Former National Hockey League player, coach and broadcaster Barry Melrose of Kelvington, Saskatchewan passed away on Wednesday at the age of 70 according to Faizal Khamisa of Rogers Sportsnet. The cause of death was Parkinson’s Disease.
Melrose was a NHL defenseman for six NHL seasons from 1979 to 1986. He was with the Winnipeg Jets for two seasons from 1979 to 1980, the Toronto Maple Leafs for three seasons from 1980 to 1983, and the Montreal Canadiens for two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings in 1983 and 1986.
In 300 NHL games from 1979 to 1986, Melrose had 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points. He was a -119 with 728 penalty minutes, one power-play point, two shorthanded points, one game-winning goal, and 236 shots on goal. The game-winning goal came on February 17, 1980 in a 6-5 Jets win over the Quebec Nordiques. Melrose broke a 5-5 tie at 7:48 of the third period from Morris Lukowich of Speers, Saskatchewan and Ron Wilson.
After retirement, Melrose became a hockey coach. He won the Memorial Cup with the Medicine Hat Tigers in 1988 and the Calder Cup with the Adirondack Red Wings in 1992.
Melrose then went on to be a NHL head coach. He was with the Los Angeles Kings from 1992 to 1995, and again with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008. Melrose had a record of 84 wins, 108 regulation losses, 29 ties and four losses in extra time.
However, Melrose could be best known as a broadcaster. He was with ESPN from 1994 to 2023. In 1994, Melrose won a Sports Emmy award.
