Willie Marshall obit

HERSHEY BEARS MOURN THE PASSING OF WILLIE MARSHALL

 

He was not on the list.

The Hershey Bears are saddened to learn of the passing of Willie Marshall, one of the franchise's and American Hockey League's all-time greatest players. Marshall was 91.

"We mourn the loss of Willie Marshall, one of the Hershey Bears' and the American Hockey League's finest citizens," said Hershey vice president of hockey operations Bryan Helmer. "Willie left an indelible mark on our franchise's history. He was a champion, a leader, and a first-class person whose contributions to the league and game of hockey were immeasurable. Our thoughts are with Willie's family and friends during this difficult time."

Marshall played parts of seven seasons with Hershey from 1956-63, ranking sixth all-time in scoring for the Bears with 570 points (226g, 344a) in 439 career games. He remains the AHL's all-time leader in games played (1,205), goals (523), assists (852), and points (1,375). Marshall ranks second in league history with 119 career playoff points over 112 postseason games.

He won the AHL scoring title with the Bears in 1957-58, finishing with 104 points (40g, 64a) in 68 games, and added 19 points (10g, 9a) in 11 playoff games as Hershey captured the 1958 Calder Cup title. He returned to Hershey to lead the team to the 1959 Calder Cup title, his third AHL championship.

Marshall continued to average better than a point per game with Hershey, and in 1962 earned a nod as a Second Team AHL All-Star after registering 95 points in 70 games, including a career-best 65 assists.

Marshall had his number 16 retired by the Bears along with Mitch Lamoureux on Oct. 2, 1999. In 2004, the AHL honored its career scoring leader with the creation of the Willie Marshall Award, which is now presented annually to the AHL player who scores the most goals each season. He was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2006 and was a member of the inaugural class of the Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame in 2012.

 A talented scorer and playmaker, Marshall dominated the AHL over 20 seasons with the Pittsburgh Hornets (1952-56), Hershey Bears (1956-63), Rochester Americans (1958-59, 1971-72), Providence Reds (1963-66) and Baltimore Clippers (1966-71). More than a half-century after his retirement, Marshall remains the AHL’s career leader with 523 goals, 852 assists, 1,375 points and 1,205 games played.

 

The native of Kirkland Lake, Ont., was voted a First Team AHL All-Star in 1955-56 and again in 1957-58, when he won the league scoring title with a career-best 104 points in 68 games. He was also a Second Team All-Star selection in 1961-62.

 

Additionally, Marshall, a three-time Calder Cup champion (with Pittsburgh in 1955 and with Hershey in 1958 and 1959), ranks second in league history with 119 career playoff points over 112 postseason games.

“We mourn the loss of Willie Marshall, one of the Hershey Bears’ and the American Hockey League’s finest citizens,” said Bears vice president of hockey operations and AHL Hall of Fame member Bryan Helmer. “Willie left an indelible mark on our franchise’s history. He was a champion, a leader, and a first-class person whose contributions to the league and game of hockey were immeasurable. Our thoughts are with Willie’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

In 2004, the American Hockey League honored its career scoring leader with the creation of the Willie Marshall Award, which is now presented annually to the AHL player who scores the most goals each season. And in 2006, Marshall was one of seven members of the inaugural class of inductees into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.

“The Rochester Americans are deeply saddened by Willie’s passing,” said Amerks Hall of Famer Jody Gage, who alongside Marshall was a charter member of the AHL Hall of Fame Class of 2006. “Willie is and remains one of the most iconic figures in our league, and in the game of hockey, and he will be missed greatly. The entire Amerks organization extends its condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.”

Marshall will be remembered with a moment of silence tonight before Hershey and Rochester, two of his former teams, meet in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Rochester, New York.

“At a time when there were only six teams in the National Hockey League, Willie Marshall was one of the greatest players not just in the AHL but in the entire sport of hockey,” said AHL President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Howson. “His contributions helped shape the AHL’s tradition of excellence that continues to this day. But more importantly, Willie was a devoted family man of character and faith; our deepest condolences go out to his son Will; his daughters Ann, Jane, and Joanne; and his entire family.”

Marshall will be remembered with a moment of silence tonight before Hershey and Rochester, two of his former teams, meet in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Additionally, the Bears will hold a moment of silence for Marshall prior to the team's next home game.

 

Career statistics

 

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season             Playoffs

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

1948–49            Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA            32            13            18            31            14            —            —            —            —            —

1949–50            Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA            48            39            27            66            32            5            6            1            7            10

1950–51            Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHA            43            29            30            59            20            6            1            1            2            2

1950–51            Guelph Biltmores            OHA            4            4            3            7            2            —            —            —            —            —

1951–52            Charlottetown Islanders            MMHL            84            50            44            94            89            —            —            —            —            —

1952–53            Pittsburgh Hornets            AHL            62            27            39            66            58            10            1            8            9            13

1952–53            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            2            0            0            0            0            —            —            —            —            —

1953–54            Pittsburgh Hornets            AHL            61            28            45            73            41            5            1            4            5            2

1954–55            Pittsburgh Hornets            AHL            46            23            25            48            37            10            9            7            16            6

1954–55            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            16            1            4            5            0            —            —            —            —            —

1955–56            Pittsburgh Hornets            AHL            58            45            52            97            47            4            2            1            3            0

1955–56            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            6            0            0            0            0            —            —            —            —            —

1956–57            Hershey Bears AHL            64            35            59            94            18            7            3            7            10            4

1957–58            Hershey Bears AHL            68            40            64            104            56            11            10            9            19            6

1958–59            Rochester Americans            AHL            19            7            16            23            6            —            —            —            —            —

1958–59            Hershey Bears AHL            37            22            16            38            4            9            5            2            7            0

1958–59            Toronto Maple Leafs            NHL            9            0            1            1            2            —            —            —            —            —

1959–60            Hershey Bears AHL            72            38            40            78            99            —            —            —            —            —

1960–61            Hershey Bears AHL            56            25            44            69            36            7            3            5            8            2

1961–62            Hershey Bears AHL            70            30            65            95            24            7            0            6            6            0

1962–63            Hershey Bears AHL            72            36            56            92            12            15            3            7            10            10

1963–64            Providence Reds            AHL            72            33            50            83            18            3            2            3            5            0

1964–65            Providence Reds            AHL            69            12            44            56            12            —            —            —            —            —

1965–66            Providence Reds            AHL            70            13            27            40            8            —            —            —            —            —

1966–67            Baltimore Clippers            AHL            68            33            56            89            22            9            6            7            13            0

1967–68            Baltimore Clippers            AHL            51            24            41            65            2            —            —            —            —            —

1968–69            Baltimore Clippers            AHL            74            26            52            78            18            4            1            2            3            0

1969–70            Baltimore Clippers            AHL            42            9            19            28            0            5            2            2            4            0

1970–71            Baltimore Clippers            AHL            64            15            40            55            0            6            0            1            1            0

1971–72            Toledo Hornets            IHL            46            15            32            47            2            —            —            —            —            —

1971–72            Rochester Americans            AHL            10            2            2            4            2            —            —            —            —            —

1975–76            Buffalo Norsemen            NAHL            1            0            0            0            0            —            —            —            —            —

AHL totals            1205            523            852            1375            520            111            48            71            119            43

NHL totals            33            1            5            6            2            —            —            —            —            —