Scott Campbell

Gary Scott Campbell (June 22, 1957 – September 3, 2022) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who was drafted first overall by the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association (WHA) in the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft. Campbell was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in Guelph, Ontario.

Playing career After a stellar junior career with the London Knights, Campbell was selected first overall by the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association (WHA) in the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft, as well as ninth overall by the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 1977 NHL amateur draft. Campbell opted to join the Aeros.

Campbell played 149 WHA games for the Aeros and the Winnipeg Jets, and came to the NHL with the Jets when they joined that league in 1980. He and Morris Lukowich were the two players protected by the Jets from the dispersal draft, showing the faith the team had in his abilities. However, the cold weather in Winnipeg exacerbated a chronic asthma condition and he requested a trade after a season there. The asthma condition ultimately forced him into retirement at the age of 25 after briefly also playing for the St. Louis Blues.

Post hockey After retiring from professional hockey, Campbell became involved in harness racing and found success as a stable owner. He died on September 3, 2022, from cancer.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1973–74 Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters SOJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1974–75 London Knights OMJHL 68 4 15 19 52 — — — — — 1975–76 London Knights OMJHL 62 6 25 31 66 5 0 0 0 13 1976–77 London Knights OMJHL 60 23 44 67 86 20 5 8 13 18 1977–78 Houston Aeros WHA 75 8 29 37 116 6 1 1 2 8 1978–79 Winnipeg Jets WHA 74 3 15 18 248 10 0 2 2 25 1979–80 Winnipeg Jets NHL 63 3 17 20 136 — — — — — 1980–81 Winnipeg Jets NHL 14 1 4 5 55 — — — — — 1980–81 Tulsa Oilers CHL 3 0 0 0 9 — — — — — 1981–82 St. Louis Blues NHL 3 0 0 0 52 — — — — — 1981–82 Salt Lake Golden Eagles AHL 3 0 1 1 31 — — — — — WHA totals 149 11 44 55 364 16 1 3 4 33 NHL totals 80 4 21 25 243 — — — — —