The Calgary Sun · Jul 7, 2017
Dave Semenko was ferocious and funny in equal parts
Former Edmonton Oilers forward Dave Semenko did not need to fight to be an intimidating presence on the ice. Semenko died on June 29 of pancreatic cancer.Dave Semenko rode the range for 10 years with the Edmonton Oilers but didn’t have to get off his horse very often.
He was like Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry, a “make-my-day” fighter who hardly ever had to show how tough he was, just 70 NHL fights, contrasted with Bob Probert’s 221.
“All Dave had to do was whisper to somebody ‘don’t do that,’” recalled Pat Hughes, who flew in from Michigan to be part of Semenko's Celebration of Life after he passed away last week at 59 of pancreatic cancer that also attacked his liver.