Barry Ashbee

William Barry Ashbee (July 28, 1939 – May 12, 1977) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played five seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.

Barry Ashbee
Born (1939-07-28)July 28, 1939
Weston, Ontario, Canada
Died May 12, 1977(1977-05-12) (aged 37)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Boston Bruins
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 1959–1974

Playing career

Ashbee played his junior hockey with the Barrie Flyers in the Ontario Hockey Association, started his professional career by playing eight seasons with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, although he did play 14 games with the Boston Bruins of the NHL during the 1965–66 season. He became an NHL regular with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1970–71 season, and soon became one of their best defensemen. He was named to the NHL Second All-Star team and won a Stanley Cup with the team during the 1973–74 season, and had a +52 plus/minus rating during the regular season. However, his career also ended that year during the playoffs against the New York Rangers.

Eye injury

During the overtime of Game #4 of a 1974 Stanley Cup semifinal series, a slap shot by Dale Rolfe of the New York Rangers struck Ashbee in the right eye. He was removed from the ice on a stretcher and never played again. [1] According to Ashbee's obituary in the New York Times, Ashbee's vision in his injured eye was permanently reduced to 15 percent. Ironically, Rolfe and Ashbee had been roommates in junior hockey in Canada and teammates on the AHL Hershey Bears.

Retirement and death

Ashbee became an assistant coach with the team the next season, though he initially declined the job because he thought it was offered to him just out of sympathy. During his first season as an assistant coach, the Flyers won their second straight Stanley Cup. Ashbee had his name added to the cup for a second time. Ashbee was told that he had leukemia in April, 1977, and he died the next month.

His jersey number, 4, was retired by the Flyers on October 13, 1977[2][3] and the Barry Ashbee Trophy is now awarded each season to the best defenseman for the Flyers.

Awards
  • NHL All-Star Second Team (1974)
  • Stanley Cup Champions Player (1974), assistant coach (1975)

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1956–57 Barrie Flyers OHA-Jr. 34 0 4 4 23 3 0 0 0 0
1957–58 Lakeshore Bruins MetJHL — — — — — — — — — —
1958–59 Barrie Flyers OHA-Jr. 53 8 22 30 108 6 0 3 3 12
1959–60 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 62 2 11 13 72 — — — — —
1960–61 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 64 4 11 15 75 5 0 0 0 14
1961–62 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 35 2 7 9 87 — — — — —
1962–63 Hershey Bears AHL 72 0 17 17 94 15 0 2 2 34
1963–64 Hershey Bears AHL 72 3 6 9 142 6 0 0 0 12
1964–65 Hershey Bears AHL 66 3 13 16 114 14 0 0 0 22
1965–66 Boston Bruins NHL 14 0 3 3 14 — — — — —
1965–66 Hershey Bears AHL 36 1 10 11 100 3 0 0 0 6
1966–67 Hershey Bears AHL — — — — — — — — — —
1967–68 Hershey Bears AHL 65 5 15 20 86 5 0 1 1 4
1968–69 Hershey Bears AHL 71 5 29 34 130 11 2 5 7 14
1969–70 Hershey Bears AHL 72 5 25 30 80 7 0 1 1 24
1970–71 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 64 4 23 27 44 — — — — —
1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 73 6 14 20 75 — — — — —
1972–73 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 64 1 17 18 106 11 0 4 4 20
1973–74 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 69 4 13 17 52 6 0 0 0 2
AHL totals 454 22 115 137 746 61 2 9 11 116
NHL totals 284 15 70 85 291 17 0 4 4 22

References
  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?start=1013&v=mBVeOUo5rHM&feature=youtu.be
  2. "Flyers pay tribute to Barry Ashbee". AP. Calgary Herald. October 13, 1977. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  3. "Saleski Scores 2 Goals As Flyers Top Hawks". Milwaukee Sentinel. October 14, 1977. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
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