Dave Semenko Explained

Birth Date:12 July 1957
Birth Place:Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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

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.[1] 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).[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] [6] [7] [8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] His funeral was held at Rogers Place in Edmonton, which was open for the public to attend.

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1974–75Brandon TravellersMJHL4211172855
1974–75Brandon Wheat KingsWCHL122131240000
1975–76Brandon Wheat KingsWCHL72851319450000
1976–77Brandon Wheat KingsWCHL612733602651634761
1977–78Brandon Wheat KingsWCHL71051540
1977–78Edmonton OilersWHA65661214050008
1978–79Edmonton OilersWHA771014241581142629
1979–80Edmonton OilersNHL67671313530002
1980–81Edmonton OilersNHL58118198080005
1980–81Wichita WindCHL1412340
1981–82Edmonton OilersNHL5912122419440002
1982–83Edmonton OilersNHL751215271411511269
1983–84Edmonton OilersNHL526111711816551044
1984–85Edmonton OilersNHL69612181721400039
1985–86Edmonton OilersNHL6961218141600032
1986–87Edmonton OilersNHL50000
1986–87Hartford WhalersNHL51481287400015
1987–88Toronto Maple LeafsNHL70235107
WHA totals1421620362981642637
NHL totals57565881531175736612208

Awards and achievements

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Players By Team -- Brandon Wheat Kings. legendsofhockey.net. June 30, 2017.
  2. News: Ex-Oilers tough guy Dave Semenko dies of cancer at 59. Harrison. Doug. June 29, 2017. CBC Sports. June 29, 2017.
  3. Web site: Dave Semenko, two-time Stanley Cup winner, dies at 59. Dillman. Lisa. June 29, 2017. National Hockey League. June 30, 2017.
  4. The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association, p.241, McLelland and Stewart, Toronto, ON,
  5. Web site: Toughest fighters . The Hockey News . July 7, 2010 . July 6, 2016 . March 3, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303082233/http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34423-Toughest-fighters.html . dead .
  6. Web site: Goss . Nicholas . Wayne Gretzky Knew To Retire When Opponents Warned Him Before A Hit | NHL . NESN.com . January 24, 2014 . July 6, 2016.
  7. Web site: Edmonton Oilers Legends: Dave Semenko . Oilerslegends.blogspot.com . July 6, 2016.
  8. Book: Let's Talk Hockey: 50 Wonderful Debates – Phil Schlenker – Google Books . 978-1-4401-2703-8 . Google Books . July 6, 2016. Schlenker . Phil . February 2009 . iUniverse .
  9. Web site: When Muhammad Ali fought hockey's heavyweight champ, Dave Semenko.
  10. Web site: Former Oilers tough guy Dave Semenko passes away from cancer. June 29, 2017.
  11. News: 'A worthy champion': Dave Semenko, the Edmonton Oilers enforcer who served as Wayne Gretzky's bodyguard, dies at 59. June 30, 2017. National Post.
  12. Web site: Oilers Entertainment Group -- Statement on the passing of Dave Semenko. National Hockey League. June 29, 2017.
  13. Book: Cherry. Don. Don Cherry's Hockey Stories and Stuff. April 3, 2009. Doubleday Canada . 978-0-307-37182-9. September 30, 2016.
  14. Book: Russell. Kent. I Am Sorry to Think I Have Raised a Timid Son. February 9, 2016. Vintage. 978-0-8041-7044-4. September 30, 2016.
  15. Book: The Great One: The Complete Wayne Gretzky Collection. November 6, 2012. FENN-M&S. 978-0-7710-8362-4. September 30, 2016.
  16. News: Staples . David . Grace eludes cement pen . July 30, 2020 . . Books . Edmonton . September 16, 1989 . B10 . Newspapers.com.