Ed Van Impe
Encyclopedia
Edward Charles Van Impe (born May 27, 1940) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
defenceman who played in the National Hockey League
(NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks
, Philadelphia Flyers
and Pittsburgh Penguins
.
of the AHL
, Ed Van Impe saw his first NHL action with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1966–67. He had a solid rookie season as he was voted the runner-up to Bobby Orr
for the Calder Trophy.
Left unprotected for the expansion draft
that off-season, the Philadelphia Flyers
picked Van Impe off the Black Hawks roster. He played eight and a half seasons with the Flyers and was one of the teams best defensive blueliners, serving as the second captain
in franchise history from 1968 to 1973. His forte was hitting and shot-blocking, as well as clearing opponents from the area of his team's net. He was part of the Broad Street Bullies teams that won two Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975.
On January 11, 1976, at the Spectrum, Van Impe’s Flyers, as part of Super Series '76, played a memorable exhibition game against the Soviet Union's dominant Central Red Army team. Having just finished serving a hooking penalty, Van Impe left the penalty box and immediately placed a devastating hit on the Soviet Union’s Valeri Kharlamov, knocking the latter unconscious and causing him to lay prone of the ice for a short while. Van Impe's hit was not penalized and it resulted in the Soviets leaving the ice midway through the first period in protest. After 17 minute delay, the Soviets finally returned to the ice after they were warned that they would lose their salary for the entire series (200,000 USD) if they did not.
Van Impe's Flyer career came to an end mid-way through the 1975–76 season as he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Bobby Taylor
for Gary Inness
and cash. His Penguins career lasted a mere 22 games as he retired in 1976–77.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman who played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
.
Playing career
After playing his first five professional seasons with the Buffalo BisonsBuffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, Ed Van Impe saw his first NHL action with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1966–67. He had a solid rookie season as he was voted the runner-up to Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr
Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Orr played in the National Hockey League for his entire career, the first ten seasons with the Boston Bruins, joining the Chicago Black Hawks for two more. Orr is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest...
for the Calder Trophy.
Left unprotected for the expansion draft
1967 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1967 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 6, 1967, in the ballroom of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's six expansion teams for the 1967–68 season: the California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars,...
that off-season, the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
picked Van Impe off the Black Hawks roster. He played eight and a half seasons with the Flyers and was one of the teams best defensive blueliners, serving as the second captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
in franchise history from 1968 to 1973. His forte was hitting and shot-blocking, as well as clearing opponents from the area of his team's net. He was part of the Broad Street Bullies teams that won two Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975.
On January 11, 1976, at the Spectrum, Van Impe’s Flyers, as part of Super Series '76, played a memorable exhibition game against the Soviet Union's dominant Central Red Army team. Having just finished serving a hooking penalty, Van Impe left the penalty box and immediately placed a devastating hit on the Soviet Union’s Valeri Kharlamov, knocking the latter unconscious and causing him to lay prone of the ice for a short while. Van Impe's hit was not penalized and it resulted in the Soviets leaving the ice midway through the first period in protest. After 17 minute delay, the Soviets finally returned to the ice after they were warned that they would lose their salary for the entire series (200,000 USD) if they did not.
Van Impe's Flyer career came to an end mid-way through the 1975–76 season as he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Bobby Taylor
Bobby Taylor (ice hockey)
Robert Ian Taylor , affectionately known as "Chief", is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the colour commentator on Tampa Bay Lightning television broadcasts. Previously, he held the same role for the Philadelphia Flyers...
for Gary Inness
Gary Inness
Gary George Inness is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and teacher.-Playing career:Signed as a free agent in 1973 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Inness would play for parts of almost three seasons in Pittsburgh before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers...
and cash. His Penguins career lasted a mere 22 games as he retired in 1976–77.
Awards
- Won two Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s with the Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(1974, 1975) - Played in NHL All-Star Game three times (1969, 1974, 1975)
- Inducted into Flyers Hall of Fame (1993)
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1960–61 | Calgary Stampeders | WHL Western Hockey League (minor pro) The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League... |
66 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 123 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 | ||
| 1961–62 1961–62 AHL season The 1961–62 AHL season was the 26th season of the American Hockey League. The league initiates the James C. Hendy Memorial Award for outstanding team or league executives. The league resumes East and West Divisions. The John D. Chick Trophy is first awarded for the West Division champions of the... |
Buffalo Bisons Buffalo Bisons (AHL) The Buffalo Bisons were an American Hockey League ice hockey franchise that played from 1940 to 1970 in Buffalo, New York. They replaced the original Buffalo Bisons hockey team, which left the area in 1936 after its arena collapsed... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
70 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 172 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 | ||
| 1962–63 1962–63 AHL season The 1962–63 AHL season was the 27th season of the American Hockey League. Nine teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Buffalo Bisons finished first overall in the regular season, and won their fourth Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:... |
Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 65 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 196 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 34 | ||
| 1963–64 1963–64 AHL season The 1963–64 AHL season was the 28th season of the American Hockey League. Nine teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Quebec Aces finished first overall in the regular season... |
Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 70 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 193 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1964–65 1964–65 AHL season The 1964–65 AHL season was the 29th season of the American Hockey League. The league inaugurates the James H. Ellery Memorial Award for outstanding media coverage of the AHL.Nine teams played 72 games each in the schedule... |
Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 72 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 197 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | ||
| 1965–66 1965–66 AHL season The 1965–66 AHL season was the 30th season of the American Hockey League. Nine teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The league played a limited interlocking schedule with the Western Hockey League which was repeated two seasons later. The Quebec Aces finished first overall in the regular... |
Buffalo Bisons | AHL | 70 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 153 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1966–67 | Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
61 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 111 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | ||
| 1967–68 | Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 67 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 141 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 | ||
| 1968–69 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 68 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 112 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | ||
| 1969–70 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 65 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 117 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1970–71 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 77 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 80 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
| 1971–72 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 73 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972–73 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 72 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 76 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||
| 1973–74 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 77 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 119 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 41 | ||
| 1974–75 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 78 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 109 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 28 | ||
| 1975–76 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 40 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975–76 | Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... |
NHL | 12 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1976–77 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 700 | 27 | 126 | 153 | 1025 | 66 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 131 | ||||