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Don Blackburn

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(Redirected from John Donald Blackburn) Canadian ice hockey player (1938–2023)
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Ice hockey player
Don Blackburn
Born (1938-05-14)May 14, 1938
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Died February 4, 2023(2023-02-04) (aged 84)
Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Boston Bruins
Philadelphia Flyers
New York Rangers
New York Islanders
Minnesota North Stars
New England Whalers
Playing career 1959–1976

John Donald Blackburn (May 14, 1938 – February 4, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Minnesota North Stars. He also played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the New England Whalers. After retiring in 1976 he became a coach with the Whalers, and remained in that position through 1981, serving as their first coach when they joined the NHL in 1979 as the Hartford Whalers.

Playing career

Except for a six-game stint with the Boston Bruins, Blackburn spent the majority of the early portion of his career with various minor league teams. He was a dominant force with the Quebec Aces of the AHL during the mid-1960s, including a 36-goal performance in 1965–66. He was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL expansion draft and was a regular contributor during the first two years of the fledgling team's existence. In 1969, he was traded to the New York Rangers, but he played sparingly in two years with the team. He was claimed by the New York Islanders in the 1972 expansion draft, but was traded to the Minnesota North Stars late in the season. He finished his career with three seasons with the WHA's Whalers, scoring 59 points in 1973–74.

Coaching career

Blackburn was the first ever Hartford Whalers coach. He led them to a 27–34–19 record in the 1979–80 NHL season. In the playoffs, the Whalers were swept by Montreal in three games. Blackburn was fired midway through the 1980–81 season after the Whalers sat with a record of 15–29–16. He was replaced by interim coach Larry Pleau.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1956–57 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA 52 9 8 17 17 4 0 2 2 0
1957–58 Hamilton Tiger Cubs OHA 52 15 18 33 37 15 4 3 7 16
1958–69 Vancouver Canucks WHL 50 15 16 31 14 — — — — —
1959–60 Vancouver Canucks WHL 41 8 7 15 8 11 1 1 2 2
1959–60 Providence Reds AHL 16 1 1 2 8 — — — — —
1960–61 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 59 14 31 45 27 5 1 0 1 0
1961–62 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 51 13 24 37 30 11 2 12 14 5
1962–63 Boston Bruins NHL 6 0 5 5 4 — — — — —
1962–63 Kingston Frontenacs EPHL 67 42 54 96 22 5 4 4 8 0
1963–64 Quebec Aces AHL 63 19 19 38 39 9 1 1 2 9
1964–65 Quebec Aces AHL 70 20 42 62 34 5 0 2 2 0
1965–66 Quebec Aces AHL 72 36 42 78 51 6 1 4 5 4
1966–67 Rochester Americans AHL 70 20 37 57 24 13 3 3 6 10
1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 67 9 20 29 23 7 3 0 3 8
1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 48 7 9 16 36 4 0 0 0 2
1968–69 Baltimore Clippers AHL 12 6 13 19 10 — — — — —
1969–70 New York Rangers NHL 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1969–70 Buffalo Bisons AHL 68 27 44 71 40 13 5 7 12 6
1970–71 Rochester Americans AHL 62 25 44 69 22 — — — — —
1970–71 New York Rangers NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1971–72 Providence Reds AHL 76 34 65 99 12 5 1 3 4 2
1972–73 New York Islanders NHL 56 7 10 17 20 — — — — —
1972–73 Minnesota North Stars NHL 4 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
1973–74 New England Whalers WHA 75 20 39 59 18 7 2 4 6 4
1974–75 New England Whalers WHA 50 18 32 50 16 5 1 2 3 2
1974–75 Cape Codders NAHL 2 2 2 4 0 — — — — —
1975–76 New England Whalers WHA 21 2 3 5 6 — — — — —
1975–76 Cape Codders NAHL 8 4 4 8 0 — — — — —
WHA totals 146 40 74 114 40 12 3 6 9 6
NHL totals 185 23 44 67 87 12 3 0 3 10

NHL coaching record

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T Pts Finish Result
New England Whalers (WHA) 1975–76 35 14 18 3 (31) 3rd in East (interim coach)
New England Whalers (WHA) 1978–79 9 4 5 0 (8) 4th in WHA Lost in semi-finals
Hartford Whalers (NHL) 1979–80 80 27 34 19 73 4th in Norris Lost in preliminary round
Hartford Whalers (NHL) 1980–81 60 15 29 6 (46) 4th in Norris (fired)
NHL Total 140 42 63 25

References

  1. John D. Blackburn Sr.
  2. Meltzer, Bill (February 19, 2023). "Flyers Family Mourns Don Blackburn". Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  3. Sherman, David (2003). Philadelphia Flyers Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 13. ISBN 1582615772. Retrieved October 17, 2017.

External links

Preceded byJack Kelley Head coach of the Hartford Whalers
1975–76 		Succeeded byHarry Neale
Preceded byBill Dineen Head coach of the New England/Hartford Whalers
1979–80 		Succeeded byLarry Pleau
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