The Mysterious Death of Terry Sawchuk

I was watching a '67 Leafs-Rangers game today and the commentator mentioned that it was very likely they would never see Sawchuk play another game in a Leafs uniform. This was apparently because Terry wanted a trade to Detroit.

Now, this made me curious about Sawchuk - he was asking for a trade and people were discussing it casually? The media must have been a lot different back then! So, off to Wikipedia I went and this is what I found. I'm sure there are a few more Leaf fans from my generation who were unaware of this.

He struggled with untreated depression, a condition that often affected his conduct. An alcohol-induced shoving match with his New York Rangers teammate Ron Stewart left Sawchuk with internal injuries that led to his death a few weeks later in New York. It is not clear whether this incident was horseplay or a fight, but an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter charges was undertaken, and no charges were filed against Stewart. In any event, Sawchuk suffered a lacerated liver and clots had to be surgically removed, but a clot stopped Sawchuk's heart on May 31st, 1970. He was only 40 years old. Sawchuk was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Pontiac, Michigan. Stewart was cleared of any wrongdoing in the incident, but it remains a mystery to this day just what happened.

Does anybody have any more information?

I was watching a '67 Leafs-Rangers game today and the commentator mentioned that it was very likely they would never see Sawchuk play another game in a Leafs uniform. This was apparently because Terry wanted a trade to Detroit.

Now, this made me curious about Sawchuk - he was asking for a trade and people were discussing it casually? The media must have been a lot different back then! So, off to Wikipedia I went and this is what I found. I'm sure there are a few more Leaf fans from my generation who were unaware of this.



Does anybody have any more information?

Apparently he fell on to a bbq or something, and no charges were pressed against the guy who killed him. It is very mysterious.
http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p197103&type=Player&page=bio&list=#photo

Apparently he fell on to a bbq or something, and no charges were pressed against the guy who killed him. It is very mysterious.
http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p197103&type=Player&page=bio&list=#photo

I don't see anything about a BBQ, but thanks for the link nonetheless.

On some other site I read something about a bbq, but the story in that link seems like the real story of what happened.

sawchuk was a moody character

both players were x leafs

and they were roommates and good friends

Legends Of Hockey Terry "The Uke" Sawchuk.

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what do u mean he fell onto a bbq? the grill or the lid?

what do u mean he fell onto a bbq? the grill or the lid?

Just forget about it.

Freeking 70's Barbeques you really had to be carefully grilling or you might end up undergound

Freeking 70's Barbeques you really had to be carefully grilling or you might end up undergound

"Terry Sawchuk died after complications suffered from a fight with teammate Ron Stewart. Sawchuk fell over a barbecue grill during the fight and that's how he got his injuries." - http://www.azhockey.com/unusual.html

IMHO Stewart kicked him--hard. I don't see how a drunken man's stumble could have produced that injury.

IMHO Stewart kicked him--hard. I don't see how a drunken man's stumble could have produced that injury.

The Barbeque theory is difficult to image.

It's pretty shady either way.

they are probably referring to a BBQ pit. :teach:

I've always heard the story about the barbecue as well.

Sawchuk was insanely moody and would disappear for days on end without contact with anyone.

In fact in the finals in 1967 Sawchuk started the first game and was blown out. Bower was then given the starting role and it's said that Sawchuk became extremely depressed over his performance. However Bower was injured during warmup for game four and Sawchuk unexpectedly was forced to play and it's rumoured that he had been drinking before the game and again he got smoked by the Canadiens.

However in the final two games he stood on his head and the rest is history.

"Sawchuk: The Troubles and Triumphs of the World's Greatest Goalie" would make a good Christmas gift. Details his life story and we learn that he was a great goalie but not a very good guy.

his death and the BBQ pit is described in depth in the YouTube Biogroaphy above, starting at the 6:30 mark with Gordie --> Ted Lindsay --> his coach and fellow goalie Emile Francis.

most of the poor people's cold-water-flat style buildings had large yards behind; some were just garbage dumps or drug dens, but sometime residents fixed them up and made little gardens and such. that's the only place i can see there being a BBQ pit in Manhattan.

another hard-drinking tragic figure and master of his game, author Jack Kerouac, also died a year earlier at around the same age as Terry and under similar circumstances -- a bar fight resulting in intestinal injuries that caused death.

also on that YouTube bio, Dave Keon calls Sawchuk the best goalie who ever played. most who lived hockey in the 50s and 60s concur.

Jean Beliveau said of the '67 final: "Toronto didn't beat us -- Sawchuk did."

and yes, by all accounts he was drunk for that game 4 (not expecting to play) -- and let in 6 goals. came back next game sober, and stoned the mighty Habs for only a goal apiece in the final 2 games to win his 4th Cup.

