Ed Van Impe

Edward Charles Van Impe (May 27, 1940 – April 29, 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Playing career After playing his first five professional seasons with the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL, Ed Van Impe saw his first NHL action with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1966–67. He had a solid rookie season, amassing 19 points (eight goals and 11 assists) and finishing as the runner-up to Bobby Orr for the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year.

Left unprotected for the expansion draft that off-season, the Philadelphia Flyers picked Van Impe off the Black Hawks' roster. He played eight and a half seasons with the Flyers and was one of the team's best defensive blueliners, serving as the second captain in franchise history, from 1968 to 1973. His forte was hitting and shot-blocking, as well as clearing opponents from the area of his team's net. He was part of the "Broad Street Bullies" teams that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975.

On January 11, 1976, at the Spectrum, Van Impe's Flyers, as part of Super Series '76, played a memorable exhibition game against the Soviet Union's dominant Central Red Army team. Having just finished serving a hooking penalty, Van Impe left the penalty box and immediately placed a devastating hit on the Soviet Union's Valeri Kharlamov, knocking the latter unconscious and causing him to lie prone on the ice for a short while. Van Impe's hit was not penalized and it resulted in the Soviets leaving the ice midway through the first period in protest. After a 17-minute delay, the Soviets finally returned to the ice after they were warned that they would lose their salary for the entire series (200,000 USD) if they did not.

Van Impe was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Bobby Taylor for Gary Inness and cash on March 9, 1976 and he retired following the 1976–77 season.

Death Van Impe died in Vancouver on April 29, 2025, at the age of 84.

Awards Won two Stanley Cups with the Philadelphia Flyers (1974, 1975) Played in NHL All-Star Game three times (1969, 1974, 1975) Inducted into Flyers Hall of Fame (1993)

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1956–57 Saskatoon Quakers SJHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1957–58 Saskatoon Quakers SJHL 49 2 2 4 58 — — — — — 1958–59 Saskatoon Quakers SJHL 48 0 23 23 150 5 0 5 5 24 1959–60 Saskatoon Quakers SJHL 58 11 42 53 136 7 1 2 3 4 1960–61 Calgary Stampeders WHL 66 4 15 19 123 5 0 2 2 16 1961–62 Buffalo Bisons AHL 70 0 19 19 172 11 0 1 1 25 1962–63 Buffalo Bisons AHL 65 3 12 15 196 13 1 4 5 34 1963–64 Buffalo Bisons AHL 70 4 22 26 193 — — — — — 1964–65 Buffalo Bisons AHL 72 5 6 11 197 9 0 0 0 26 1965–66 Buffalo Bisons AHL 70 9 28 37 153 — — — — — 1966–67 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 61 8 11 19 111 6 0 0 0 26 1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 67 4 13 17 141 7 0 4 4 11 1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 68 7 12 19 112 1 0 0 0 17 1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 65 0 10 10 117 — — — — — 1970–71 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 77 0 11 11 80 4 0 1 1 8 1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 73 4 9 13 78 — — — — — 1972–73 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 72 1 11 12 76 11 0 0 0 16 1973–74 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 77 2 16 18 119 17 1 2 3 41 1974–75 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 78 1 17 18 109 17 0 4 4 28 1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 40 0 8 8 60 — — — — — 1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 12 0 5 5 16 3 0 1 1 2 1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 10 0 3 3 6 — — — — — NHL totals 700 27 126 153 1025 66 1 12 13 131