Wally Olds Explained

Birth Date:August 17, 1949
Birth Place:Warroad, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:200
Position:Defense
Shoots:Right
Played For:New York Raiders
Calgary Cowboys
Ntl Team:USA
Draft:57th overall
Draft Year:1969
Draft Team:Detroit Red Wings
Career Start:1971
Career End:1982

Walter Raymond Olds (August 17, 1949 – January 11, 2009) was an ice hockey player who played three seasons in the World Hockey Association for the New York Raiders and Calgary Cowboys between 1973 and 1976. He was also part of the Chicago Cougars' organization, but never played for them.

Early life

Olds was born in Warroad, Minnesota, and raised in Baudette, Minnesota. As an amateur, he played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team, where he was an all-American defenseman. He was a member of United States Olympic team at the 1972 Winter Olympics, where he earned a silver medal.

Career

Olds was drafted 57th overall by the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft but never played in the National Hockey League due to his strong opposition to fighting, choosing instead to sign with the Raiders of the rival WHA.

Olds left North American professional hockey following the 1975–76 season and moved to Europe, where he continued playing for eight years in Austria (1976–77), Germany (1977–80), Switzerland (1980–81), Sweden (1981–82), and Norway (1982–83). He was recalled by the US national team for the 1977, 1979 and 1981 Ice Hockey World Championships tournaments.

Personal life

Olds died of colon cancer on January 11, 2009.

Awards and honors

AwardYear
All-WCHA Second Team1969–70[1]
AHCA West All-American1969–70
All-WCHA Second Team1970–71

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: WCHA All-Teams. College Hockey Historical Archives. May 19, 2013.