Willie Huber

For the Swiss soccer goalkeeper, see Willy Huber.

Willie Huber
Born	(1958-01-15)January 15, 1958 Straßkirchen, West Germany
Died	June 28, 2010(2010-06-28) (aged 52) Hamilton, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Right
Played for	Detroit Red Wings New York Rangers Vancouver Canucks Philadelphia Flyers
National team	Canada
NHL draft	9th overall, 1978 Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	1978–1988

Wilhelm Heinrich Huber (January 15, 1958 – June 28, 2010) was a professional ice hockey defenceman who spent ten years in the National Hockey League (NHL), primarily with the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers. Born in West Germany, Huber's family moved to Hamilton, Ontario when he was an infant. He represented Canada in international competition. When he joined the NHL in 1978, he was the largest player (6'5", 225 lbs.) in league history.

Playing career

Huber was drafted in the first round (9th overall) in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft by the Detroit Red Wings after a decorated junior career. He won the Memorial Cup with the Hamilton Fincups in 1976, and represented Canada at the 1977 and 1978 World Junior Championships. A rare blend of size and skill, Huber stepped directly into the Wings' lineup the following season, notching 31 points and being named the team's Rookie of the Year.

For most of his career (until the arrival of Kjell Samuelsson in 1986) Huber was the largest player in the NHL at 6'5" and 228 lbs, towering over most other players in the league. Despite his size, however, Huber was primarily an offensive defender. Blessed with exceptional hands and skating ability, Huber was amongst the league's highest goal-scoring defenders in the early 1980s, and a fixture on the Detroit powerplay. While he was also solid in his own zone, fans often - unfairly - expected him to be a nasty physical presence, which did not come as naturally to him.

Huber scored at least 14 goals and 40 points for Detroit every season between 1979 and 1983, and was one of the team's top players during a comparatively lackluster period of Red Wing history. Huber and Reed Larson formed one of the more dangerous blueline power play combinations in the league during this period. He was chosen to represent Canada at the 1981 World Championships, and helped the team to a 4th-place finish. In 1983, he was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game.

Following a contract dispute with the Red Wings, Huber was dealt to the New York Rangers in the summer of 1983. He picked up where he left off offensively, but tore ligaments in his left knee mid-way through the season and was limited to 23 points in just 42 games. The following season, he tore ligaments in his right knee. As a result, his once-excellent mobility declined considerably, as did his offensive production. By 1985–86, he scored only 15 points in 70 games. He bounced back to score 30 points in 1986–87, but was traded to the Vancouver Canucks early in 1987–88. After a short, disappointing stint in Vancouver, he was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline, where he experienced a surprise resurgence with 13 points in 10 games.

However, following the season Philadelphia wanted him to take a paycut, and after a resulting season-long holdout he retired in 1989. He finished his 10-year career with 104 goals and 321 points in 655 career games, along with 950 penalty minutes.

Following his days in hockey, he chose to remain near the game, working at Copps Coliseum, Hamilton Place, and the Hamilton Convention Centre, in facility and event operations.

Death

Willie Huber died on June 28, 2010 in Hamilton, Ontario of a heart attack at age 52. He was one of five children to Sonia and Henry Huber; he had three brothers: Gord, Rick and Tom, and a sister, Laura. He was married to Dawn and had a step-daughter, Brittany.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1975–76	Hamilton Fincups	OMJHL		58	2	8	10	64		14	2	11	13	28
1976–77	St. Catharines Fincups	OMJHL		36	10	24	34	111		10	2	4	6	29
1977–78	Hamilton Fincups	OMJHL		61	12	45	57	168		20	6	12	18	45
1978–79	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		68	7	24	31	114		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Kansas City Red Wings	CHL		10	2	7	9	12		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		76	17	23	40	164		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL		4	1	3	4	2		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		80	15	34	49	130		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		74	15	30	45	98		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		74	14	29	43	106		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	New York Rangers	NHL		42	9	14	23	60		4	1	1	2	9
1984–85	New York Rangers	NHL		49	3	11	14	55		2	1	0	1	2
1985–86	New York Rangers	NHL		70	7	8	15	85		16	3	2	5	16
1986–87	New York Rangers	NHL		66	8	22	30	68		6	0	2	2	6
1987–88	New York Rangers	NHL		11	1	3	4	14		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		35	4	10	14	40		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		10	4	9	13	16		5	0	0	0	2
NHL totals				655	104	217	321	950		33	5	5	10	35

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	P	PIM
1977	Canada	WJC		7	1	2	3	13
1978	Canada	WJC		6	0	2	2	2
1981	Canada	WC		7	0	2	2	10
Junior int'l totals				13	1	4	5	15
Senior int'l totals				7	0	2	2	10

All-Star Games

Year	Location		G	A	P
1983	Uniondale		0	0	0
All-Star totals			0	0	0

• All stats taken from NHL.com

External links

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

• Willie Huber at hockeydraftcentral.com