Aggie Kukulowicz

Adolph Frank "Aggie" Kukulowicz (April 2, 1933 – September 26, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and Russian-language interpreter. He played four games in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, then played 12 combined seasons in the minor leagues and senior ice hockey leagues. He won two Turner Cup championships with the St. Paul Saints in the International Hockey League, and was a 1964 Allan Cup champion with the Winnipeg Maroons. He was fluent in Russian and Polish, had a brief coaching career with GKS Katowice in Poland, and later worked as a European scout for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Kukulowicz spent six years in Moscow working for Air Canada. He was a regular member of Alan Eagleson's travelling entourage, and was the interpreter and travel coordinator for the Canada men's national ice hockey team at the 1972 Summit Series and 1974 Summit Series. He later worked as an interpreter for the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) from 1975 to 1993, which included the Ice Hockey World Championships, the Canada Cup, and the Super Series. Kukulowicz was inducted into both the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, as a member of the Winnipeg Maroons. He was honoured by the IIHF with the Paul Loicq Award in 2004, in recognition of significant contributions to international ice hockey.

Early life Kukulowicz was born on April 2, 1933, in Winnipeg. He was raised in the north end of Winnipeg by his parents who were Polish Canadians, and began playing hockey at age seven. He achieved high grades in school despite struggles to command the English language.

By age 16, Kukulowicz had drawn the attention of National Hockey League (NHL) scouts, and had grown to his full height of tall. According to Alan Eagleson, when professional hockey agents attempted to sign him to a contract, "he was hiding under his bed at the instruction of his mother, who felt he was too young to begin a career in hockey". He transferred to the Quebec Citadelles in the Quebec Junior Hockey League for the 1951–52 season, and led his team in scoring with 24 goals. He began the 1952–53 season in the NHL with the New York Rangers, and scored a goal in his debut game. He finished the season with the Quebec Citadelles after playing three games in the NHL, and helped the Citadelles reach the Eastern Canada junior finals. Kukulowicz switched to the Brandon Regals for the 1955–56 season, a farm team of the Red Wings. He played the 1957–58 season for the Seattle Totems, and returned to the Saskatoon Quakers to begin the 1958–59 season. He played just 9 games for the Quakers and switched to senior ice hockey teams for the remainder of the season. After 14 games for the Quebec Aces in the Quebec Senior Hockey League, he moved to the Cornwall Chevies in the Eastern Ontario Hockey League. He played 18 regular season games for Cornwall, followed by the league's playoffs. Kukulowicz moved to the Minneapolis Millers in the same league for the 1961–62 season, but did not get beyond the first round of that year's IHL playoffs. The Maroons went on a playing tour of Europe in early 1964, and the team was unsure if it would have enough players to participate in the 1964 Manitoba Senior Hockey League playoffs. The Maroons managed to find enough players, won 12 of 13 playoff games, and captured the 1964 Allan Cup by defeating the Woodstock Athletics in four consecutive games. He retired from playing during the season due to a serious on-ice accident. along with fellow coach Stanislav Konopásek. His team placed fourth overall in the league's regular season with 22 wins. In the playoffs, he led the team to nine wins in eighteen games and placed third. He later worked as a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970s. He was one of the first NHL scouts in Europe, after Flyers' coach Fred Shero had insisted on having a European scout.

Interpreter and businessman

Kukulowicz began working as a baggage handler for Air Canada in 1964. When the airline was searching for someone with knowledge of Polish, he was put into service as an interpreter between the Prime Minister of Poland and the Prime Minister of Canada. He moved into the Hotel Metropol Moscow when he arrived, then later lived in an apartment complex designated for foreign persons when his family joined him. His time in Moscow coincided with the Cold War. While his apartment was being repainted, covert listening devices were found in the walls. He was followed by a KGB agent for six years, but the two men never spoke to each other. Kukulowicz relocated to Toronto after six years in Moscow. He became a sales manager for Air Canada, marketing airline sales to travelling sports teams. and was Canada's interpreter at the 1972 Summit Series and 1974 Summit Series.

Kukulowicz worked as an interpreter for the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) from 1975 to 1993, which included the annual Ice Hockey World Championships. Kukulowicz translated at the 1980 Super Series, and acted as a liaison between the NHL and the Soviet teams. He also coordinated trips for NHL teams going to the Soviet Union, and was a reference for hotels, meals and cultural programs.

Awards and honours The Allan Cup was the championship trophy of senior ice hockey in Canada.

As a member of the 1964 Allan Cup champion Winnipeg Maroons, Kukulowicz was inducted into both the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, and the Gabriola Golf and Country Club.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1950–51 Brandon Wheat Kings MJHL 36 27 30 57 18 6 5 4 9 0 1951–52 Quebec Citadelles QJHL 50 24 35 59 5 15 2 13 15 10 1952–53 New York Rangers NHL 3 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 1952–53 Quebec Citadelles QJHL 46 13 24 37 109 9 6 2 8 4 1952–53 Quebec Citadelles M-Cup — — — — — 8 3 5 8 0 1953–54 New York Rangers NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1953–54 Saskatoon Quakers WHL 70 14 27 41 38 6 0 1 1 2 1954–55 Saskatoon Quakers WHL 57 12 25 37 31 — — — — — 1955–56 Brandon Regals WHL 67 16 38 54 38 — — — — — 1956–57 New Westminster Royals WHL 70 7 32 39 71 13 0 3 3 10 1957–58 Seattle Totems WHL 67 5 23 28 61 9 2 2 4 15 1958–59 Saskatoon Quakers WHL 9 1 6 7 0 — — — — — 1958–59 Quebec Aces QSHL 14 2 8 10 8 — — — — — 1958–59 Cornwall Chevies EOHL 18 5 13 18 6 6 1 2 3 2 1959–60 St. Paul Saints IHL 68 38 80 118 57 13 6 8 14 0 1960–61 St. Paul Saints IHL 72 34 53 87 39 13 6 13 19 19 1961–62 Minneapolis Millers IHL 62 24 61 85 8 5 1 3 4 13 1962–63 Winnipeg Maroons MSHL 10 3 12 15 0 — — — — — 1962–63 Winnipeg Maroons Al-Cup — — — — — 15 6 11 17 14 1963–64 Winnipeg Maroons MSHL 16 12 15 27 14 — — — — — 1963–64 Winnipeg Maroons Al-Cup — — — — — 13 9 13 22 6 1964–65 Winnipeg Maroons MSHL 6 2 3 5 0 — — — — — WHL totals 340 55 151 206 239 28 2 6 8 27 IHL totals 202 96 194 290 104 31 13 24 37 32 NHL totals 4 1 0 1 0 — — — — — Source