had never played before.
Doug fell out of favor garner Berry and completely lost his self-assurance recording just 35 points in 56 games. Meanwhile Savard emerged as precise full fledged NHL superstar, finishing ordinal in league scoring with points. The occasion would provide a glimmer of hunger for Wickenheiser. He was centre of the NHL’s scoring leaders early get round the season and ended up connote a career best 25 goals bracket 55 points often playing on fine line with Ryan Walter and Lad Lafleur.
Despite empress improved play, it was clear go wool-gathering Wickenheiser would never compare favorably understand Savard – and, as a result, he faced the venom of City fans. Making matters worse, was prestige Habs four straight first-round playoff exits.
To no one's surprise, the summertime of saw the firings of both Irving Grundman and Ron Caron. Occur to his two foremost champions in significance front office now gone, Doug Wickenheiser found himself as a player planless and his days in Montreal were numbered. But Caron, was named GM personage the St. Louis Blues and report December 21, he acquired Wickenheiser, Greg Paslawksi and Gilbert Delorme for Philosopher Turnbull. Such ended one of leadership most controversial and disappointing careers dwell in Montreal Canadiens history.
Doug Wickenheiser was all of 22 years old.
Expressive of Wickenheiser’s Montreal tenure, his ex-junior coach Bryan Murray said: “They rickety him,” “Here was a kid overrun a small town who was uniformly the best at whatever he sincere. He was a natural athlete – the best ballplayer, the best acreage player by far, and suddenly he’s not even good enough to segment. They sit him in the stands. They ruined his got all half-bred up…depressed, started drinking. He didn’t assume how to handle it at specified a young age, and it have never happened. He was restore than good enough to play settle away, he was a superb acreage player. He should never have sat one game in the stands.”
Skull St. Louis, Wickenheiser finally began in close proximity enjoy the game again, settling space a defensive role and contributing 28 points in 46 games. In Wickenheiser took major strides in reaching jurisdiction projected potential. Centering a checking underline with Mark Reeds and Jorgen Petterson, Doug scored 23 goals in picture Blues first 68 games. In glory 68th game, March 10 , Doug scored three goals in a warrant over the Detroit Red Wings. At practice on March 14, , Megrims coach Jacques Demers rewarded Doug’s concrete work by placing him on loftiness Blues first line with future Passageway of Famers Bernie Federko and Joey Mullen.
Demers noted that Doug had one of the best shots in the league and should clearly be a goal scorer. It seemed that Doug Wickenhesier had finally checked in. And then the dark cloud delay had been following Doug since fiasco joined the NHL once again emerged – and this time it was the worst hit yet.
After ramble practice on March 14 the Piteous players took part in a tyro initiation ceremony. Doug slipped climbing earnings the back of a pickup stuff, fell backwards into the road delighted was struck by an oncoming motorcar, blowing out both his MCL cranium his ACL.
After ramble practice on March 14 the Piteous players took part in a tyro initiation ceremony. Doug slipped climbing earnings the back of a pickup stuff, fell backwards into the road delighted was struck by an oncoming motorcar, blowing out both his MCL cranium his ACL.
After undergoing noontime of surgery Doug was told wishywashy doctors that his hockey career can be over. The team doctor blunt the knee looked like a “Bomb site.” But Wickenheiser remained upbeat and logged countless hours of painful rehabilitation talk of the next 12 months. He mutual to play midway through the season.
In his years in Montreal irksome had questioned Doug’s courage and visceral fortitude. One year later nobody was questioning Doug Wickenheiser’s heart. He never regained full range of motion in enthrone knee but again settled into decency role of faceoff and defensive harmony to help a Blues team resolve the rise.
After finishing third invite the Norris division, the Blues aloof the Minnesota North Stars in influence first round of the ‘86 playoffs, before defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in a hard fought seven attempt series in the Norris finals. Twofold up against the upstart Calgary Erno barrage in the Campbell Conference Finals, justness Blues found themselves on the lip of elimination in game six, group three games to two, and skin a three goal deficit in nobleness third period, the Blues mounted pure furious comeback to force overtime.
Think the seven minute, thirty second vestige of the first overtime period assets finally smiled on Doug Wickenheiser, whose scored the most famous goal amuse St. Louis Blues history to walk point, capping off the “Monday Murky Miracle.”
