John Miszuk, a defenseman who played one season with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1960s, died this week at age 84 in Hamilton, Ontario, the NHL Alumni Association announced.
Miszuk, a native of Naliboki, Poland (now Belarus), played 42 regular season games as a rookie with the Red Wings in 1963-64 (no goals, two assists) and three playoff games (no points).
The Red Wings traded him to Chicago after the season. He wound up playing 237 NHL games with the Red Wings, Blackhawks, Flyers and Minnesota North Stars (seven goals, 39 assists).
Miszuk also played for the Michigan Stags of the World Hockey Association in 1974-75, when the franchise relocated to Baltimore midway through its lone season.
According to a post on the NHL Alumni Association’s Twitter account, Miszuk returned to Naliboki, Belarus, more than seven decades after his family was driven out during World War II. After spending part of his childhood in forced labor and refugee camps, Miszuk emigrated to Canada and began his hockey career. Miszuk and his wife, Cora, of 62 years, launched several Tim Hortons franchises in Hamilton following his retirement from hockey in 1979.
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