Butch Deadmarsh

Ernest Charles “Butch” Deadmarsh (born April 5, 1950) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. Deadmarsh was drafted in the second round, 15th overall, of the 1970 NHL amateur draft by the Buffalo Sabres, the second player the franchise ever drafted after Gil Perreault. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Sabres, Atlanta Flames, and Kansas City Scouts. He also played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Vancouver Blazers, Calgary Cowboys, Minnesota Fighting Saints, Edmonton Oilers, and Cincinnati Stingers.

Professional career Deadmarsh started his professional career in the 1970–71 season for Buffalo's then-farm team, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He made his NHL debut that year, and played a handful of games the following year, while spending most of his time with the Cincinnati Swords of the American Hockey League (AHL), leading his team in goals. After a strong start with the Swords in 1973, he was called up to Buffalo, being traded later that season to the Atlanta Flames for Norm Gratton.

After being claimed from the Flames by the Kansas City Scouts in the 1974 NHL expansion draft, Deadmarsh scored the game-winning goal in Kansas City's first-ever NHL victory versus the Washington Capitals in November 1974.

However, the Scouts sold his rights later that year to the Vancouver Blazers of the World Hockey Association (WHA), the first-ever such transaction, after Deadmarsh demanded to be dealt there, having signed a contract with the Blazers to take place after the 1974–75 season. The Blazers relocated to Calgary the following year, and Deadmarsh had his best professional season, finishing fourth in team scoring with 26 goals and 28 assists, as well as leading the Cowboys in penalty minutes with 196.

In his NHL career, Deadmarsh played in 137 games, scoring twelve goals and adding five assists. He played in 255 WHA games, scoring 63 goals and adding 66 assists. He is a second cousin of former NHL player Adam Deadmarsh.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1966–67 Kelowna Buckaroos BCJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1967–68 Kelowna Buckaroos BCJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1968–69 Brandon Wheat Kings WCHL 47 19 23 42 130 5 2 2 4 — 1969–70 Brandon Wheat Kings WCHL 54 37 33 70 301 4 3 5 8 20 1970–71 Buffalo Sabres NHL 10 0 0 0 9 — — — — — 1970–71 Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL 59 11 9 20 128 — — — — — 1971–72 Buffalo Sabres NHL 12 1 1 2 4 — — — — — 1971–72 Cincinnati Swords AHL 64 34 27 61 145 10 6 8 14 33 1972–73 Buffalo Sabres NHL 34 1 1 2 26 — — — — — 1972–73 Cincinnati Swords AHL 12 7 4 11 20 — — — — — 1972–73 Atlanta Flames NHL 19 1 0 1 8 — — — — — 1973–74 Atlanta Flames NHL 42 6 1 7 89 4 0 0 0 17 1974–75 Kansas City Scouts NHL 20 3 2 5 19 — — — — — 1974–75 Vancouver Blazers WHA 38 7 8 15 128 — — — — — 1975–76 Calgary Cowboys WHA 79 26 28 54 196 8 0 1 1 14 1976–77 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 35 9 4 13 51 — — — — — 1976–77 Calgary Cowboys WHA 38 13 17 30 77 — — — — — 1977–78 Edmonton Oilers WHA 20 1 3 4 32 — — — — — 1977–78 Cincinnati Stingers WHA 45 7 6 13 86 — — — — —NHL totals 137 12 5 17 155 4 0 0 0 17WHA totals 255 63 66 129 570 8 0 1 1 14