Wayne Maki facts for kids

Wayne Maki (born November 20, 1944 – died May 12, 1974) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He played as a left winger. Wayne Maki played 246 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was part of teams like the Chicago Black Hawks, the St. Louis Blues, and the Vancouver Canucks.

Hockey Career Highlights

Before joining the NHL, Wayne Maki played for other teams. He played 56 games with the St. Catharines Black Hawks. This team was part of the OHA. He also spent two seasons with the St. Louis Braves in the CPHL.

Starting in the NHL

Wayne Maki began his NHL career in 1967. He joined the Chicago Black Hawks. His brother, Chico Maki, also played on this team. Wayne played 50 games with the Black Hawks. He also played 62 games with their minor-league team, the Dallas Black Hawks. In 1969, the St. Louis Blues picked him up.

A Difficult Moment

On September 21, 1969, something tough happened during a preseason game. It was between the Blues and the Boston Bruins. Maki was involved in a serious incident with Bruins player "Terrible" Ted Green. As a result, Maki suffered a fractured skull and a brain injury. He was suspended for 30 days and also had to pay a fine. After this, he played 39 games with the Buffalo Bisons in the AHL.

Joining the Canucks

During the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft, the Vancouver Canucks chose Wayne Maki. He was the 24th player picked overall. He became a very important player for the Canucks. He was one of their top scorers in his two full seasons with the team.

Later Life and Legacy

Sadly, Wayne Maki's hockey career ended early. In December 1972, he found out he had brain cancer. He passed away from the cancer on May 12, 1974, when he was only 29 years old. The Canucks honored him by retiring his jersey number, #11. This meant no other player would wear it. However, the number was later used by Mark Messier when he played for the Canucks. Messier had worn #11 with his previous teams, the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers.

Career statistics