Ernest Charles “Butch” Deadmarsh (born April 5, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. Deadmarsh was drafted in the second round, 15th overall, of the 1970 NHL amateur draft by the Buffalo Sabres, the second player the franchise ever drafted after Gil Perreault. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Sabres, Atlanta Flames, and Kansas City Scouts. He also played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Vancouver Blazers, Calgary Cowboys, Minnesota Fighting Saints, Edmonton Oilers, and Cincinnati Stingers.

Professional career

Deadmarsh started his professional career in the 1970–71 season for Buffalo's then-farm team, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He made his NHL debut that year, and played a handful of games the following year, while spending most of his time with the Cincinnati Swords of the American Hockey League (AHL), leading his team in goals. After a strong start with the Swords in 1973, he was called up to Buffalo, being traded later that season to the Atlanta Flames for Norm Gratton.

After being claimed from the Flames by the Kansas City Scouts in the 1974 NHL expansion draft, Deadmarsh scored the game-winning goal in Kansas City's first-ever NHL victory versus the Washington Capitals in November 1974.

However, the Scouts sold his rights later that year to the Vancouver Blazers of the World Hockey Association (WHA), the first-ever such transaction, after Deadmarsh demanded to be dealt there, having signed a contract with the Blazers to take place after the 1974–75 season. The Blazers relocated to Calgary the following year, and Deadmarsh had his best professional season, finishing fourth in team scoring with 26 goals and 28 assists, as well as leading the Cowboys in penalty minutes with 196.

In his NHL career, Deadmarsh played in 137 games, scoring twelve goals and adding five assists. He played in 255 WHA games, scoring 63 goals and adding 66 assists. He is a second cousin of former NHL player Adam Deadmarsh.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1966–67Kelowna BuckaroosBCJHL——————————
1967–68Kelowna BuckaroosBCJHL——————————
1968–69Brandon Wheat KingsWCHL471923421305224—
1969–70Brandon Wheat KingsWCHL54373370301435820
1970–71Buffalo SabresNHL100009—————
1970–71Salt Lake Golden EaglesWHL5911920128—————
1971–72Buffalo SabresNHL121124—————
1971–72Cincinnati SwordsAHL6434276114510681433
1972–73Buffalo SabresNHL3411226—————
1972–73Cincinnati SwordsAHL12741120—————
1972–73Atlanta FlamesNHL191018—————
1973–74Atlanta FlamesNHL4261789400017
1974–75Kansas City ScoutsNHL2032519—————
1974–75Vancouver BlazersWHA387815128—————
1975–76Calgary CowboysWHA79262854196801114
1976–77Minnesota Fighting SaintsWHA35941351—————
1976–77Calgary CowboysWHA3813173077—————
1977–78Edmonton OilersWHA2013432—————
1977–78Cincinnati StingersWHA45761386—————
NHL totals13712517155400017
WHA totals2556366129570801114

External links

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