Tragic Passing: The Hockey Community Mourns The Passing Of 1600 Game NHL veteran
Photo credit: Canucks Daily
According to an official announcement, a 1600-game NHL veteran has passed away.
The NHL confirmed today, that veteran official Danny McCourt has passed away at the age of 70.
McCourt began his career in the NHL as a linesman and started his journey with the league in 1979. He'd continue to referee games up to the 2004 season when he retired.
He'd continue his role with the NHL as an executive serving as the NHL's Officiating Manager in the Scouting and Development Department, a position he'd hold from 2005 until 2022.
He'd continue to contribute to the NHL's success and would serve as a consultant to Stephen Walkom, until his recent passing.
«I just wanted to get to the NHL - that was my goal,» McCourt told The Sudbury Star in 2015, the year he was inducted into Sudbury's sports hall. «When the playing side of it ended, I thought, you know what, there's two opportunities open here - you can either coach or you can referee."
«I thought, well, you can coach when you're 50 years old. I'm going to try this refereeing thing and I'm going to see how far I can go with it.»
«I thought, well, you can coach when you're 50 years old. I'm going to try this refereeing thing and I'm going to see how far I can go with it.»
McCourt's greatest memory on the ice would be when he'd drop the puck where his brother Dale McCourt faced off against Wayne Gretzky and beat him at the circle.
He'd grin from ear to ear the entire game, as a result of his brother getting one over on "The Great One".
One of McCourt's greatest goals was to make it into the NHL, and it never let obstacles get in the way.
He served to the best of his abilities to the very end, and his contributions to the league will never be forgotten.
He'd end up serving in 1600 total NHL games and would leave an impact all of us could see on the ice at the end.
Our deepest condolences to the McCourt family, friends, and colleagues in this difficult time.
May he rest in peace.
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