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Dave Semenko
Canadian ice hockey player (1957–2017)
Canadian ice hockey player (1957–2017)
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | Dave Semenko 2016.jpg |
| caption | Semenko in 2016 |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| death_date | |
| death_place | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| height_ft | 6 |
| height_in | 3 |
| weight_lb | 215 |
| position | Left Wing |
| shoots | Left |
| played_for | Edmonton Oilers |
| Hartford Whalers | |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | |
| draft | 25th overall |
| draft_year | 1977 |
| draft_team | Minnesota North Stars |
| wha_draft | 21st overall |
| wha_draft_year | 1977 |
| wha_draft_team | Houston Aeros |
| career_start | 1977 |
| career_end | 1988 |
Hartford Whalers Toronto Maple Leafs David John Semenko (July 12, 1957 – June 29, 2017) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach, scout, and colour commentator. During his National Hockey League (NHL) career, Semenko played for the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers and Toronto Maple Leafs as an enforcer. During his tenure with Edmonton, he notably protected Wayne Gretzky as an "on-ice bodyguard" during Gretzky's early career. Semenko won two Stanley Cups with the Oilers in 1984 and 1985. He was also the last player to score a goal in the World Hockey Association (WHA) before it folded and merged with the NHL.
Following his retirement as a player, he became a radio commentator of Oilers' games. Semenko died on June 29, 2017, from liver and pancreatic cancer.
Career
Semenko played junior hockey for the Brandon Wheat Kings. He was originally selected 25th overall in 1977 by the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL and the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association (WHA).
The Aeros traded Semenko to the Oilers just before their 1977–78 season. He spent his first two professional years as a member of the Oilers in the WHA before the NHL–WHA merger. He scored the final goal in WHA history in Game 6 of the 1979 Avco Cup finals, which the Oilers lost to the Winnipeg Jets.
When the Oilers joined the NHL, Semenko's rights were retained by the North Stars. The Oilers traded their second- and third-round draft picks in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft to acquire his rights from the North Stars, who then drafted future United States Hockey Hall of Famer Neal Broten. The trade also gave the Oilers a third-round pick, which was used to select future Oilers superstar and Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier.
An acknowledged enforcer, Semenko was Wayne Gretzky's "on-ice bodyguard" early in Gretzky's career in Edmonton, beginning in the WHA in 1978 and ending when Semenko was traded to the Hartford Whalers in 1986. Semenko is considered one of the toughest players ever in the NHL. After Gretzky won a car for being chosen as the MVP of the 1983 NHL All-Star game, he gifted the car to Semenko to show his appreciation for his on-ice work.
Semenko fought boxing legend Muhammad Ali in an exhibition on June 12, 1983. The match was officially a draw after going three rounds, but the Associated Press reported Ali was not seriously trying and was just toying with Semenko.
After brief stops with the Hartford Whalers and Toronto Maple Leafs, Semenko retired following the 1987–88 season. He finished his 575-game NHL career with 65 goals, 153 points, and 1,175 penalty minutes. Semenko also recorded 70 fights over his career.
Retirement and death
After retiring, Semenko became a colour commentator on Oilers radio broadcasts and was an assistant coach with the Oilers during the 1996–97 season. He also served as a professional scout for the team from 1997 until 2015.
Semenko died on June 29, 2017, at the age of 59, shortly after being diagnosed with liver and pancreatic cancer. His funeral was held at Rogers Place in Edmonton, which was open for the public to attend.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | WHA totals | 142 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 298 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 37 | NHL totals | 575 | 65 | 88 | 153 | 1175 | 73 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 208 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–75 | Brandon Travellers | MJHL | 42 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974–75 | Brandon Wheat Kings | WCHL | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1975–76 | Brandon Wheat Kings | WCHL | 72 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 194 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976–77 | Brandon Wheat Kings | WCHL | 61 | 27 | 33 | 60 | 265 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977–78 | Brandon Wheat Kings | WCHL | 7 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977–78 | Edmonton Oilers | WHA | 65 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 140 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1978–79 | Edmonton Oilers | WHA | 77 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 158 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979–80 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 67 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 135 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980–81 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 58 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 80 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980–81 | Wichita Wind | CHL | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981–82 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 59 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 194 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982–83 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 75 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 141 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 69 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983–84 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 52 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 118 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–85 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 69 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 172 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985–86 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 69 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 141 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–87 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–87 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 51 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 87 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–88 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 70 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 107 | — | — | — | — | — |
Awards and achievements
- 2x Stanley Cup Championships (1984 & 1985)
- Honoured Member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
- Earned the nickname "Sammy" or Semenk by his fans; known as "Cement Head" among rival fans
- Published an autobiography in 1989 titled Looking Out for Number One.
Exhibition boxing record
|ko-wins= |ko-losses= |dec-wins= |dec-losses=
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | USA Muhammad Ali | PTS | 3 | Jun 12, 1983 | CAN Northlands Coliseum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
References
References
- "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Players By Team -- Brandon Wheat Kings".
- Harrison, Doug. (June 29, 2017). "Ex-Oilers tough guy Dave Semenko dies of cancer at 59". CBC Sports.
- Dillman, Lisa. (June 29, 2017). "Dave Semenko, two-time Stanley Cup winner, dies at 59". National Hockey League.
- The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association, p.241, McLelland and Stewart, Toronto, ON, {{ISBN. 0-7710-8947-3
- (July 7, 2010). "Toughest fighters". The Hockey News.
- Goss, Nicholas. (January 24, 2014). "Wayne Gretzky Knew To Retire When Opponents Warned Him Before A Hit | NHL". NESN.com.
- "Edmonton Oilers Legends: Dave Semenko". Oilerslegends.blogspot.com.
- (February 2009). "Let's Talk Hockey: 50 Wonderful Debates – Phil Schlenker – Google Books". iUniverse.
- (June 4, 2016). "When Muhammad Ali fought hockey's heavyweight champ, Dave Semenko".
- (June 29, 2017). "Former Oilers tough guy Dave Semenko passes away from cancer".
- "'A worthy champion': Dave Semenko, the Edmonton Oilers enforcer who served as Wayne Gretzky's bodyguard, dies at 59". National Post.
- (June 29, 2017). "Oilers Entertainment Group -- Statement on the passing of Dave Semenko". National Hockey League.
- (April 3, 2009). "Don Cherry's Hockey Stories and Stuff". Doubleday Canada.
- (February 9, 2016). "I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son". Vintage.
- (November 6, 2012). "The Great One: The Complete Wayne Gretzky Collection". FENN-M&S.
- (September 16, 1989). "Grace eludes cement pen". [[Edmonton Journal]].
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