B.C. Hockey Legend Ernie ‘Punch’ McLean Dies at 93
The longtime junior hockey coach won five Western Hockey League titles and led Canada to bronze at the 1979 world junior championship.
- Legendary coach Ernie 'Punch' McLean, 93, died in a single-vehicle crash Friday near Dease Lake in northern British Columbia, the RCMP confirmed.
- Police reported finding the vehicle down an embankment at Upper Gnat Pass, about 30 kilometres south of Dease Lake, with investigators believing McLean swerved and was ejected from the car.
- During his career, McLean coached 1,067 WHL games, leading the New Westminster Bruins to four WHL championships and two Memorial Cups between 1975 and 1978, while mentoring more than 100 players who reached the NHL.
- Just days before his death, McLean attended a Wednesday news conference for the Ernie Punch Legacy Foundation campaign to erect a statue at Queens Park Arena.
- Tributes are pouring in from the Vancouver Canucks and other hockey organizations, with the team calling McLean a "presence in B.C. hockey that can never be replaced.
16 Articles
16 Articles
The Toronto Star
Canadian hockey community mourns death of legendary coach Ernie ‘Punch’ McLean
VANCOUVER - Hockey fans and organizations across the country are mourning legendary coach Ernie "Punch" McLean, who has died in a crash in northern B.C. at the age of 93.
Hockey icon Ernie 'Punch' McLean killed in northern B.C. crash
Ernie 'Punch' McLean led the Western Hockey League (WHL) New Westminster Bruins to four consecutive Memorial Cup finals and two championships between 1975-1978, and coached more than 100 players who later skated in the NHL.
Hockey Legend Ernie 'Punch' McLean Dies in Tragic Crash at 93
The hockey community is mourning the loss of legendary coach Ernie "Punch" McLean, who died in a single-vehicle crash in northern British Columbia at age 93. McLean was a prominent figure in the Western Hockey League, leading teams to five championships and two Memorial Cup titles. Known for his impact on players, he coached over 100 who went on to the NHL. Tributes have poured in from various organizations, including the Vancouver Canucks, who …
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