Wayne Maki

Wayne Maki ( November 10, 1944 in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, . † 1 May 1974 ) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who in his playing days between 1963 and 1974, among others, for the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks played in the National Hockey League. His brother Chico was also a professional hockey player.

Career

Maki played during his junior time in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in his hometown. It was followed by a year at the St. Catharines Black Hawks, where he stood together with Ken Hodge in a forward line. At the end of the season he played for the first time in the seniors for the St. Louis Braves in the Central Professional Hockey League.

His debut in the National Hockey League announced Maki in the 1967 season / 68th With the Chicago Blackhawks he stood with his brother Chico in the squad. Wayne himself shuttled between the NHL and farm team. The following year, he was only once in the NHL in use, bringing this year the title of the Central Hockey League with the Dallas Blackhawks. In preparation for the season 1969/70, for which he was changed to the St. Louis Blues, it came in a game against the Boston Bruins to a dispute with Boston defender Ted Green in the Green Maki with a stick beat so violently was made that he floated with a fractured skull and brain injuries in mortal danger. The NHL locked Maki, also against the legal steps have been taken for 30 days. For St. Louis, he came only to 16 stakes this season. Mostly he played for the Buffalo Bisons, with whom he won the title of the American Hockey League. Only the NHL Expansion Draft in 1970, brought him to the Vancouver Canucks, helped him to break through in the NHL. As the second best scorer of the Canucks, he finished the 1970/71 season and in the following year he was one of the best attackers of Vancouver. His career ended tragically, however, on 12 December 1972, when doctors diagnosed a brain tumor at Maki. He never returned to the ice and died of his illness on May 1, 1974.

The Canucks awarded the number 11, played with the maki, long time no more. Only for Mark Messier, who played in Vancouver from 1997 to 2000, the club management made ​​an exception.

Awards and achievements

NHL stats

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