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Tony Esposito, the NHL Hall of Famer who played 15 of his 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, died of pancreatic cancer on Tuesday at age 78.
Esposito joined the Blackhawks in June 1969 after a stint on the Montreal Canadiens and immediately became their No. 1 option at goalie, Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz recalled in astatement.
The franchise, which previously finished last in the East Division before Esposito’s arrival, managed to reach first place after their star goalie registered 15 shutouts, which remains a modern record.
“The Blackhawks and the National Hockey League have lost a legend in Tony Esposito,” Wirtz wrote of the team’s former player.
Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty
“It is a sad day for the Blackhawks and all of hockey,” he added of the loss. “But with his wonderful family, let us celebrate a life well-lived. Tony Esposito’s banner will be part of the United Center forever, as will his legacy as a superstar, on and off the ice.”
Esposito — born April 23, 1943, in Ontario — helped the Blackhawks reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1971 and 1973, but lost both times to his former team, the Canadiens,ESPNreported.
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In a statement, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called Esposito “a beloved member of the hockey family.”
“It was Esposito’s style, charisma and heart that endeared him most to hockey fans not only in Chicago but across the NHL,” Bettman said. “The hockey world will miss him greatly.”
source: people.com
