Ken Schinkel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ken Schinkel |
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| Born | November 27, 1932 Jansen, Saskatchewan, Canada |
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| Died | November 20, 2020 (aged 87) Fort Myers, Florida, US |
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| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 172 lb (78 kg; 12 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | New York Rangers Pittsburgh Penguins |
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| Playing career | 1950–1973 | ||
Kenneth Calvin Schinkel (born November 27, 1932 – died November 20, 2020) was a talented Canadian ice hockey player and coach. He played as a right wing for two famous teams in the National Hockey League (NHL): the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Later, he also coached the Penguins.
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Playing Career
Ken Schinkel started his hockey journey in junior leagues, finishing with the St. Catharines Teepees in 1953. After that, he signed with the Springfield Indians in the American Hockey League (AHL), which is a league below the NHL.
Time in the Minor Leagues
For the next six years, Ken played in the minor leagues. He became known as a skilled "two-way forward," meaning he was good at both scoring goals and helping defend. He was also excellent at "penalty killing," which is when a team has fewer players on the ice because one of their players got a penalty.
In 1959, Ken had an amazing season. He led the AHL with 43 goals and scored a total of 85 points. This earned him a spot on the league's Second All-Star Team. Because of his great performance, his rights were traded to the New York Rangers in the NHL.
Playing in the NHL
Ken played the 1960 season with the Rangers. In 1961, he split his time between New York and Springfield. He returned to the AHL just in time to help the Springfield Indians win their second straight Calder Cup championship. This trophy is awarded to the AHL playoff champions.
He continued to play for the Rangers as a "third-liner" (a player on the third group of forwards) in 1962 and 1963. By 1964, he was back in the minor leagues, playing for the Rangers' farm team, the AHL Baltimore Clippers. He was a star player for the Clippers, leading the team in scoring for two seasons. He even played alongside future Hockey Hall of Famers like Jean Ratelle and Doug Harvey.
Joining the Pittsburgh Penguins
In 1967, the NHL added more teams, doubling its size. This was called the expansion. Ken Schinkel was chosen by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the expansion draft. He was named an alternate captain for the new team.
Ken quickly became an important player for the Penguins. He was known for his strong penalty killing skills. He finished first or second in team scoring during the Penguins' first three seasons. He was also chosen to play in the National Hockey League All-Star Game in 1968 and 1969. He was selected again in 1971, but couldn't play because of a broken arm.
On April 11, 1970, Ken scored three goals in a single playoff game against the Oakland Seals, helping Pittsburgh win 5-2. He played six seasons for the Penguins before he retired to become their coach.
When he retired, Ken Schinkel held the Penguins' records for most games played and most points scored. He finished his playing career with 127 goals and 198 assists, totaling 325 points in 636 NHL games.
Coaching Career
Ken Schinkel's playing career ended suddenly on January 13, 1973, when he was asked to become the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, replacing Red Kelly.
First Coaching Stint
The Penguins did not make the playoffs that season. Ken coached the team until February 6, 1974, when he was replaced by Marc Boileau. After this, Ken moved to a front office job with the Penguins.
Second Coaching Stint
On January 17, 1976, Ken was asked to coach the team again, replacing Boileau. The team had a record of 15 wins, 23 losses, and 5 ties under Boileau. But with Ken coaching, the team improved greatly, with 20 wins, 10 losses, and 7 ties. This strong finish helped the Penguins make the playoffs! However, they were eliminated in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ken coached the Penguins for his only full season in 1976-77. The team had a record of 34 wins, 33 losses, and 13 ties. They qualified for the playoffs again but were once more defeated in the first round by Toronto. After this, Ken was replaced by Johnny Wilson and returned to the front office for good.
Front Office Role and Retirement
In the front office, Ken held many important jobs, including assistant general manager and scouting director. He played a key role in the team's future by overseeing the drafting of the legendary player Mario Lemieux in 1984. Ken stayed with the Penguins until 1989. After that, he joined Eddie Johnston at the Hartford Whalers, where he continued his hockey career in their front office.
Overall, Ken Schinkel coached the Penguins for 203 games. He had a record of 83 wins, 92 losses, and 28 ties.
Ken later retired to Florida. He still made appearances for Penguins' alumni events. He passed away on November 20, 2020, in Fort Myers, Florida.
