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| Dale Hawerchuk wearing the maple leaf in the 1987 Canada Cup. Source: Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images on https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/08/18/ dale-hawerchuks-quiet-brilliance-made-winnipeg-and-canada-a-winner/ (May be subject to copyright) |
The image is indelibly burned in my memory.
Gretzky to Lemieux – he scores!
It would turn out to be the game-winning goal in Game 3 of the 1987 Canada Cup.
What is less well-known is the role Dale Hawerchuk had in that play.
He won the critical face-off in his own end, then tied up a Russian skater, allowing Larry Murphy to jump into the play and make it a three-on-one.
That typifies Dale Hawerchuk.
I was sad to hear Dale Hawerchuk had passed away at the age of 57, far too young with far too much still to give.
Whether it was captaining his junior team to the Memorial Cup, leading an under-dog Winnipeg Jet team into the playoffs, or donning the maple leaf to play for Team Canada, Hawerchuk left his mark.
Royal treatment
The first time I saw Hawerchuk was on peasant vision channel 13 when he was leading his Cornwall Royals, champions of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, into the 1979-1980 Memorial Cup final against the Peterborough Petes. Hawerchuk was already being hailed as a future super star, having notched a 103 points in 72 games. Cornwall would defeat the Petes, who were the defending Memorial Cup champions, in overtime, to win the championship. Hawerchuk was named playoff most valuable player.
The first time I saw Hawerchuk was on peasant vision channel 13 when he was leading his Cornwall Royals, champions of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, into the 1979-1980 Memorial Cup final against the Peterborough Petes. Hawerchuk was already being hailed as a future super star, having notched a 103 points in 72 games. Cornwall would defeat the Petes, who were the defending Memorial Cup champions, in overtime, to win the championship. Hawerchuk was named playoff most valuable player.
The Royals were back in the Memorial Cup tournament at the end of the 1980-1981 season, having won their second straight Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championship. Hawerchuk, in his second season with the Royals, scored 81 goals and 102 assists for 183 points. He added 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points in the playoffs. Cornwall faced the Kitchener Rangers in the Memorial Cup final and won by a score of 5-2 to secure their second straight championship.
Hawerchuk was named a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League First Team All-Star, the Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year, and the Memorial Cup most valuable player.
There was nothing left to prove in junior.
It was time to turn pro.
Rookie sensation
Dale Hawerchuk would turn in one of the most successful rookie seasons in NHL history.
Dale Hawerchuk would turn in one of the most successful rookie seasons in NHL history.
The Winnipeg Jets chose Hawerchuk first overall in the 1981 Entry Draft, and he made an immediate impact in the 1981-1982 season. The team had one of the greatest single season turnarounds. The Jets finished 48 points ahead of the year before, taking second in the Norris Division and qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s history where they lost to St. Louis in the first round.
Hawerchuk had 45 goals and 58 assists for 103 points. He became the youngest player in NHL history to reach 100 points and won the 1982 Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year.
The future looked bright for Dale Hawerchuk.
The class of the decade
Hawerchuk would play the entire decade of the 1980s in Winnipeg, before moving on to the Buffalo Sabres in 1990 as part of a blockbuster trade.
Hawerchuk would play the entire decade of the 1980s in Winnipeg, before moving on to the Buffalo Sabres in 1990 as part of a blockbuster trade.
He dipped below 100 points in 1982-1983, scoring 40 goals and 51 assists for 91 points. He followed that up with five consecutive 100-point season. He had 37 goals and 65 assists for 102 points in 1983-1984.
That was followed up in 1984-1985 with his best season ever, 130 points on 53 goals and 77 assists in 80 games. That performance made him a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player where he finished runner-up to Wayne Gretzky. It was also Hawerchuk’s only 50-goal season.
Hawerchuk had 46 goals and 59 assists for 105 points in 1985-1986; 47 goals and 53 assists for 100 points in 1986-1987; and 44 goals and 77 assists for 121 points in 1987-1988. He would never hit the 100-point mark again.
He closed out the decade with 41 goals and 55 assists for 96 points in 1988-1989; and 26 goals and 55 assists for 81 points in 1989-1990.
The years after
Hawerchuk played five seasons for Buffalo, from 1990 to 1995, most of one season with St. Louis, and just over one season with Philadelphia. He retired at the end of the 1996-1997 season with 518 career goals, 891 assists, 1,409 points, and 1,188 games.
Hawerchuk played five seasons for Buffalo, from 1990 to 1995, most of one season with St. Louis, and just over one season with Philadelphia. He retired at the end of the 1996-1997 season with 518 career goals, 891 assists, 1,409 points, and 1,188 games.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.
The Maple Leaf Forever
My fondest memories of Dale Hawerchuk were when he donned the maple leaf and suited up for Team Canada on the international stage.
My fondest memories of Dale Hawerchuk were when he donned the maple leaf and suited up for Team Canada on the international stage.
Nothing symbolized that more than his performance in the 1987 Canada Cup.
At the time Dale Hawerchuk was one of the best players in the world, maybe number three behind Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
However, Team Canada Coach Mike Keenan wanted Hawerchuk to take on a checking role, and he did with the effort and determination he did everything.
That was highlighted in Game 3 of the final.
With the series tied 1-1, Canada fell behind 3-0 and 4-2 and it was wasn’t looking good. Then, the Canadians started doing something they were renowned for – the line of Hawerchuk, Brent Sutter and Rick Tocchet started hitting everything in sight, and Canada inched their way back into the game.
The comeback was keyed by Hawerchuk, who not only started hitting the Russians, but scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, to give Canada the 5-4 lead at the end of two periods. It was a gutsy goal he scored, fighting off a Soviet defender and muscling the puck into the net.
The best was yet to come.
The Soviets tied the game part way through the third period and overtime for the third straight game was looming.
Keenan had been juggling lines the whole series. With a face-off in Canada’s end with about 1:36 to play, he had Hawerchuk out on a line with Gretzky and Lemieux.
Hawerchuk won that draw, and Gretzky moved the puck up ice while Hawerchuk tied up a Soviet defender to allow defenceman Larry Murphy to jump into the play, creating a three-on-one. The rest is history. Gretzky to Lemieux who beat Russian goaltender Sergei Mylnikov with 1:26 to give Canada the lead and an eventual 6-5 win.
For his efforts, Hawerchuk was named the most valuable player of that game.
Parting thoughts
The outpouring of emotion when Dale Hawerchuk died illustrated just how big an impact he had on the lives of so many. His impact went beyond his hockey skill and talent.
The outpouring of emotion when Dale Hawerchuk died illustrated just how big an impact he had on the lives of so many. His impact went beyond his hockey skill and talent.
It was all about his character.
Hawerchuk was a born leader who led every team he played on whether he wore the “C” or not.
Part of that character was his humility and selflessness. At a time when he was one of the best scorers in the NHL, he took a defensive role. Through his dedication and determination, he made a bigger impact in that role than he would have had as a scorer.
He handled his illness with the same grace as he had as a hockey player.
In the end it was all about character, something he was born with and something he died with.
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