I don't see anything about a BBQ, but thanks for the link nonetheless.

Drinking was involved, Ron Stewart was involved, money was owed, I think Sawchuck owed for rent or something. There was a drunken confrontation. Sawchuck fell over a barbeque in the struggle. He pierced his liver or some vital organ. He was taken to hospital where he died a few days later.....Sawchuck was a moody guy and things just got out of hand. It was ruled an accident.

Drinking was involved, Ron Stewart was involved, money was owed, I think Sawchuck owed for rent or something. There was a drunken confrontation. Sawchuck fell over a barbeque in the struggle. He pierced his liver or some vital organ. He was taken to hospital where he died a few days later.....Sawchuck was a moody guy and things just got out of hand. It was ruled an accident.
I'm curious to know how that could have happened. If from ground level hefell on something that wasn't shaped like a spearhead or something similar I can't imagine how it would pierce his liver.

Freeking 70's Barbeques you really had to be carefully grilling or you might end up undergound

It seems to me like it was Stewart's cooking that killed him. :teach:

j/k

The following info is from the book Shutout: The Legend of Terry Sawchuk (pp.233-239). The same story can also be seen in the TSN series, Legends of Hockey. I wont write the whole story, just the gist to clear things up. Its a very good book and I encourage those interested to picker up.

- Both he and Stewart were old friends and were similar in character, dry sense of humour, liked to drink, hot tempered, etc. They shared a house on Long Island and went back there after the two got into an argument at a local pub. The argument was about cleaning responsibilities and Stewart accused Sawchuk of owing him some money. They were kicked out of the bar and the bartender ordered them to go home after they continued to push and shove one another outside. They drove separately back to their place and continued the argument.

- As the fight continued a friend tried to pull them a part but couldn't. They later tripped and fell into a BBQ pit with Stewart on top, Terry on the bottom. Sawchuk appeared to hit his stomach on Stewart's knee.

- the Doc later said that Sawchuk was in shock from the pain, pale, and had extremely low blood pressure. He suffered damage to his gall bladder and liver. The gall bladder was removed days later and blood was removed from his lacerated liver. He lasted in hospital for about a month but never recovered. Extremely weak, he was unable to recover from internal bleeding and eventually his heart just stopped working.

Sawchuk is arguably the best goalie of all time and is an extremely interesting and mysterious character. The book is about his whole life and highlights his playing career and his life outside of hockey as well. It also provides insight into why he was the way he was and a more detailed account about his death (more detailed than what I gave you, including info on how the incident was somewhat covered up by the Rangers, the team he played for at the time). Again, solid book, and would make a great Christmas gift.

The following info is from the book Shutout: The Legend of Terry Sawchuk (pp.233-239). The same story can also be seen in the TSN series, Legends of Hockey. I wont write the whole story, just the gist to clear things up. Its a very good book and I encourage those interested to picker up.

- Both he and Stewart were old friends and were similar in character, dry sense of humour, liked to drink, hot tempered, etc. They shared a house on Long Island and went back there after the two got into an argument at a local pub. The argument was about cleaning responsibilities and Stewart accused Sawchuk of owing him some money. They were kicked out of the bar and the bartender ordered them to go home after they continued to push and shove one another outside. They drove separately back to their place and continued the argument.

- As the fight continued a friend tried to pull them a part but couldn't. They later tripped and fell into a BBQ pit with Stewart on top, Terry on the bottom. Sawchuk appeared to hit his stomach on Stewart's knee.

- the Doc later said that Sawchuk was in shock from the pain, pale, and had extremely low blood pressure. He suffered damage to his gall bladder and liver. The gall bladder was removed days later and blood was removed from his lacerated liver. He lasted in hospital for about a month but never recovered. Extremely weak, he was unable to recover from internal bleeding and eventually his heart just stopped working.

Sawchuk is arguably the best goalie of all time and is an extremely interesting and mysterious character. The book is about his whole life and highlights his playing career and his life outside of hockey as well. It also provides insight into why he was the way he was and a more detailed account about his death (more detailed than what I gave you, including info on how the incident was somewhat covered up by the Rangers, the team he played for at the time). Again, solid book, and would make a great Christmas gift.

Did it ever occur to anyone that the account was tailored to shield Stewart from prosecution?

Did it ever occur to anyone that the account was tailored to shield Stewart from prosecution?

It did, but you see, that is a theory.

Did it ever occur to anyone that the account was tailored to shield Stewart from prosecution?

It occured to Terry Sawchuk who said his injury was his own fault.