Pat Stapleton, who served as the Blackhawks captain for the 1969-70 season, died Wednesday due to complications from a stroke. He was 79.
“The Chicago Blackhawks organization would like to express their deepest sympathy to the family, friends and former teammates of Pat Stapleton,” the Blackhawks said Thursday in a statement. ”As a former team captain and valued member of the Blackhawks Alumni Association, Stapleton’s contributions to the organization will forever be remembered by the entire Blackhawks community.”
Stapleton, a defenseman, scored 327 points (41 goals, 286 assists) in 545 regular-season games and 49 points (10 goals, 39 assists) in 65 playoff contests from 1965-73 with the Blackhawks.