Walt McKechnie

Last updated
Walt McKechnie
Born (1947-06-19) June 19, 1947 (age 76)
London, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Minnesota North Stars
California Golden Seals
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Cleveland Barons
Washington Capitals
Toronto Maple Leafs
Colorado Rockies
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft 6th overall, 1963
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1963–1984

Walter Thomas John McKechnie (born June 19, 1947) is a Canadian former professional hockey centre. He played for nine teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) and four minor professional teams over a 17-year pro career. Being drafted sixth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1963 NHL amateur draft, he is the franchise's first ever draft pick.

Contents

Playing career

McKechnie was drafted sixth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1963 NHL amateur draft of 16-year-old players. He played junior hockey with the London Nationals from 1965 to 1967 before turning professional with the Phoenix Roadrunners of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the 1967–68 season, where he was named the league's rookie of the year. In February 1968, he was acquired by the expansion Minnesota North Stars and played four games in the NHL regular season followed by nine playoff games. For the next three years, he split his time between the North Stars and their minor league affiliates.

In May 1971, McKechnie was traded to the California Golden Seals and received a lot of ice time over his three years with the team, scoring 23 goals and 52 points in the 1973–74 season. In June 1974, he was involved in a three-way trade using the intra-league draft where he was claimed by the New York Rangers and immediately sent to the Boston Bruins for Derek Sanderson. He struggled with the Bruins and was dealt mid-season to the Detroit Red Wings. The next year in Detroit, he put up what would be his NHL career-high numbers, with 26 goals and 82 points, leading the team in scoring. McKechnie followed that a 25-goal season in 1976–77. After the season, he played for Team Canada in the 1977 World Ice Hockey Championships.

Before the next season, McKechnie was traded to the Washington Capitals. He got off to a poor start in Washington and was traded to the Cleveland Barons in December 1977. McKechnie became the property of the Minnesota North Stars when the Barons and North Stars franchises were merged following the 1977–78 season. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to the 1978–79 season, where he scored 25 goals. His goal production dropped the next year, and McKechnie was traded to the Colorado Rockies, where he continued to struggle. He was signed as a free agent by the Red Wings in 1981 and rebounded with an 18-goal season, followed by 14 goals in 1982–83. McKechnie spent the 1983–84 season in the Central Hockey League (CHL) with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles and then retired at age 37. In 955 career NHL games, he scored 214 goals and 392 assists for 606 points.

Personal

McKechnie was a regular at The Strand Billiards in London while playing for the Ontario Hockey Association's London Nationals during the mid-1960s. The pool hall, owned by the late Len Bonk since it first opened in 1952 and closed in September 2005, was like a second home to McKechnie, who refers to The Strand as "the academy." [1]

From 1986 to 2009 he owned and operated "McKeck's", a family-style restaurant on Highland Street in Haliburton, Ontario. He has retired from that business, but the restaurant still operates under the same name. In 2009, McKechnie was inducted into the London Sports Hall of Fame. [2]

Most recently his efforts are directed at fundraising for Prostate Cancer Canada.

McKechnie was elected to Dysart et al municipal council in 2010, and was acclaimed as the municipality's deputy mayor in the 2022 municipal elections. [3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1963–64 London Nationals WOHL ——————————
1965–66London NationalsWOHL46132841686710172
1966–67London NationalsWOHL48134659125—————
1967–68London NationalsWOHL10002—————
1967–68 Phoenix Roadrunners WHL 672430542441122
1967–68 Minnesota North Stars NHL 4000093250
1968–69 Minnesota North StarsNHL58591422—————
1968–69 Phoenix RoadrunnersWHL10311146—————
1969–70 Minnesota North StarsNHL2013421—————
1969–70 Iowa Stars CHL 421724418211191018
1970–71 Minnesota North StarsNHL3031434—————
1970–71 Cleveland Barons AHL 3516314728824610
1971–72 California Golden Seals NHL5611203140—————
1972–73 California Golden SealsNHL7816385458—————
1973–74 California Golden SealsNHL6323295214—————
1974–75 Boston Bruins NHL533368—————
1974–75 Detroit Red Wings NHL23611176—————
1975–76 Detroit Red WingsNHL8026568285—————
1976–77 Detroit Red WingsNHL8025345950—————
1977–78 Washington Capitals NHL164150—————
1977–78 Cleveland Barons NHL5312223412—————
1978–79 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL792536611864379
1979–80 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL54736434—————
1979–80 Colorado Rockies NHL170442—————
1980–81 Colorado RockiesNHL5315233818—————
1981–82 Detroit Red WingsNHL7418375535—————
1982–83 Detroit Red WingsNHL6414294342—————
1983–84 Salt Lake Golden Eagles CHL699324136—————
NHL totals9552143926064691575129

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1977 Canada WC 1016728
Senior totals1016728

Related Research Articles

The 1947–48 NHL season was the 31st season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 60 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the Stanley Cup winners. They defeated the Detroit Red Wings four games to none. This season saw the introduction of a new trophy – Art Ross Trophy – that would be handed out to the player who scored the most points during the regular season.

The 1967–68 NHL season was the 51st season of the National Hockey League. The league expanded to 12 teams, putting the new six in the newly created West Division, while the "Original Six" were all placed in the newly created East Division. The regular season schedule was expanded to 74 games per team and featured the first time all twelve teams played games on the same day on October 18, 1967. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup against the new St. Louis Blues, in four games.

The 1963–64 NHL season was the 47th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs won their third consecutive Stanley Cup by defeating the Detroit Red Wings four games to three in the final series.

The 1935–36 NHL season was the 19th season of the National Hockey League (NHL). The St. Louis Eagles dropped out of the league, leaving eight teams. The Detroit Red Wings were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs three games to one in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The 1971–72 NHL season was the 55th season of the National Hockey League. Fourteen teams each played 78 games. The Boston Bruins beat the New York Rangers four games to two for their second Stanley Cup in three seasons in the finals.

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References

  1. ↑ 'London Free Press , February 18, 2006.
  2. ↑ "Inductees". London Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Fearrey and McKechnie set to lead Dysart council". Haliburton Echo. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
Preceded by
None
 Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick
1963 		Succeeded by
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