Eric Nesterenko

Eric Paul Nesterenko (October 31, 1933 – June 4, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1951 until 1956 and for the Chicago Black Hawks from 1956 until 1972.

Early life Nesterenko was born in Flin Flon, Manitoba, to immigrants from Ukraine. He moved at 16 and attended high school at North Toronto Collegiate Institute. Nesterenko played as a member of the Toronto Marlboros.

Playing career Nesterenko played five years with the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Blackhawks for cash. He played 16 years with the Blackhawks from 1956 to 1972 for a total of 1,013 games, which ranks seventh in team history. Nesterenko had 495 points (207 goals along with 288 assists) and 1,014 penalty minutes while playing for the Blackhawks.

Controversy During one game in 1961, Nesterenko infamously attacked Willie O'Ree, the first Black player in the NHL, with racial slurs and butt-ended O'Ree with his hockey stick, breaking O'Ree's nose and knocking out his front teeth. O'Ree retaliated with his stick and Nesterenko required 15 stitches in his head. During the next game that Nesterenko and O'Ree played, Nesterenko slashed O'Ree's ankles. Nesterenko never apologized to O'Ree, despite having an opportunity 30 years later when they met at an all-star game. O'Ree later named Nesterenko and described the incidents in his autobiography. He has worked as a disk jockey, a stockbroker, a travel broker, a freelance writer, a university professor, and a ski instructor.

Awards and achievements

WHL championship (1956) Edinburgh Trophy championship (1956) Stanley Cup championship (1961) Played in NHL All-Star Game (1961 and 1965) Honoured Member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1949–50 Toronto Marlboros OHA 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1950–51 Toronto Marlboros OHA 46 28 22 50 90 13 7 9 16 27 1951–52 Toronto Marlboros OHA 52 53 42 95 133 6 2 6 8 12 1951–52 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1952–53 Toronto Marlboros OHA 34 27 21 48 46 — — — — — 1952–53 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 35 10 6 16 27 — — — — — 1953–54 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 68 14 9 23 70 5 0 1 1 9 1954–55 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 62 15 15 30 99 4 0 1 1 6 1955–56 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 40 4 6 10 65 — — — — — 1955–56 Winnipeg Warriors WHL 20 8 6 14 27 14 3 7 10 22 1956–57 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 24 8 15 23 32 — — — — — 1957–58 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70 20 18 38 104 — — — — — 1958–59 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70 16 18 34 81 6 2 2 4 8 1959–60 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 61 13 23 36 71 4 0 0 0 2 1960–61 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 68 19 19 38 125 11 2 3 5 6 1961–62 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 68 15 14 29 97 12 0 5 5 22 1962–63 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 67 12 15 27 103 6 2 3 5 8 1963–64 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70 7 19 26 93 7 2 1 3 8 1964–65 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 56 14 16 30 63 14 2 2 4 16 1965–66 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 67 15 25 40 58 6 1 0 1 4 1966–67 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 68 14 23 37 38 6 1 2 3 2 1967–68 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 71 11 25 36 37 10 0 1 1 2 1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 72 15 17 32 29 — — — — — 1969–70 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 67 16 18 34 26 7 1 2 3 4 1970–71 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 76 8 15 23 28 18 0 1 1 19 1971–72 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 38 4 8 12 27 8 0 0 0 11 1973–74 Chicago Cougars WHA 29 2 5 7 8 — — — — — 1975–76 Trail Smoke Eaters WIHL 40 10 25 35 38 — — — — — WHA totals 29 2 5 7 8 — — — — — NHL totals 1,219 250 324 574 1,273 124 13 24 37 127