THUNDER BAY – Dennis Maruk may be the most unheralded 60-goal scorer in NHL history.
The now 61-year-old turned the trick in 1981-82, adding 76 assists, his 136 points good enough for fourth on the NHL’s scoring parade, behind future hall-of-famers Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy and Peter Stastny.
Another trio of hall-of-famers followed – Bryan Trottier, Denis Savard and Marcel Dionne.
That’s pretty good company for Maruk, author of two 50-goal seasons in an injury plagued career that started with the California Seals, continued with the Cleveland Barons and led him to Minnesota and Washington – where he experienced his most productive NHL years, before retiring after the 1988-89 campaign.
He’s never lost the love of the game and on Friday laced up his skates to take part in the Celebrity Hockey Classic in support of Easter Seals at Thunder Bay’s Tournament Centre.
His famous fu Manchu moustache now a graying goatee, Maruk has never lost the love of the game, only too happy to hit the ice again in support of a good cause, still on the road to recovery from recent heart surgery.
“So far I think we’re a little gun shy, a little tired, but it will come,” said Maruk, who finished his NHL career with 356 goals and 878 points in 888 appearances over 14 seasons, two of which were drastically cut short by injury.
“The ice is nice and hard and cold, but we’re having fun and that’s the main thing.”
That’s what it’s all about, said Maruk, author of the recent book The Unforgettable Story of Hockey’s Forgotten 60-Goal Man.
The Toronto native was one of six former NHLers taking part in the event, one per team entered into the day-long fundraiser.
Also on board was former Toronto Maple Leafs greats Wendel Clark and Al Iafrate, one-time first-round pick Wayne Primeau, ex-Montreal Canadiens defender Ric Nattress and tough guy P.J. Stock, who had stints with Boston, Philadelphia, Montreal and New York before trading in his skates for a microphone and a job with Hockey Night in Canada.
Clark, who scored his team’s opening goal after an early morning coffee boost, said it’s a great cause to get behind.
“It started last night with the draft and getting to know everyone and now we get to play a little hockey. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Clark, decked out in his familiar Toronto Maple Leafs captain’s jersey.
“We do a lot of different Easter Seals events throughout the country. This is a new one in hockey country and should be a lot of fun to meet the people and raise money for a great cause.”
Stock, who has been involved with ALS charities since his younger brother Dean died of the disease last year, said he’s only too glad to give his time to help out.
“I’ve been very fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to have time and be able to help out other people,” he said. “I lost a brother last year to ALS … and until you understand what it’s like to be one of the charities, it puts a whole new twist on everything. Anytime or opportunity I have to help out someone else, or any family or child I’m going to jump at the opportunity.”
Organizer Rhonda Harrison said six teams is a great start, but they’re hoping to increase that number in Year 2.
