Bob Sabourin obit

Robert Sabourin Obituary

 He was not on the list.

Sabourin, Robert (Bob) Patrick Sabourin, 87, long time resident of Jacksonville passed away at his home on July 9th.

Bob was born in Sudbury, Ontario. He was preceded in death by parents Ernest & Marie, brothers Raymond & Wilfred, and sister Rachel. He is survived by his wife of 67 years Eileen, son Pierre, daughters Renée Sabourin and Micheline Chelette (husband Mike) and Nicole Scheuer (husband Craiger), granddaughter Noelle Chelette, sister Madeleine, brother Jacques, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bob's first passion was hockey. His career spanned from the 1950s to the 1990s over seven professional league where he played, coached, managed, and owned. He was a hockey pioneer bringing in Florida's first professional team, the Jacksonville Rockets.

Bob's second passion was the entertainment industry. For 30 years in Jacksonville, Bob promoted rock concerts, sporting events, and various entertainers.

He was also active in the community volunteering his time and services to many worthy groups and causes.

Bob had a great sense of humor. Those who knew him were often greeted with, "Hey bird dog! Where's that $2.50 you owe me for that cup of coffee two years ago?"

A left winger, he played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL), for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1951–52 NHL season. He later played in the minor leagues, eventually joining the Jacksonville Rockets of the Eastern Hockey League in the 1960s. He subsequently became their head coach and general manager, serving with the team until they folded in 1971. Afterward he remained in Jacksonville, where he formed an advertising company with partner Jimmy Murdock to promote concerts, professional wrestling, and other events. He later owned the skating rink Skate World (now Jacksonville Ice) and owned another hockey team, the Jacksonville Bullets, which folded in 1996. He died on July 9, 2020.

 

                        Regular season              Playoffs

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

1948–49            Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA            10            2            2            4            0            —            —            —            —            —

1949–50            Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA            47            21            11            32            38            5            3            0            3            2

1950–51            Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA            54            25            18            43            54            —            —            —            —            —

1951–52            Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA            51            31            23            54            26            8            2            4            6            4

1951–52            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            1            0            0            0            2            —            —            —            —            —

1952–53            Pittsburgh Hornets            AHL            51            22            20            42            19            10            6            0            6            14

1953–54            Ottawa Senators            QSHL            4            2            5            7            2            —            —            —            —            —

1953–54            Pittsburgh Hornets            AHL            64            16            30            46            29            5            3            1            4            6

1954–55            Pittsburgh Hornets            AHL            49            8            19            27            14            3            0            0            0            2

1955–56            Pittsburgh Hornets            AHL            47            6            16            22            39            3            0            0            0            0

1956–57            Springfield Indians            AHL            59            11            29            40            21            —            —            —            —            —

1957–58            Quebec Aces    QSHL            64            28            32            60            8            13            5            1            6            12

1958–59            Trois-Rivières Lions            QSHL            59            25            25            50            12            8            1            2            3            5

1959–60            Trois-Rivières Lions            EPHL            66            22            31            53            24            4            1            0            1            14

1960–61            Kitchener Beavers            EPHL            70            20            36            56            24            7            1            1            2            2

1961–62            North Bay Trappers            EPHL            67            12            24            36            16            —            —            —            —            —

1962–63            Sudbury Wolves            EPHL            1            0            0            0            0            —            —            —            —            —

1962–63            Seattle Totems WHL            41            15            18            33            10            17            8            9            17            6

1963–64            Seattle Totems WHL            68            13            19            32            15            —            —            —            —            —

1964–65            Seattle Totems WHL            57            11            10            21            12            7            1            0            1            4

1965–66            Long Island Ducks            EHL            72            31            43            74            40            12            3            7            10            22

1966–67            Florida Rockets            EHL            71            16            30            46            38            —            —            —            —            —

1967–68            Florida Rockets            EHL            55            13            22            35            10            —            —            —            —            —

AHL totals            270            63            114            177            122            21            9            1            10            22

EPHL totals            204            54            91            145            64            11            2            1            3            16

NHL totals            1            0            0            0            2            —            —            —            —            —