Eddie Joyal

Edward Abel Joyal (May 8, 1940 – July 20, 2026) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Philadelphia Flyers between 1963 and 1972. He also played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Alberta/Edmonton Oilers between 1972 and 1976.

Early life Born in St. Albert, Alberta, Joyal learned to play ice hockey on a frozen river downhill from his home. When healthy, he impressed with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WCJHL. He scored 84 points in two seasons when he was restricted to 58 games due to injuries.

Career

Joyal signed on with the Detroit Red Wings and began his professional career with the Edmonton Flyers of Western Hockey League from 1960 to 1961. After scoring 37 goals from 1961 to 1962, he was elevated to the Pittsburgh Hornets of the American Hockey League the next season and scored ten points in 14 games for the Detroit Red Wings. Joyal suited up for 47 games the next year and helped the Wings reach the 1964 Stanley Cup Finals. His winning goal against Toronto Maple Leafs' Johnny Bower gave his team a 3–2 edge in a series they failed to close out. Joyal played one more season in Detroit before being traded to the Maple Leafs with whom he played 14 games from 1965 to 1966.

NHL expansion gave Joyal's career a new life. He was claimed by the Los Angeles Kings and went on to enjoy four and a half impressive years on the West Coast. He hit the 20-goal mark three times, including a career-high 33 goals from 1968 to 1969. He was traded along with Ross Lonsberry, Bill Flett and Jean Potvin from the Kings to the Philadelphia Flyers for Serge Bernier, Bill Lesuk and Jim Johnson on January 28, 1972. He was a role player with the Flyers for the rest of the season.

In 1972, Joyal joined the Alberta Oilers for the first season of the new World Hockey Association. Joyal played four seasons with his hometown team as they were renamed the Edmonton Oilers for the 1973–74 season. In April 2016, he was honoured with "Eddie Joyal Day" at Rexall Place, as part of the Edmonton Oilers season-long celebration for the closing of the arena.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1958–59 Edmonton Oil Kings CAHL 35 23 23 46 8 — — — — — 1958–59 Edmonton Oil Kings M-Cup — — — — — 4 4 1 5 0 1959–60 Edmonton Oil Kings CAHL 23 16 22 38 10 — — — — — 1959–60 Calgary Stampeders WHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1959–60 Edmonton Oil Kings M-Cup — — — — — 22 22 14 36 10 1960–61 Edmonton Flyers WHL 64 20 27 47 12 — — — — — 1961–62 Edmonton Flyers WHL 70 37 32 69 14 12 10 8 18 4 1962–63 Detroit Red Wings NHL 14 2 8 10 0 11 1 0 1 2 1962–63 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 54 29 27 56 6 — — — — — 1963–64 Detroit Red Wings NHL 47 10 7 17 6 14 2 3 5 10 1963–64 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 5 3 3 6 6 — — — — — 1964–65 Detroit Red Wings NHL 46 8 14 22 4 7 1 1 2 4 1964–65 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 6 5 3 8 0 — — — — — 1965–66 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 14 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 1965–66 Rochester Americans AHL 9 9 1 10 6 — — — — — 1965–66 Tulsa Oilers CHL 41 32 25 57 38 11 2 5 7 2 1966–67 Rochester Americans AHL 70 32 51 83 10 13 10 3 13 4 1967–68 Los Angeles Kings NHL 74 23 34 57 20 7 4 1 5 2 1968–69 Los Angeles Kings NHL 73 33 19 52 24 11 3 3 6 0 1969–70 Los Angeles Kings NHL 59 18 22 40 8 — — — — — 1970–71 Los Angeles Kings NHL 69 20 21 41 14 — — — — — 1971–72 Los Angeles Kings NHL 44 11 3 14 17 — — — — — 1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 26 3 4 7 8 — — — — — 1972–73 Alberta Oilers WHA 71 22 16 38 16 — — — — — 1973–74 Edmonton Oilers WHA 45 8 10 18 2 5 2 0 2 4 1974–75 Edmonton Oilers WHA 78 22 25 47 2 — — — — — 1975–76 Edmonton Oilers WHA 45 5 4 9 6 — — — — — WHA totals 239 57 55 112 26 5 2 0 2 4 NHL totals 465 128 134 262 103 50 11 8 19 18