Walt Poddubny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walt Poddubny |
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| Born | February 14, 1960 Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |
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| Died | March 21, 2009 (aged 49) Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Edmonton Oilers Toronto Maple Leafs New York Rangers Quebec Nordiques New Jersey Devils |
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| NHL Draft | 90th overall, 1980 Edmonton Oilers |
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| Playing career | 1980–1995 | ||
Walter Michael Poddubny (born February 14, 1960 – died March 21, 2009) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played as a left winger and later became a coach. Walter played for eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played 468 games in his NHL career, scoring 184 goals and making 238 assists. This gave him a total of 422 points.
Walter Poddubny's Hockey Journey
Walter Poddubny was chosen by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 90th player picked overall that year. Later, he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Becoming a Star with the Rangers
On August 18, 1986, Walter was traded to the New York Rangers. This trade was considered a great move for the Rangers. He quickly became a top player for them. In his first two seasons with the Rangers, he was their leading scorer.
- In the 1986–87 season, he scored 40 goals and had 47 assists, totaling 87 points.
- The next season, he scored 38 goals and had 50 assists, reaching 88 points.
Fans loved Walter Poddubny. He won the Frank Boucher Trophy twice for being the most popular player. He also won the team's Most Valuable Player Award in 1987.
Later Playing Years and Coaching
After his time with the Rangers, Walter played for the Quebec Nordiques. He had another strong season in 1988–89, scoring 38 goals. However, his playing career started to slow down because of knee injuries.
After his NHL career, Walter Poddubny became a coach. He coached several hockey teams, including the Anchorage Aces for six seasons. Life after being a professional player can be tough. Walter once shared that playing in the NHL doesn't always mean you are set for life.
Walter Poddubny passed away at the age of 49. He had a heart attack after collapsing at his sister's home in Thunder Bay.
