Fran Huck

Last updated
Fran Huck
Fran Huck 1973.jpg
Born (1945-12-04) December 4, 1945 (age 78)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Montreal Canadiens
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets
Minnesota Fighting Saints
ZSC Lions
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Playing career 19691978
Medal record
Winter Olympics
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1968 Grenoble
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1966 Yugoslavia
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1967 Austria

Anthony Francis Huck (born December 4, 1945) is a Canadian former ice hockey player. Huck played professionally in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA) between 1970 and 1978. However, his greatest contributions may have been with the Canadian national team during years before NHL players were allowed to compete internationally. His amateur career peaked at the 1968 Winter Olympics where he helped the team win the bronze medal. In 1999, Huck was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

Contents

Amateur career

Huck excelled in junior hockey with the Regina Pats. His achievements included winning the scoring title, making the all-star team and being named league MVP. [1] After junior, Huck shocked many by joining the Canadian national team instead of the NHL. At the time the program, run by Father David Bauer, afforded hockey players the alternative of pursuing higher education while still playing hockey. [2] Huck wanted to study law. He was with the national team from 1965 to 1969 winning the bronze medal at the 1968 Olympics and also bronze at the IIHF World Championships in 1966 and 1967.

Professional career

After playing with the national team, Huck began his professional career with the Montreal Canadiens, followed by two seasons with the St. Louis Blues and the Western Hockey League's Denver Spurs. He then moved over to the WHA, joining the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Fighting Saints. In all, Huck played three seasons in the NHL and five in the WHA. He retired after the 1977-78 season.

Personal life and post-hockey career

Huck graduated from the University of Manitoba with a law degree in 1970. Today he is a practicing lawyer in British Columbia. He is also senior partner in a firm which specializes in helping former athletes make the transition to life after their sporting career. [3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1962–63 Regina Pats SJHL 28411152054268
1963–64 Regina PatsSJHL6286671531041922184060
1963–64 Estevan Bruins M-Cup 53034
1963–64 Edmonton Oil Kings M-Cup42350
1964–65 Regina PatsSJHL567759136361210132318
1964–65 Edmonton Oil KingsM-Cup101510254
1965–66 Canadian National Team Intl
1966–67Canadian National TeamIntl
1967–68 Ottawa Nationals OHA Sr 188172524
1968–69Canadian National TeamIntl
1969–70Canadian National TeamIntl
1969–70 Montreal Canadiens NHL 20000
1969–70 Montreal Voyageurs AHL 21230
1970–71 Montreal CanadiensNHL51230
1970–71 Montreal VoyageursAHL3112172918
1970–71 St. Louis Blues NHL2978151861232
1971–72 Denver Spurs WHL 72286391839941316
1972–73 St. Louis BluesNHL581620362052240
1973–74 Winnipeg Jets WHA 742648746840002
1974–75 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA782245672612313166
1975–76 Minnesota Fighting SaintsWHA5917324927
1976–77 Zürcher SC NLB
1976–77 Winnipeg JetsWHA122241070226
1977–78 Winnipeg JetsWHA50002
WHA totals2286712719413323315184
NHL totals9424305438113472

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1966 Canada WC 74488
1967 CanadaWC756116
1968 Canada OLY 745910
1969 CanadaWC1032512
Junior totals3116173336

Honours and awards

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References

  1. "Regina Pats History: 1963-1964 - Season - the Fran Huck Era". Archived from the original on 2009-10-30. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  2. "UBC Sports Hall of Fame :: Inductees". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  3. "Fran Huck". LinkedIn. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  4. "The Official Website of Hockey Canada".
  5. Morris, David (31 October 1999). "He's one of just a few". Regina Sun . Regina, Saskatchewan. p. 30. Retrieved 30 June 2023.