Dunc Wilson
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Duncan Shepherd Wilson (March 22, 1948 – October 8, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who spent ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1969 and 1979, with the Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Wilson made his NHL debut with Philadelphia in 1970, and then spent three seasons with the expansion Canucks. Traded to Toronto in 1973, he played part of two seasons there before going to New York in 1975, and then to Pittsburgh for two seasons before finishing his NHL career with the Canucks in 1979.
Playing career
Wilson was originally signed by the Boston Bruins and rose through their junior system, but was drafted away by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1968 just before turning professional. He spent two seasons with the Quebec Aces, Philadelphia's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, appearing in a single NHL game for the Flyers in the 1969–70 NHL season, on February 26, 1970 against the Chicago Black Hawks.
Wilson was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft. In Vancouver, he was one of three goaltenders carried by the team in their inaugural campaign. His first season was rocky, as he posted a dismal 3–25–2 record in 35 appearances. However, he was recognized as having significant potential, and at age 22 was viewed as the club's long-term starter over Charlie Hodge, the team's main goaltending option that year, who was 37.
When Hodge retired following a contract dispute, Wilson became Vancouver's starting goalie for 1971–72. He appeared in 53 games for the Canucks, posting a 16–30–3 record (his backups went 4–20–5) and a 3.61 GAA. In 1972–73, he had another solid year, finishing 13–21–5 with a 3.94 GAA.
In 1973, Vancouver acquired highly rated veteran Gary "Suitcase" Smith to be the team's starting goalie and Wilson was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He spent nearly two seasons in Toronto backing up Doug Favell before being waived, and he was claimed by the New York Rangers late in the 1974–75 season. He backed up John Davidson for the Rangers in 1975–76, but won just five games and being demoted briefly to the minors for the first time since 1970.
Dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a draft pick, Wilson bounced back in 1976–77. As Pittsburgh's starting netminder, he appeared in 45 games and posted an 18–19–8 record and a sparkling 2.95 GAA along with five shutouts. In the process, he was named team MVP by both the franchise and their booster club. However, in 1977–78 he lost his starting job to Denis Herron, and posted a 5–11–3 record with a dismal 4.83 GAA.
Wilson started the 1978–79 season in the AHL after losing the backup job to rookie Greg Millen, and was sold back to the Canucks a month into the season. However, his performance was no better in Vancouver as he won just twice in 17 appearances, and he retired at the end of the season.
Following his retirement he sued the Canucks, alleging that they did not properly treat a mole which turned out to be skin cancer, and which later required extensive surgery to remove, helping to prematurely end his career. He lost his $400,000 lawsuit in front of the Supreme Court of British Columbia on November 18, 1983.
In 287 career NHL games, Wilson posted an 80–150–33 record along with eight shutouts and a 3.74 GAA.
Death
Wilson died on October 8, 2023, in Utila, Honduras, where he had been living for several years.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
| 1964–65 | Oshawa Generals | OHA | 2 | — | — | — | 70 | 8 | 0 | 6.86 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1965–66 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA | 22 | — | — | — | 137 | 82 | 1 | 3.59 | — | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 240 | 17 | 0 | 4.25 | — |
| 1966–67 | Niagara Falls Flyers | OHA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 9.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1966–67 | Peterborough Petes | OHA | 14 | — | — | — | 840 | 56 | 0 | 4.42 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1967–68 | Oshawa Generals | OHA | 30 | — | — | — | 1800 | 159 | 1 | 5.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1968–69 | Quebec Aces | AHL | 37 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 1814 | 98 | 0 | 3.24 | — | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 835 | 38 | 0 | 2.73 | — |
| 1969–70 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 3 | 0 | 3.02 | .885 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1969–70 | Quebec Aces | AHL | 57 | — | — | — | 3288 | 191 | 2 | 3.49 | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 272 | 10 | 0 | 2.21 | — |
| 1970–71 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 35 | 3 | 25 | 2 | 1784 | 128 | 0 | 4.30 | .881 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1971–72 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 53 | 16 | 30 | 3 | 2864 | 173 | 1 | 3.62 | .887 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1972–73 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 43 | 13 | 21 | 5 | 2418 | 159 | 1 | 3.94 | .880 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1973–74 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 24 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 1403 | 68 | 1 | 2.91 | .897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1974–75 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 25 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 1391 | 86 | 0 | 3.71 | .880 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1974–75 | New York Rangers | NHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 179 | 13 | 0 | 4.35 | .856 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | New York Rangers | NHL | 20 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 1076 | 76 | 0 | 4.24 | .862 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | Baltimore Clippers | AHL | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 325 | 15 | 1 | 2.77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1976–77 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 45 | 18 | 19 | 7 | 2622 | 129 | 5 | 2.95 | .906 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1977–78 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 21 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 1179 | 95 | 0 | 4.84 | .842 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1978–79 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 17 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 834 | 58 | 0 | 4.17 | .876 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1978–79 | Dallas Black Hawks | CHL | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 180 | 11 | 0 | 3.67 | .880 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1978–79 | Binghamton Dusters | AHL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 109 | 11 | 0 | 6.03 | .833 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | 287 | 80 | 150 | 32 | 15811 | 988 | 8 | 3.75 | .883 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from , or , or , or