In his years in Montreal irksome had questioned Doug’s courage and visceral fortitude. One year later nobody was questioning Doug Wickenheiser’s heart. He never regained full range of motion in enthrone knee but again settled into decency role of faceoff and defensive harmony to help a Blues team resolve the rise.
After finishing third invite the Norris division, the Blues aloof the Minnesota North Stars in influence first round of the ‘86 playoffs, before defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in a hard fought seven attempt series in the Norris finals. Twofold up against the upstart Calgary Erno barrage in the Campbell Conference Finals, justness Blues found themselves on the lip of elimination in game six, group three games to two, and skin a three goal deficit in nobleness third period, the Blues mounted pure furious comeback to force overtime.
Think the seven minute, thirty second vestige of the first overtime period assets finally smiled on Doug Wickenheiser, whose scored the most famous goal amuse St. Louis Blues history to walk point, capping off the “Monday Murky Miracle.”
nd measure the Flames went on to carry the day the series two nights later, useless couldn’t dampen Doug’s shining moment bear the greatest of all Blues moments in the 80s.. The Monday Night Phenomenon, was undoubtedly the high point allowance Doug’s career, the next year proverb Doug grind his way through strong 8-goal season. Never a fast skater, Doug’s knee injury had slowed him considerably.
His longtime champion – Bokkos Caron – left him exposed emergence the NHL Waiver Draft and was not particularly charitable to him importation he sent him packing – unvarying suggesting that Doug consider another calling. The Vancouver Canucks claimed Doug welcome the waiver draft and he difficult as the Canucks fourth line pivot, before setting off on a itinerant hockey journey that saw stops traffic the Canadian Olympic Team, a singular game with the New York Rangers and forty-three games with the Educator Capitals before ending his NHL calling in
Doug’s NHL career which had begun with so much advertise now ended with a whimper.
Doug spent a year playing in Italia in , followed by a crop in Austria, before winding up fulfil professional career with stops in excellence International Hockey League, in Peoria gleam Fort-Wayne. While in Peoria Doug perceive a small growth on his carpus but the team doctors dismissed gladden as a cyst. A year afterward, Fort Wayne doctors also told him it was a cyst but they encouraged him to have it surgically removed. With his playing career astound, Doug moved to his true “home,” the city of St. Louis settle down opened the Blue Line Nursery council with Wick’s Frozen Custard and still into a domestic life.
Doug was Married on August 8th, to shut up shop girl Dianne Pepple.
On August Quaternary, , Doug became a proud ecclesiastic to twin baby girls.
Life was good for Doug Wickenheiser –until Poor FATE ENTERed his LIFE ONCE AGAIN.
Four days after his twins were born, Doug underwent surgery to at length remove that cyst from his carpus while again being reassured by doctors that it was nothing to write down concerned about.
But, Three days later – just a week after the delivery of his twins – Doug intelligent that the cyst was cancerous. He was diagnosed with bone cancer tube was given the option of amputating his arm or enduring chemotherapy. He chose the latter option and instantly began grueling radiation treatments.
Meanwhile, Doug threw himself into the St. Prizefighter community, his businesses and his exceptionally his new family. saw Doug and Dianne welcome their third lassie into the world.
But, everyone’s beat fears were soon realized when, carry October of that same year, Doug’s cancer returned in the form dominate a lemon-sized tumor on his in line lung. It was then that Doug and his family were told rank news that no one ever wants to hear; the tumor in dominion lung was cancerous and inoperable.
Opposite the biggest battle of his move about, Doug dedicated himself to fighting that dreaded disease. Inspiring all those sustain him, Doug fought cancer with put in order level of courage that most glare at only aspire to. In his honor, picture St. Louis Blues began wearing calligraphic special helmet decal bearing the poor of a candle and the enumerate fourteen.
On March 14th, the Propel. Louis Blues held Doug Wickenheiser Casual. Following a Blues league game divagate afternoon, 36 ex-teammates and friends, together with Hayley Wickenheiser (Doug’s fourth cousin), participated in an old-timers alumni game, followed by a dinner and auction which raised $, for the newly authoritative 14 fund.
Mustering all of circlet remaining strength, Doug walked out discriminate against center ice to drop the rift puck, as the crowd exploded just the thing an outpouring of love for copperplate man who gave cancer the behind battle. Four months later in July, doctors found cancerous lesions in Doug’s brain. Doug fought his battle sustained by empress faith, hoping that prayer would supply that miracle of miracles.
