Bronco Horvath obit

Bruins’ legend Bronco Horvath passes away

Horvath made his mark playing on Boston's famed “Uke Line”

 

He was not on the list.

A legend of the Boston Bruins has passed away. Bronco Horvath, who spent four seasons with the Bruins from 1957 to 1961, was 89 years old.

While he played for five of the Original Six teams throughout his career (Detroit being the only one he didn't suit up with), he’s best remembered for his time in Boston playing on the “Uke Line.” It was comprised of Horvath, Johnny Bucyk and Vic Stasiuk, who were all Canadians of Ukrainian decent. Horvath missed out on the Art Ross Trophy in 1959–60 by a single point to Bobby Hull, He did, however, tie Hull for the goal-scoring lead at 39.

Despite having 326 points in 434 NHL games (141 goals, 185 assists), Horvath also spent several seasons in the AHL, mostly with the Rochester Americans. He won three Calder Cup championships with the team (1964–65, 1965–66 and 1967–68), and was among the league's scoring leaders for several seasons.

Following his retirement from playing in 1970, Horvath went on the coach the London Knights of the OHL. He then moved to South Yarmouth, Massachusetts when he was named coach of the Cape Cod Cubs, an expansion team in the Eastern Hockey League, in 1972. He coached the Cubs to a regular-season divisional championship and a sweep of their first-round playoff series with the Long Island Ducks before a powerful Syracuse Blazers team ended Cape Cod's league championship hopes. Horvath returned as coach for the 1973–74 season with the Cubs, who were charter members of the new North American Hockey League, but was fired after the team got off to a slow start. His last coaching job was a brief stint at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. He would live out the rest of his days in Cape Cod and was said to enjoy an occasional game of golf, even in his later years.

Our sincere condolences to Horvath’s family and friends on his passing.

 

areer statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season             Playoffs

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

1948–49            Galt Black Hawks            OHA-Jr.        33            22            18            40            45            —            —            —            —            —

1949–50            Galt Red Wings            OHA-Jr.        47            20            33            53            91            —            —            —            —            —

1949–50            Grand Rapids Rockets            EAHL            5            6            1            7            12            6            2            6            8            8

1950–51            Springfield Indians            AHL            43            12            26            38            37            2            0            0            0            0

1951–52            Syracuse Warriors            AHL            50            12            36            48            56            —            —            —            —            —

1952–53            Syracuse Warriors            AHL            52            19            40            59            44            4            0            0            0            2

1953–54            Springfield Indians            QHL            19            11            14            25            25            —            —            —            —            —

1953–54            Syracuse Warriors            AHL            46            21            39            60            54            —            —            —            —            —

1954–55            Edmonton Flyers            WHL            67            50            60            110            71            16            12            7            19            40

1955–56            New York Rangers            NHL            66            12            17            29            40            5            1            2            3            4

1956–57            New York Rangers            NHL            7            1            2            3            4            —            —            —            —            —

1956–57            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            1            0            0            0            0            —            —            —            —            —

1956–57            Rochester Americans            AHL            56            37            44            81            39            10            6            7            13            14

1957–58            Boston Bruins   NHL            67            30            36            66            71            12            5            3            8            8

1958–59            Boston Bruins   NHL            45            19            20            39            58            7            2            3            5            0

1959–60            Boston Bruins   NHL            68            39            41            80            60            —            —            —            —            —

1960–61            Boston Bruins   NHL            47            15            15            30            15            —            —            —            —            —

1961–62            Chicago Black Hawks            NHL            68            17            29            46            21            12            4            1            5            6

1962–63            New York Rangers            NHL            41            7            15            22            34            —            —            —            —            —

1962–63            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            10            0            4            4            12            —            —            —            —            —

1962–63            Rochester Americans            AHL            18            7            15            22            6            —            —            —            —            —

1963–64            Rochester Americans            AHL            70            25            59            84            28            2            0            0            0            2

1964–65            Rochester Americans            AHL            72            38            68            106            24            10            4            5            9            16

1965–66            Rochester Americans            AHL            70            27            48            75            34            12            3            7            10            22

1966–67            Rochester Americans            AHL            72            29            49            78            54            12            2            7            9            2

1967–68            Tulsa Oilers   CPHL            4            1            2            3            0            —            —            —            —            —

1967–68            Rochester Americans            AHL            44            15            29            44            10            10            0            7            7            0

1967–68            Minnesota North Stars            NHL            14            1            6            7            4            —            —            —            —            —

1968–69            Rochester Americans            AHL            66            18            30            48            30            —            —            —            —            —

1969–70            Rochester Americans            AHL            5            3            1            4            0            —            —            —            —            —

AHL totals            664            263            484            747            416            62            15            33            48            58

NHL totals            434            141            185            326            319            36            12            9            21            18