Article content continued

Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia

“We got him as a free-agent. There were a lot of guys running around like Gilles (Bad News) Bilodeau in the WHA and we needed him,” said Sather, architect of the great Oilers teams of the ’80s.

“Then when we got into the NHL, Minnesota took him off of us and I traded a second-round draft pick to Louie (North Stars general manager Lou Nanne) to get him back. And he worked at his game. Worked at his skating. I could play him at times with Wayne.”

The Oilers were shaken when he passed away.

“I’m devastated,” said Kevin Lowe, Oilers Entertainment Group vice-chairman and teammate of Semenko’s. “He loved what he did. This was the first year he wasn’t scouting but was an ambassador. He was the first ever Oilers ambassador … And he was so happy, so happy of not travelling and he was really happy with the new building, the team and what he was doing, and he was really looking forward to the coming years. I’m shocked that this all went down so quick, and I’m going to really miss him.”

Lowe said Semenko started to seek treatment about three weeks ago because he hadn’t been “feeling well” the previous couple of weeks.

“There was no record of any of his recent health, because he hadn’t been to a doctor in 15 years because I guess he had been the picture of health,” said Lowe.

Garry Unger remembered a man who “made everybody around him feel important.”