Jack McIlhargey facts for kids

John Cecil McIlhargey (born March 7, 1952 – died July 19, 2020) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He was a defenceman, which means he played defense. John played for eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, and Hartford Whalers between 1974 and 1982. He even played in two Stanley Cup Finals with the Flyers! After he stopped playing, John became a coach for the Canucks and Flyers. He also worked as a scout, helping teams find new players.

John McIlhargey's Hockey Journey

John McIlhargey was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on March 7, 1952. He played only one season in major junior hockey. He split his time between the Victoria Cougars and the Flin Flon Bombers. These teams were part of the Western Canadian Hockey League. John was known for his tough style of play. He often got into fights, which led to many penalty minutes.

Starting in the Minor Leagues

John was not chosen in the 1972 NHL or WHA drafts. But he signed with the Jersey Devils in the EHL. He played 72 games there in the 1972-73 season. In the same season, he also played nine games for the Richmond Robins in the AHL. John spent time in the minor leagues, working hard to improve his game.

Reaching the NHL

John got his first chance in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers. He played two games in the 1974-75 season. The next year, he played a full season with the Richmond Robins. Then, in 1975-76, he played 57 games for the Flyers. This was during the time when the Flyers were known as the "Broad Street Bullies." John's career in the NHL lasted seven years as a defenceman. He played for Philadelphia, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Hartford Whalers.

Team Changes and Retirement

John became a Vancouver Canuck on January 20, 1977. He was traded to Vancouver with another player, Larry Goodenough. He played 167 games for the Canucks from 1977 to 1980. Then, he was traded back to Philadelphia. John finished his NHL career with the Hartford Whalers. He retired after the 1981–82 season. In total, he played 393 NHL games. He scored 11 goals, had 36 assists, and spent 1102 minutes in the penalty box.

Life After Playing Hockey

After retiring as a player, John McIlhargey stayed involved in hockey. He worked for the Vancouver Canucks organization for many years, from 1984 to 2007. Most of this time, he was an assistant coach for the NHL team. He also coached their top minor-league teams in Milwaukee, Hamilton, and Syracuse from 1991 to 1999.

Coaching and Scouting Roles

The Canucks first hired John in 1984. He helped start the Canucks Alumni Association. He also worked as a scout, looking for new talent. In November of that year, he became a coach. He spent the next seven years as an assistant coach. He worked with several head coaches, including Harry Neale and Pat Quinn.

International Connections

In 1988, the Canucks sent John and a young goaltender, Troy Gamble, to the Soviet Union. This trip helped build a relationship that led to Soviet stars like Igor Larionov joining the Canucks. While Gamble trained hard, John met with famous Soviet coach Anatoli Tarasov.

Leading Minor League Teams

Three years later, John became the head coach for Vancouver's minor league team in Milwaukee. He coached there for the 1991–92 season. He continued to coach Vancouver's farm teams as they moved. They played in Hamilton for two seasons, then in Syracuse from 1994 to 1999. He was the first head coach for the AHL team in Syracuse.

Awards and Later Career

In 1999, John McIlhargey was voted one of the 30 All-Time Greatest Canucks. In 2006, he left his assistant coach position with the Canucks. He then worked as a pro scout for the team for one season. In 2007, he moved to the Flyers as an assistant coach. He was dismissed from that role in 2009. In 2011, John was inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame.

John McIlhargey passed away on July 19, 2020, at his home in Burnaby. He was 68 years old and had been battling cancer.