Steve Wochy Explained

Position:Right wing
Played For:Detroit Red Wings
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:5
Height In:8
Weight Lb:158
Birth Date:25 December 1922
Birth Place:Fort William, Ontario, Canada
Career Start:1940
Career End:1955

Stephen Wochy[1] ( Wojciechowski; December 25, 1922) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, who played 54 games for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League between 1944 and 1946. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1940 to 1955, was spent in the minor leagues. He was born in Fort William, Ontario but has called Sault Ste Marie, Ontario his home since 1954. After Jim Conacher's death in April 2020, he became the oldest living former NHL player.[2] He is the second NHL player to become a centenarian, Al Suomi being the first known.[3]

Before playing in the NHL, Wojciechowski was a member of the Port Arthur Bearcats in 1942 appearing in the 1942 Allan Cup. Wojciechowski played 10 seasons in the American Hockey League after leaving the NHL, with the Indianapolis Capitals, Philadelphia Rockets, Cleveland Barons and Buffalo Bisons. Wojciechowski was named a first-team AHL All-star in 1952.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1938–39Fort William MaroonsTBJHL18 14 11 25 205 4 0 4 7
1939–40Port Arthur BruinsTBJHL16 16 9 25 2
1939–40Port Arthur BearcatsTBSHL1 0 0 0 0
1940–41Port Arthur BruinsTBJHL16 16 21 37 296 8 4 12 4
1941–42Port Arthur BruinsTBJHL18 22 41 63 553 4 5 9 13
1941–42Port Arthur BearcatsTBSHL1 1 1 2 0
1941–42Port Arthur BearcatsAl-Cup17 10 7 17 17
1942–43St. Catharines SaintsOHA Sr17 21 15 36 73 1 1 2 0
1943–44Winnipeg ArmyWNDHL10 8 8 16 2
1944–45Detroit Red WingsNHL49 19 20 39 176 0 1 1 0
1944–45Indianapolis CapitalsAHL1 0 0 0 0
1945–46Indianapolis CapitalsAHL30 14 20 34 14
1945–46Omaha KnightsUSHL17 4 10 14 47 1 2 3 2
1946–47Detroit Red WingsNHL5 0 0 0 0
1946–47Indianapolis CapitalsAHL56 21 24 45 4
1947–48Philadelphia RocketsAHL68 37 29 66 27
1948–49Philadelphia RocketsAHL68 29 28 57 37
1949–50Cleveland BaronsAHL47 21 23 44 126 3 3 6 4
1950–51Cleveland BaronsAHL58 26 30 56 24
1951–52Cleveland BaronsAHL68 37 41 78 425 2 0 2 2
1952–53Cleveland BaronsAHL64 37 31 68 1610 1 4 5 2
1953–54Buffalo BisonsAHL70 26 32 58 183 0 1 1 2
1954–55Buffalo BisonsAHL17 5 4 9 2
1954–55Soo GreyhoundsNOHA23 10 7 17 13
AHL totals547 253 262 515 19624 6 8 14 10
NHL totals54 19 20 39 176 0 1 1 0

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Meet Steve Wochy, the NHL's oldest living player. Campbell. Ken. The Hockey News. April 23, 2020. March 19, 2021.
  2. News: Oldest living NHLer Steve Wochy just missed Red Wings' dynasty in 1950s. Falkner. Mark. The Detroit News. May 21, 2020. March 19, 2021.
  3. Web site: Dilello . Ty . December 24, 2022 . Wochy reflects on NHL career on 100th birthday . December 27, 2022 . NHL.com.