Hockey, in memoriam: Al Arbour, Steve Montador and who we lost in 2015

(Ed. Note: At the end of each year, Jen Conway, a.k.a. @NHLHistoryGirl on Twitter, publishes a remembrance for those we lost in the hockey world. We’re proud to host the 2015 edition, looking back on legendary names and those we lost too soon.)

By Jen Conway

As we say goodbye to 2015, we solemnly look back at those in the hockey community we lost. From the greats of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty years to the loss of two former players taken long before they were supposed to be -- sparking debate about the care given to players after their careers are over.

The year started off with a loss that was linked to a marquee player in the NHL today, as J.P. Parise, father of Zach Parise passed away on January 7 after a battle with lung cancer. Parise registered 594 points in 890 games, a majority of them with the Minnesota North Stars and stops with the Islanders and Maple Leafs. Most notably, Parise was ejected from Game Eight of the 1972 Summit Series after almost attacking referee Josef Kompalla with his stick after Kompalla had made questionable calls against the Canadian team.

In August, legendary coach Al Arbour passed away at age 82. Arbour led the Islanders to their dynasty in the 1980s: four Stanley Cups and 15 playoff appearances overall between 1974 and 1994. Arbour also came back for one game in 2007 to reach 1,500 games coached with the Islanders. Prior to that, Arbour coached the St. Louis Blues from 1970 to 1972 after being the team’s first captain in 1967. Arbour won four Cups as a player with the Red Wings, Blackhawks, and two with the Maple Leafs in addition to the Islanders Cups and a Jack Adams Trophy for top coach in the NHL in 1979.

On the topic of dynasties, the Montreal Canadiens family lost several of their championship players. In April, Hall of Famer Elmer Lach passed away at age 97. Lach was a former MVP of the NHL and played on the “Punch Line” with Maurice Richard and Toe Blake, winning three Cups for the Habs during that time. Dollard St. Laurent also passed away in April. St. Laurent was a mainstay on the Habs blue line in the mid-1950s, helping the Habs to three Cups before going to Chicago and winning another Cup in 1961.

Another Hall of Famer, Dickie Moore, passed away on December 19th. Moore won six Cups with Montreal, won the Art Ross Trophy twice and was a three-time All Star. Hall of Famer Bert Olmstead died in November. Olmstead was a left wing who won four Cups with Montreal and one with Toronto before retiring and coaching the Oakland Seals in their inaugural season. Defenseman Jimmy Roberts won five Cups with Montreal while appearing in three All Star Games and playing in 1,006 NHL games with Montreal and St. Louis. One of the architects of the Habs dynasty in the 1970s, Claude Ruel, passed away in February. Ruel coached the Habs to the 1969 Stanley Cup, but stepped down midway through the 1970-71 season due to the stress of the coaching job. Ruel moved to a player personnel role during the ‘70s, but came back to coach 130 games from 1979 until 1981.

View photos PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 20: Steve Montador #5 of the Chicago Blackhawks waits for a face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 20, 2011 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) More

The sudden death of Steve Montador in February left many unanswered questions. Montador was found dead at his home in Mississauga, Ontario with his brother Chris speculating that he stopped breathing or Steve’s heart just gave out. Steve’s passing sent waves throughout the NHL landscape with Dan Carcillo famously speaking with for The Player’s Tribune about the effect Montador had on his life and in Carcillo’s recovery from substance abuse problems.