Barry Ashbee

Barry Ashbee
Born	(1939-07-28)July 28, 1939 Weston, ON, CAN
Died	May 12, 1977(1977-05-12) (aged 37) Philadelphia, PA, USA
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Defence
Played for	Boston Bruins Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career	1959–1974

William Barry Ashbee (July 28, 1939 in Weston, Ontario – May 12, 1977) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played five seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.

Playing career

Ashbee played his junior hockey with the Barrie Flyers in the Ontario Hockey Association, started his professional career by playing eight seasons with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, although he did play 14 games with the Boston Bruins of the NHL during the 1965–66 season. He became an NHL regular with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1970–71 season, and soon became one of their best defensemen. In fact, he was named to the NHL Second All-Star team and won a Stanley Cup with the team during the 1973–74 season, and had a +52 plus/minus rating during the regular season. However, his career also ended that year during the playoffs against the New York Rangers due to a severe eye injury.

Retirement and death

Ashbee became an assistant coach with the team the next season and initially declined the job because he thought it was offered to him just out of sympathy. His number 4 was retired by the Flyers during that season as well. During his first season as an Assistant Coach the Flyers won their second straight Stanley Cup. Ashbee had his name added to the cup for a second time. Ashbee was told that he had leukemia in April, 1977, and he died the next month. The Barry Ashbee Trophy is now awarded each season to the best defenceman for the Flyers.

Awards

• NHL All-Star Second Team (1974)
• Stanley Cup Champions Player (1974), Ass't Coach (1975)

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1956–57	Barrie Flyers	OHA-Jr.		34	0	4	4	23		3	0	0	0	0
1957–58	Lakeshore Bruins	OHA-B		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1958–59	Barrie Flyers	OHA-Jr.		53	8	22	30	108		6	0	3	3	12
1959–60	Kingston Frontenacs	EPHL		62	2	11	13	72		—	—	—	—	—
1960–61	Kingston Frontenacs	EPHL		64	4	11	15	75		5	0	0	0	14
1961–62	Kingston/North Bay	EPHL		35	2	7	9	87		—	—	—	—	—
1962–63	Hershey Bears	AHL		72	0	17	17	94		15	0	2	2	34
1963–64	Hershey Bears	AHL		72	3	6	9	142		6	0	0	0	12
1964–65	Hershey Bears	AHL		66	3	13	16	114		14	0	0	0	22
1965–66	Boston Bruins	NHL		14	0	3	3	14		—	—	—	—	—
1965–66	Hershey Bears	AHL		36	1	10	11	100		3	0	0	0	6
1966–67	Hershey Bears	AHL		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	Hershey Bears	AHL		65	5	15	20	86		5	0	1	1	4
1968–69	Hershey Bears	AHL		71	5	29	34	130		11	2	5	7	14
1969–70	Hershey Bears	AHL		72	5	25	30	80		7	0	1	1	24
1970–71	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		64	4	23	27	44		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		73	6	14	20	75		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		64	1	17	18	106		11	0	4	4	20
1973–74	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		69	4	13	17	52		6	0	0	0	2
NHL totals				284	15	70	85	291		17	0	4	4	22

External links

• Barry Ashbee career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Barry Ashbee biography at Legends of Hockey (archived)