Wayne King (ice hockey) facts for kids

Wayne Gordon King, born on September 4, 1951, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a winger and is of Ojibwe heritage. King played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the California Golden Seals. He was known for being a tough and aggressive player on the ice.

Early Life and Hockey Start

Wayne King was born in Midland, Ontario, Canada. This town is about an hour north of Toronto. He grew up in Port McNicoll, Ontario. His parents had both lived on reserves before moving to the larger community for work. The King family was the only Native family in Port McNicoll at the time.

King started playing hockey at a young age. When he was 17, he played for the Midland Flyers Intermediate B team. They even reached the finals in the 1968–69 season. During this time, he was noticed by Hap Emms. Emms was the owner and general manager of the Niagara Falls Flyers Junior A team. King then played for Niagara for two seasons.

Professional Hockey Career

King signed with the California Golden Seals. This team was new to the National Hockey League (NHL) at the time. He was known as a strong forward. He was good at checking opponents and battling for the puck in the corners of the rink.

He began his professional career in the 1971–72 season. He played for the Columbus Seals in the IHL. This team was a "farm team" for the California Golden Seals. Farm teams help younger players develop their skills. Later, he played for the top farm team, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Best Season and Injury

The 1973–74 season was King's best. He played for the Salt Lake Golden Eagles. He scored 34 goals and made 34 assists in 76 games. This means he helped his team score 68 times! After this great season, he was even named to the WHL Second Team All-Star Right Wing. This was special because he shot left but played on the right side of the ice.

In the 1974–75 season, King played 25 games for the California Golden Seals in the NHL. He scored four goals and had seven assists. However, he suffered a serious knee injury during a game. He tore ligaments in his knee after colliding with another player. This injury made it harder for him to continue his NHL career.

Return to Play and Retirement

Even after his injury, King did not give up. He returned to play for California in the 1975–76 season. The Golden Seals team stopped playing after the 1976–77 season. King played 46 games that year. He then decided to retire from professional hockey. Other teams did not show much interest in him after his injury.

After his NHL career, King played one more season. He joined the Barrie Flyers in 1977–78. This team was part of the OHA senior league, close to his hometown. He scored a point per game that season before officially retiring.

Life After Hockey

After retiring from hockey in 1978, Wayne King returned to Midland, Ontario. He started a family with his wife, Shirley. They had a son, G.W., in 1979, and a daughter, MaKala, in 1983.

King worked in an auto body shop for two years. Then, he started a new career. He became a mental health worker and security guard. He worked at the Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre, now called the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. He also became a registered practical nurse after completing a two-year program.

As of 2004, King was working for the government of Ontario. He enjoys playing golf in his free time. He used to play hockey and fastball for fun, but his old knee injury prevents him from playing those sports now.

Career Highlights

During his professional career, Wayne King played 73 games in the NHL. He scored 5 goals and had 18 assists, totaling 23 points. He also spent many seasons playing in other professional leagues, showing his dedication to the sport.