Darcy Wakaluk
Born (1966-03-14) March 14, 1966
Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Minnesota North Stars
Dallas Stars
Phoenix Coyotes
NHL Draft 144th overall, 1984
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 19861997

Darcy Wakaluk (born March 14, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League from 1988 to 1997.

Wakaluk played for the WHL's Kelowna Wings and Spokane Chiefs. After being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres, Wakaluk then spent part of 5 seasons with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, winning the Calder Cup Championship in his first year (1986–87) and reaching the Finals once again in 1989-90.

On December 6, 1987, Wakaluk became the first American Hockey League goaltender to score a goal when he shot the puck the length of the ice into an empty net in a game with Rochester against Utica. Two days later, Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers would accomplish the same feat becoming the first NHL goalie to score a goal, also shooting into an empty net. Darcy would go on to be inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame in 2012.

He was selected 144th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 7th round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft and started playing for them in the 1988–89 season, where he appeared in six games. He played another 16 games (and 2 playoff contests) with Buffalo in 1990-91 until being traded to the Minnesota North Stars for Buffalo's 1991 8th round pick and future considerations on May 26, 1991.[1]

He played for the North Stars for two seasons, and subsequently the Dallas Stars, where, after taking over starting duties for Andy Moog at the beginning the 1994 playoffs, he swept the St. Louis Blues in Round One, winning the last game at St. Louis Arena. In 1996, he was signed as a free agent by the Phoenix Coyotes, where he played his final season after a career-ending knee injury in a game vs Washington in January 1997 forced his retirement.

Since retiring Darcy has been a Goaltending Coach for 4 teams in the WHL and another in the AJHL. He spent 9 seasons as Goaltending Coach with the Calgary Hitmen, (where he won a WHL Championship in 2010 while coaching a young future NHL star netminder Martin Jones), previously with the Vancouver Giants, Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves, Kamloops Blazers, and most recently with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.[2][3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLTMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1982–83 Pincher Creek Oilers AAHA 38228011603.05
1983–84 Kelowna Wings WHL 312220155516306.29.836
1984–85 Kelowna Wings WHL 5419304309424404.73 5142822204.68
1985–86 Spokane Chiefs WHL 4721221256222415.25
1986–87 Flint Spirits IHL 9
1986–87 Rochester Americans AHL 112205452602.86.910 5201411104.68
1987–88 Rochester Americans AHL 5527163276315903.45.881 6333282204.02.852
1988–89 Buffalo Sabres NHL 61302141504.21.833
1988–89 Rochester Americans AHL 331114015669713.72.869
1989–90 Rochester Americans AHL 5631164309517323.35.883 1710610015003.01
1990–91 Buffalo Sabres NHL 164536303503.32.880 20137203.24.909
1990–91 Rochester Americans AHL 261010313636842.99.900 9635443003.31
1991–92 Minnesota North Stars NHL 3613191190510413.28.881
1991–92 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 110060707.00
1992–93 Minnesota North Stars NHL 291012515969713.65.879
1993–94 Dallas Stars NHL 36189620008832.64.910 5413071502.93.911
1994–95 Dallas Stars NHL 154807544023.18.883 10020103.00.889
1995–96 Dallas Stars NHL 379165187510613.39.891
1996–97 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 168317893912.99.899
NHL Totals 191677521975652493.22.889 8423641802.97.910

References

  1. Bio. Wakaluk In Minnesota he teamed up with John Casey to share starting duties.
  2. "Calgary Hitmen - Hockey Operations & Staff". www.hitmenhockey.com. Archived from the original on 2010-09-27.
  3. "Darcy Wakaluk". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
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