Original Penguin Ken Schinkel Passes Away

I learned with sadness that Ken Schinkel passed away on Friday at the age of 87. A member of the original Penguins team back in 1967-68, he would later serve two separate stints as the club’s head coach before moving into the front office.

As the team’s director of scouting, Schinkel oversaw the selection of franchise savior Mario Lemieux with the first overall pick in the 1984 Entry Draft. He eventually was named assistant general manager under GM Eddie Johnston before following EJ to Hartford in 1989, ending an association with the Pens that spanned 22 years.

Perhaps it was his unusual last name. But Schinkel was one of the first players to draw my attention when I started following hockey…