By: Steve McClure | Follow me on Twitter / X @stmcclure1993
Vic Stasiuk was born in Lethbridge, Alberta. The six-foot left-wing played for Chicago and Detroit before being traded to the Boston Bruins in a multi-player deal on June 3, 1955.
Stasiuk thrived on the famed ‘Uke’ line with Bronco Horvath and John Bucyk. All three linemates had Ukrainian heritage and had previously played together in the minor leagues. In the 1957-58 season, the three Bruins made history as the first NHL line to all score twenty goals in the same season.
Over the course of six seasons in Boston, Stasiuk produced at a 125-166-291 clip. He reached the twenty-goal marker four times for the Bruins, and he was named to the 1960 NHL All-Star Team for his efforts.
Midway through the 1960-61 season, Vic was traded back to the Red Wings. In an NHL career of 745 regular season games, Stasiuk scored 183 goals and assisted on 254 others.
After his NHL playing career, Stasiuk coached professional hockey. He was awarded the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award in 1968 as the outstanding head coach in the AHL. Stasiuk became an NHL head coach thereafter, serving three short stints with the Philadelphia Flyers, the California Golden Seals, and the Vancouver Canucks. His overall NHL coaching record was 88-153-66.
Stasiuk played for two Stanley Cup-winning teams in Detroit. He passed away at the age of 93 in his home town of Lethbridge in May of 2023.
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