Former Portland Buckaroo great Andy Hebenton, known as one of professional hockey’s legendary ironmen, passed away Tuesday night in Portland at 89.

The 5-foot-9 right wing played professional hockey from 1949 to 1975, including eight seasons with the Buckaroos.

Following a nine-year National Hockey League career, Hebenton played in Portland during the 1964-65 season. He spent two years in Victoria, then returned to Portland for seven additional seasons with the Buckaroos from 1967-74.

Hebenton scored 233 goals and had 339 assists during his eight seasons in Portland. Hebenton’s most productive season with the Buckaroos was 1969-70, when he had 36 goals and 42 assists in 72 games.

Hebenton’s NHL career consisted of eight seasons with the New York Rangers and one in Boston. During his NHL tenure, Hebenton never missed a game, playing in 630 consecutive games, which was then a record.

Hebenton scored 189 goals and scored 391 points during NHL career. Hebenton played in the 1960 NHL All-Star game.

In 1967, Hebenton was honored in Victoria for having played 1,000 consecutive games. It is believed Hebenton never missed one of his team’s regular season games from 1952 through 1974.

Joe Evans, a defenseman who played with Hebenton early in his career, once told Sports Illustrated that Hebenton “says he’s managed to escape a lot of injuries other guys got. Well, hell, I know Andy and I know some of the guys he played with up there. They said there were nights when he should have quit, just like everybody else. But he went out and played anyway. They also say nobody’s ever goin’ to do what he’s done again.”

Hebenton finished his career with the Seattle Totems in 1974, playing four games.

Hebenton is also remembered for his humility. In 1957, Hebenton won the Lady Byng Trophy, an honor for gentlemanly play, and was runner-up for the award in 1958. Hebenton averaged just nine penalty minutes a season during his NHL tenure. Hebenton won the WHL’s equivalent of Byng Trophy, the Fred J Hume Cup, five times.

Hebenton’s son, Clay, was a professional goaltender for eight years.

Hebenton was married for 60 years to his wife, Gail, who passed away in 2015.

A celebration of Hebenton’s life is planned for Feb. 23 in Portland.

--Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel