Gary Lupul

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Winger
shoots =
height_ft = 5
height_in = 9
weight_lb = 175
team = Vancouver Canucks
league = NHL
nationality = Canada
birth_date = April 20, 1959
birth_place = Powell River, BC, CAN
career_start = 1979
draft = undrafted
draft_year =
draft_team =


image_size =
nickname = Pride of Powell River
death_date = July 18, 2007
death_place = Burnaby, BC, CAN
career_end = 1986

Gary Lupul (April 20 1959 – July 18 2007) was an ice hockey player for the National Hockey League (NHL) team the Vancouver Canucks. [http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=c9e755f8-382e-4438-976e-80c067008484 Powell River's pride, NHL scrapper Gary Lupul dead at 48] , By Linda Nguyen and Greg Douglas, "Vancouver Sun," July 20, 2007]

Born and raised in Powell River, British Columbia, Lupul played his junior hockey career with the Nanaimo Clippers and the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League.

He signed a free agent contract with the Canucks a day prior to the team opening their training camp in Powell River. Lupul, at 5-foot-9 in height and 175 pounds, immediately demonstrated his fiestiness by fighting Gerry Minor in his first day at training camp.

Lupul, known as the "Pride of Powell River", played seven seasons as a forward with the Canucks, from 1979 to 1986. In 1982, he scored five points in 10 playoff games as Vancouver made it to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time.

Lupul had his best years in 1983 and 1984 playing on a line with Lars Molin and Dave "Tiger" Williams. [ [http://www.canada.com/theprovince/story.html?id=ca796fe3-c893-4610-b945-cdc262944056&k=97504 Former Canuck Gary Lupul dead at 48] , Staff Reporter, "The Province", July 19, 2007]

In 1984, Lupul was the first NHL player to fight Mario Lemieux and did so in Mario's home debut in his rookie season. Horribly overmatched by the much larger Lemieux, Lupul had to be rescued by goaltender John Garrett, who was then given a game misconduct for being the third player in the fight. [ [http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p199701&page=bio#photo Biography of Mario Lemieux] , Legends of Hockey]

Following retirement from professional hockey, Lupul was a junior and college scout for the Vancouver Canucks in Ontario, Canada. The Canucks first hired him to help Lupul address a substance abuse problem.

Lupul, who was known to have cardiovascular concerns, was found dead in his nephew's Burnaby condo.Cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/story.html?id=f5ae45ce-8fe3-4b4d-8fc1-d315cea2204d&k=63940|title=Former Canuck Lupul found dead|accessdate=2007-07-19|publisher=CanWest News Service|year=2007|author=Nguyen, Linda]

References

External links

*hockeydb|3246