Kenny Wharram obit

Former Blackhawk Ken Wharram dies at 83

 He was not on the list.

Ken Wharram, who won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1961, died Tuesday, the North Bay (Ontario) Nugget reports.

He was 83.

Wharram recorded seven straight 20-goal seasons from 1962-69 in his 14-year NHL career. He was twice named an All-Star and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, given to the player to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct with a high standard of play, in 1964. In that season, he scored 39 goals and had 32 assists.

Wharram found his role with the Hawks when he was linked with Hall of Famers Stan Mikita and Ted Lindsay in the 1959-60 season. The trio formed the original “Scooter Line” and after Lindsay retired, Ab McDonald and Doug Mohns played at left wing with Wharram and Mikita.

“Kenny Wharram will always be remembered as an important member of this decorated franchise and we are grateful to have him in the Blackhawks family,” the team said in a statement. “A member of the 1961 Stanley Cup Championship team, Ken was one of the most consistent scorers throughout his Blackhawks career. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Wharram family as we mourn his loss.”

Wharram reached the 30-goal mark three times in his career. His career came to an end during training camp in 1969 when he with myocarditis, a virus that attacks heart muscle. He’s 11th in Hawks history with 252 career goals in 766 games.

Wharram is the second notable former Black Hawk death in less than a year. Tom Lysiak died of Leukemia in May 2016 at age 63.

He played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League, all with the Chicago Black Hawks, wearing number 17. He won a Stanley Cup in 1961.

Wharram started his hockey career with his hometown team the North Bay Black Hawks in 1949 before switching the next season to the Galt Black Hawks for whom he played three seasons. He played one match for the Galt team's parent club the Chicago Black Hawks in 1951 before returning for another season to Galt. He played 29 matches for the Hawks in 1953–54 but spent an equal amount of time at the Quebec Aces in the Quebec Hockey League before joining the American Hockey League Buffalo Bisons in 1954. Under the training of Bisons' coach Harry Watson he enjoyed four productive seasons, made the AHL's second all star team in 1955, and returned to Chicago to stay in 1958.

Wharram still seemed to struggle to find a spot on the Hawks until he was teamed on a line with Stan Mikita. Mikita and Wharram meshed well together and Wharram's production - attributable to his considerable speed and puck-handling skills - soared. He would have seven straight seasons scoring 20 or more goals.

All that was needed was a left winger, and the Hawks got one in veteran Ted Lindsay, then near the end of his career. It would be Lindsay, Mikita and Wharram who formed the original Scooter Line. After Lindsay retired, Ab McDonald assumed the honors, and it would be this version of the Scooter Line in force when the Hawks won the 1961 Stanley Cup. After McDonald was traded to the Boston Bruins, Doug Mohns was placed in the left wing spot. He won the Lady Byng Trophy in 1964.

 

Career statistics

                         Regular season              Playoffs

Season Team            League            GP            G            A            Pts            PIM            GP            G            A            Pts            PIM

1949–50            North Bay Black Hawks EOHL            2            0            1            1            0            —            —            —            —            —

1950–51            Galt Black Hawks            OHA-Jr.        53            35            38            73            28            3            2            3            5            2

1951–52            Galt Black Hawks            OHA-Jr.        45            35            79            114            37            —            —            —            —            —

1951–52            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            1            0            0            0            0            —            —            —            —            —

1952–53            Galt Black Hawks            OHA-Jr.        54            34            40            74            42            11            9            14            23            2

1953–54            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            29            1            7            8            8            —            —            —            —            —

1953–54            Quebec Aces    QHL            29            7            10            17            8            —            —            —            —            —

1954–55            Buffalo Bisons  AHL            63            33            49            82            15            10            9            7            16            4

1955–56            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            3            0            0            0            0            —            —            —            —            —

1955–56            Buffalo Bisons  AHL            59            27            63            90            27            5            4            2            6            2

1956–57            Buffalo Bisons  AHL            64            28            49            77            18            —            —            —            —            —

1957–58            Buffalo Bisons  AHL            58            31            26            57            14            —            —            —            —            —

1958–59            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            66            10            9            19            14            6            0            2            2            2

1959–60            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            59            14            11            25            16            4            1            1            2            0

1960–61            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            64            16            29            45            12            12            3            5            8            12

1961–62            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            62            14            23            37            24            12            3            4            7            8

1962–63            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            55            20            18            38            17            6            1            5            6            0

1963–64            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            70            39            32            71            18            7            2            2            4            6

1964–65            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            68            20            24            44            27            12            2            3            5            4

1965–66            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            69            26            17            43            28            6            1            0            1            4

1966–67            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            70            31            34            65            21            6            2            2            4            2

1967–68            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            74            27            42            69            18            9            1            3            4            0

1968–69            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            76            30            39            69            19            —            —            —            —            —

NHL totals            766            252            281            533            222            80            16            27            43            38