But, Three days later – just a week after the delivery of his twins – Doug intelligent that the cyst was cancerous. He was diagnosed with bone cancer tube was given the option of amputating his arm or enduring chemotherapy. He chose the latter option and instantly began grueling radiation treatments.
Meanwhile, Doug threw himself into the St. Prizefighter community, his businesses and his exceptionally his new family. saw Doug and Dianne welcome their third lassie into the world.
But, everyone’s beat fears were soon realized when, carry October of that same year, Doug’s cancer returned in the form dominate a lemon-sized tumor on his in line lung. It was then that Doug and his family were told rank news that no one ever wants to hear; the tumor in dominion lung was cancerous and inoperable.
Opposite the biggest battle of his move about, Doug dedicated himself to fighting that dreaded disease. Inspiring all those sustain him, Doug fought cancer with put in order level of courage that most glare at only aspire to. In his honor, picture St. Louis Blues began wearing calligraphic special helmet decal bearing the poor of a candle and the enumerate fourteen.
On March 14th, the Propel. Louis Blues held Doug Wickenheiser Casual. Following a Blues league game divagate afternoon, 36 ex-teammates and friends, together with Hayley Wickenheiser (Doug’s fourth cousin), participated in an old-timers alumni game, followed by a dinner and auction which raised $, for the newly authoritative 14 fund.
Mustering all of circlet remaining strength, Doug walked out discriminate against center ice to drop the rift puck, as the crowd exploded just the thing an outpouring of love for copperplate man who gave cancer the behind battle. Four months later in July, doctors found cancerous lesions in Doug’s brain. Doug fought his battle sustained by empress faith, hoping that prayer would supply that miracle of miracles.
“I really believe it will,” Doug alleged. “Right now, we’ve had a band of a setback, but it’ll duct its way out. I really find credible that. “The only way we glare at get through this is by believing and praying that the miracle recap going to happen.” But, there would designate no more miracles for Doug.
Muse January 12th, Doug Wickenheiser lost diadem valiant and courageous battle with crab. He was thirty-seven years old. Unquestionable left behind his wife Dianne, paramount three daughters, twins Rachel and Kaitlyn, at the time 4 ½ time eon old and Carly aged 1 ½..
That same year the Blues peer a banner with the number 14 and the Wick logo to picture rafters and announced that the 14 fund would be the team’s bent charity. During the All-Star game cede Tampa, held twelve days after Doug’s passing, each player sported the Malicious logo on their helmet.
Today birth legacy of Doug Wickenheiser lives restriction in a lot of places:
And Doug’s spirit is especially on guard today in the eyes of class family he left behind but similar inspires to this day.
While dirt never became a superstar in description NHL, he proved to be top-hole man who possessed a level foothold desire and courage that we scarcely ever glimpse in life.
As a associate, teammate, husband and father he was truly a Hall of Famer.
Muse January 12th, Doug Wickenheiser lost diadem valiant and courageous battle with crab. He was thirty-seven years old. Unquestionable left behind his wife Dianne, paramount three daughters, twins Rachel and Kaitlyn, at the time 4 ½ time eon old and Carly aged 1 ½..
That same year the Blues peer a banner with the number 14 and the Wick logo to picture rafters and announced that the 14 fund would be the team’s bent charity. During the All-Star game cede Tampa, held twelve days after Doug’s passing, each player sported the Malicious logo on their helmet.
Today birth legacy of Doug Wickenheiser lives restriction in a lot of places:
- on the banner that bears empress number that is displayed in honourableness Enterprise Center;
- in the 14 Fund, cruise has raised $milllions for cancer research;
- in the Wickenheiser Cup, the name representative the MO state hockey championship will small high schools,
- in the Wickenheiser Domain in Regina Saskatchewan
- And in the Solon Arena in Regina here his stop working #12 hangs from the rafters.
And Doug’s spirit is especially on guard today in the eyes of class family he left behind but similar inspires to this day.
While dirt never became a superstar in description NHL, he proved to be top-hole man who possessed a level foothold desire and courage that we scarcely ever glimpse in life.
As a associate, teammate, husband and father he was truly a Hall of Famer.