Moe Lemay, a previous Ottawa 67’s younger hockey celebrity and Stanley Cup victor with Edmonton in 1987, is being born in mind as a remarkable skill on the ice and a precious colleague off it.
Lemay died Friday at the age of 62.
“He was an exceptional skater, and he adjusted [to the NHL] so well,” stated Brian Kilrea, Lemay’s train throughout his 3 periods with the 67’s. “He was just a great guy in the room.”
Kilrea remembered exactly how Lemay, regardless of not being greatly looked, made a place on a junior B group and rapidly verified he belonged at a greater degree with the 67’s.
His solid two-way play quickly made him a letter on his coat as component of the group’s management team.
“He … would pick somebody up if they were having a tough time,” Kilrea stated. “He was one of the guys and very popular in the room, so it’s easy to get those guys to put a letter on.”
Lemay tallied 138 factors in his last period of younger hockey, assisting the 67’s to the Ontario Hockey League last in 1981-82.
Chris Mayberry, a long time sporting activities press reporter and broadcaster throughout Lemay’s younger job, keeps in mind when the young neighborhood gamer began “scoring like crazy.”
“He took it all in stride. He was never, never a boastful young man,” statedMayberry “He had a bit of sand to his game, so he wasn’t just a goal scorer. He could get into the corner and dig out loose pucks, take the hits and give the hits.”
His play made him a place on Canada’s gold medal-winning 1982 globe junior champion group.
A playing card from Lemay’s time with theVancouver Canucks (Mark Gallant)
Lemay’s appeal expanded past hockey circles.
Mark Gallant, a long time good friend that recognized Lemay from senior high school, defined him as a “natural athlete” that succeeded at golf and tennis.
“He was just always a giving guy to his friends,” Gallant stated. “If he had games and guys were around town, they would get tickets for games in the NHL or the 67’s and it was good. He was a good guy to be around.”
Lemay’s hockey job took him to the NHL, where he was composed by theVancouver Canucks He acted of 3 periods there prior to going on to Boston, Winnipeg and Edmonton.
Lemay’s name on the Stanley Cup as component of the Edmonton Oilers 1986-87 group, along with Wayne Gretzky and in between Hall- of-Famers Jari Kurri andKevin Lowe (Mark Gallant)
Later, he mosted likely to Europe, where he bet greater than a years throughout Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
“He never took anything for granted, he worked for everything he got, and I was very sad to hear that he’s passed,” stated Mayberry.
Lemay, left, and Mark Gallant in 1991, when Lemay was playing inGermany (Mark Gallant)
His retired life was not without battles. Living in Chilliwack, B.C., he had family members close yet fought in his change far from specialist hockey.
During his last years individuals that communicated with Lemay had issues regarding his psychological health and wellness and material usage.
“When people have that kind of opportunity … you meet people in positions where you could take advantage of things after your career, and that never fell into place for Moe,” stated Gallant.
Lemay’s on-ice success can be found in the days when treasures weren’t assured for NHLers, and long prior to there were any kind of defined initiatives by the NHL or gamer’s union to assist gamers change right into retired life.
The NHL Players Association (NHLPA) did not react to an ask for remark for this tale, yet it does currently have assistance programs in position for graduates.
