Jim Wiste

James Andrew Wiste (February 18, 1946 – January 2, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent parts of three seasons in the National Hockey League between 1968 and 1971. He was an original member of the Vancouver Canucks upon their entry into the NHL in 1970, and also played for the Chicago Black Hawks, as well as the Cleveland Crusaders and Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association, and also spent time in the minor leagues before retiring in 1976.

Playing career Wiste was a college hockey star at the University of Denver, where he was named a Western Collegiate Hockey Association First-Team All-Star and NCAA First-Team All-American in both 1966–67 and 1967–68. He would also lead Denver to a memorable triumph over the University of North Dakota in the 1968 NCAA Championship game.

Following his graduation, Wiste was signed as a free agent by the NHL Chicago Black Hawks in 1968, one of three University of Denver teammates to join Chicago along with Keith Magnuson and Cliff Koroll. He would establish himself as a quality scorer in minor-pro, but unlike Magnuson and Koroll who both became fixtures in the Chicago lineup for more than a decade, Wiste found the adjustment to the NHL difficult, and found it hard to get icetime on a deep Black Hawk team. After a 3-game stint in Chicago in 1968–69, he spent most of the 1969–70 campaign with the Black Hawks, but was often a healthy scratch and failed to record a goal in 26 games.

Exposed by Chicago in the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft, Wiste was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks. He was a member of the inaugural Vancouver Canuck squad in 1970–71, but again struggled to produce. After recording just 1 goal and 3 points through 23 games, he was reassigned to the Seattle Totems of the WHL.

After another season in the minors, Wiste was one of many fringe NHL players to jump to the rival upstart World Hockey Association for the 1972–73 campaign, signing with the Cleveland Crusaders. In Cleveland, he would experience the most successful portion of his career, recording totals of 71 and 58 points in his two years there.

Wiste moved to the Indianapolis Racers for the 1974–75 season, but slumped to totals of 13 goals and 41 points. After a poor start to the 1975–76 campaign, Wiste was assigned to the minors and would eventually retire.

Wiste recorded 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 52 NHL games, and added 64 goals and 108 assists for 172 points in 228 WHA contests. Wiste died in Denver at the age of 71 on January 2, 2018.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1962–63 Moose Jaw Canucks SJHL 47 22 20 42 47 5 2 7 9 6 1963–64 Moose Jaw Canucks SJHL 61 37 60 97 124 5 1 5 6 15 1964–65 University of Denver WCHA — — — — — — — — — — 1965–66 University of Denver WCHA 32 16 14 30 36 — — — — — 1966–67 University of Denver WCHA 30 24 28 52 35 — — — — — 1967–68 University of Denver WCHA 34 21 36 57 25 — — — — — 1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks AHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1968–69 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 68 32 44 76 77 10 7 6 13 6 1969–70 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 26 0 8 8 8 — — — — — 1969–70 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 11 6 9 15 27 — — — — — 1970–71 Vancouver Canucks NHL 23 1 2 3 0 — — — — — 1970–71 Seattle Totems WHL 29 11 13 24 32 — — — — — 1971–72 Seattle Totems WHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1971–72 Rochester Americans AHL 13 4 8 12 2 — — — — — 1971–72 Providence Reds AHL 53 12 26 38 35 3 0 1 1 0 1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders WHA 70 28 43 71 24 9 3 8 11 13 1973–74 Cleveland Crusaders WHA 76 23 35 58 26 5 0 1 1 0 1974–75 Indianapolis Racers WHA 75 13 28 41 30 — — — — — 1975–76 Indianapolis Racers WHA 7 0 2 2 0 — — — — — 1975–76 Mohawk Valley Comets NAHL 5 0 1 1 0 — — — — — WHA totals 228 64 108 172 80 14 3 9 12 13 NHL totals 52 1 10 11 8 — — — — —

Awards and honors Award Year All-WCHA First Team 1966–67 AHCA East All-American 1966–67 All-WCHA First Team 1967–68 AHCA East All-American 1967–68 NCAA All-Tournament Second Team 1968