According to Josh Erickson of Pro Hockey Rumors on Thursday, former National Hockey League defenseman Ed Van Impe of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan passed away at the age of 84 on Tuesday. He played 11 NHL seasons with the Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
In 703 NHL games, Van Impe had 27 goals and 126 assists for 153 points. He was a +99 with 1024 penalty minutes, 15 power-play points, five game-winning goals, three shorthanded goals, and 819 shots on goal. Then in the playoffs, Van Impe had one goal and 12 assists for 13 points in 66 games. He was a +7 with 130 penalty minutes, three power-play points and 68 shots on goal. Van Impe’s postseason goal came at 10:37 of the second period on April 23, 1974. The goal was unassisted and put the Flyers up 2-0 in a 5-3 Philadelphia win over the New York Rangers in game two of the 1974 Stanley Cup semifinals.
The Flyers went on to win the 1974 Stanley Cup. They defeated the Boston Bruins in six games for their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Philadelphia then won the 1975 Stanley Cup with Van Impe. They defeated the Buffalo Sabres in six games in the 1975 Stanley Cup Final.
Van Impe was a three-time NHL All-Star. He was honoured in 1969, 1974 and 1975. Van Impe was also a Calder Trophy finalist in 1967 with Chicago. However, he lost out to Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr of Parry Sound, Ontario.
