Canadian hockey community mourns death of legendary coach Ernie ‘Punch’ McLean - BERITAJA

Hockey fans and organizations crossed the state are mourning legendary coach Ernie “Punch” McLean, who has died successful a clang successful bluish B.C. astatine the property of 93.

RCMP opportunity investigators person confirmed McLean was the sole unfortunate successful a single-vehicle clang about 30 kilometres southbound of Dease Lake.

McLean coached 16 seasons successful the Western Hockey League pinch the New Westminster Bruins and Estevan Bruins.

After six seasons successful Estevan, McLean and his partner Bill Shinske moved the Bruins from Saskatchewan to B.C., wherever he navigated the New Westminster Bruins to 4 consecutive WHL championships from 1975 to 1978 and 2 Memorial Cup titles successful 1977 and 1978.

He besides coached the Estevan Bruins to a WHL title successful 1968, which made him the only man to triumph 5 WHL titles arsenic a coach.

The Vancouver Canucks are among those who took to societal media to honour the coach, citing McLean’s grounds of 4 Memorial Cup appearances, 2 championships and a coach to much than 100 players successful the NHL.

The station called him “a beingness that could ne'er beryllium replaced.”

“Ernie ‘Punch’ McLean was 1 of a benignant — a fable of the crippled who gave everything to this state and to the players fortunate capable to telephone him coach,” the Canucks station said.

McLean coached 1,067 WHL games successful full and besides led Canada to a bronze badge astatine the 1979 world inferior men’s lucky championship.

The Western Hockey League issued its ain statement, extending its condolences connected behalf of the WHL and its 23 personnel clubs to friends, family and each those who knew McLean.

The tragic news comes the aforesaid week the Ernie Punch McLean Foundation launched a run to build a imperishable statue honouring McLean astatine Queens Park Arena successful New Westminster.

McLean attended the news convention Wednesday erstwhile the run launched.

The RCMP said successful a news merchandise Friday that officers responded to a telephone by a section roadworthy attraction worker about 12:15 p.m. connected Friday, who reported uncovering the car down an embankment.

They said the origin of the clang is not yet known but their investigation suggests the man swerved and went disconnected the road, wherever he was ejected from the vehicle.