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Dunc Wilson

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Dunc Wilson
Born (1948-03-22)March 22, 1948
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died October 8, 2023(2023-10-08) (aged 75)
Utila, Honduras
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Philadelphia Flyers
Vancouver Canucks
Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 1968–1979

Duncan Shepherd Wilson (March 22, 1948 – October 8, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who spent ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1969 and 1979, with the Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Wilson made his NHL debut with Philadelphia in 1970, and then spent three seasons with the expansion Canucks. Traded to Toronto in 1973, he played part of two seasons there before going to New York in 1975, and then to Pittsburgh for two seasons before finishing his NHL career with the Canucks in 1979.

Playing career

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Wilson was originally signed by the Boston Bruins and rose through their junior system, but was drafted away by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1968 just before turning professional. He spent two seasons with the Quebec Aces, Philadelphia's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, appearing in a single NHL game for the Flyers in the 1969–70 NHL season, on February 26, 1970 against the Chicago Black Hawks.

Wilson was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft. In Vancouver, he was one of three goaltenders carried by the team in their inaugural campaign. His first season was rocky, as he posted a dismal 3–25–2 record in 35 appearances. However, he was recognized as having significant potential, and at age 22 was viewed as the club's long-term starter over Charlie Hodge, the team's main goaltending option that year, who was 37.

When Hodge retired following a contract dispute, Wilson became Vancouver's starting goalie for 1971–72. He appeared in 53 games for the Canucks, posting a 16–30–3 record (his backups went 4–20–5) and a 3.61 GAA. In 1972–73, he had another solid year, finishing 13–21–5 with a 3.94 GAA.

In 1973, Vancouver acquired highly rated veteran Gary "Suitcase" Smith to be the team's starting goalie and Wilson was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He spent nearly two seasons in Toronto backing up Doug Favell before being waived, and he was claimed by the New York Rangers late in the 1974–75 season. He backed up John Davidson for the Rangers in 1975–76, but won just five games and being demoted briefly to the minors for the first time since 1970.

Dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a draft pick, Wilson bounced back in 1976–77. As Pittsburgh's starting netminder, he appeared in 45 games and posted an 18–19–8 record and a sparkling 2.95 GAA along with five shutouts. In the process, he was named team MVP by both the franchise and their booster club. However, in 1977–78 he lost his starting job to Denis Herron, and posted a 5–11–3 record with a dismal 4.83 GAA.

Wilson started the 1978–79 season in the AHL after losing the backup job to rookie Greg Millen, and was sold back to the Canucks a month into the season. However, his performance was no better in Vancouver as he won just twice in 17 appearances, and he retired at the end of the season.

Following his retirement he sued the Canucks, alleging that they did not properly treat a mole which turned out to be skin cancer, and which later required extensive surgery to remove, helping to prematurely end his career. He lost his $400,000 lawsuit in front of the Supreme Court of British Columbia on November 18, 1983.[1]

In 287 career NHL games, Wilson posted an 80–150–33 record along with eight shutouts and a 3.74 GAA.

Death

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Wilson died on October 8, 2023 in Utila, Honduras, where he had been living for several years.[2][3][4]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1964–65 Oshawa Generals OHA 2 70 8 0 6.86
1965–66 Niagara Falls Flyers OHA 22 137 82 1 3.59 4 1 2 1 240 17 0 4.25
1966–67 Niagara Falls Flyers OHA 1 0 1 0 40 6 0 9.00
1966–67 Peterborough Petes OHA 14 840 56 0 4.42
1967–68 Oshawa Generals OHA 30 1800 159 1 5.30
1968–69 Quebec Aces AHL 37 11 14 9 1814 98 0 3.24 15 7 8 0 835 38 0 2.73
1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 1 0 1 0 60 3 0 3.02 .885
1969–70 Quebec Aces AHL 57 3288 191 2 3.49 4 2 2 0 272 10 0 2.21
1970–71 Vancouver Canucks NHL 35 3 25 2 1784 128 0 4.30 .881
1971–72 Vancouver Canucks NHL 53 16 30 3 2864 173 1 3.62 .887
1972–73 Vancouver Canucks NHL 43 13 21 5 2418 159 1 3.94 .880
1973–74 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 24 9 11 3 1403 68 1 2.91 .897
1974–75 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 25 8 11 4 1391 86 0 3.71 .880
1974–75 New York Rangers NHL 3 1 2 0 179 13 0 4.35 .856
1975–76 New York Rangers NHL 20 5 9 3 1076 76 0 4.24 .862
1975–76 Baltimore Clippers AHL 6 3 2 0 325 15 1 2.77
1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 45 18 19 7 2622 129 5 2.95 .906
1977–78 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 21 5 11 3 1179 95 0 4.84 .842
1978–79 Vancouver Canucks NHL 17 2 10 2 834 58 0 4.17 .876
1978–79 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 3 2 1 0 180 11 0 3.67 .880
1978–79 Binghamton Dusters AHL 3 0 2 0 109 11 0 6.03 .833
NHL Totals 287 80 150 32 15811 988 8 3.75 .883

References

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  1. ^ "Sports People: Ex-Goalie Loses Suit". The New York Times. November 19, 1983. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Gosselin, Felip (October 21, 2023). "Canucks make heartbreaking announcement: Historical player passed away". Canucks Daily. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  3. ^ Williams, Rob (23 October 2023). "Original Canucks goalie Dunc Wilson has passed away". Daily Hive. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  4. ^ Late goalie Wilson remembered as free spirit who loved life on, off ice
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