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Walt Poddubny-0

Walter Michael Poddubny

  • Born: February 14, 1960 in Port Arthur, Ontario
  • Hometown: Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Died: March 21, 2009 at Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Position: Center / Left Wing, Coach, & General Manager

Selected by Edmonton Oilers 5th round (#90) in 1980 NHL Entry Draft

This future high scoring NHL'er did not even learn to skate until the age of 8 and initially started out between the pipes. Making his way up to the forward line and through the minor ranks of Port Arthur, he claimed the junior league scoring title with the DeGagne Buccaneers in 1978-79. After a brief time with the Brandon Wheat Kings, he joined the OHL playing with the Kitchener Rangers and the Kingston Canadians, before advancing to the professional ranks.

Drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 1980, Walt earned his stripes in the CHL with the Wichita Wind before being called up to the Oilers briefly during the 1981-82 season. Traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, he served on their forward line from 1982-86. Scored 28 goals in his rookie year, breaking the team's previous record which had been set by Howie Meeker 35 years earlier. Although plagued by injuries on and off during his time with the club, in his final season with the Leafs he earned 34 points in 33 games contributing to their run at the playoffs.

Acquired by the New York Rangers in 1986 for Mike Allison, his two seasons with the club saw him as the team's leading scorer and the recipient of numerous honors as Team MVP and Most Popular. Moved to Quebec for the 1988-89 season, played in the NHL All-Star Game, scoring two goals for the Wales Conference. Joined the New Jersey Devils for the 1989-90 season, where he suffered what would eventually prove to be a career ending injury to his right knee. Played only 56 games in his 3 years with Jersey, leading to his NHL retirement in 1991.

After some time spent in the professional leagues in Germany and in the AHL, Walt officially retired from the game as a player in 1995. His 11 season NHL career included an impressive 422 points in 468 games.

Transferring his skills to the building side of the game, Walt went on to coach the Daytona Beach Breakers of the Southern Hockey League and the Anchorage Aces in the West Coast Hockey League from 1995 to 2002.

Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, September 28, 2002

Career Statistics[]

Playing[]

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1978-79 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 20 11 11 22 12 -- -- -- -- --
Degagne Buccaneers TBJHL Statistics Unavailable
1979-80 Kitchener Rangers OMJHL 19 3 9 12 35 -- -- -- -- --
Kingston Canadians OMJHL 43 30 17 47 36 3 0 2 2 0
1980-81 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 5 4 2 6 4 -- -- -- -- --
Wichita Wind CHL 70 21 29 50 207 11 1 6 7 26
1981-82 Edmonton Oilers NHL 4 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
Wichita Wind CHL 60 35 46 81 79 -- -- -- -- --
Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 11 3 4 7 8 -- -- -- -- --
1982-83 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 72 28 31 59 71 4 3 1 4 0
1983-84 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 38 11 14 25 48 -- -- -- -- --
1984-85 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 32 5 15 20 26 -- -- -- -- --
St. Catharines Saints AHL 8 5 7 12 10 -- -- -- -- --
1985-86 St. Catharines Saints AHL 37 28 27 55 52 -- -- -- -- --
Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 33 12 22 34 25 9 4 1 5 4
1986-87 New York Rangers NHL 75 40 47 87 49 6 0 0 0 8
1987-88 New York Rangers NHL 77 38 50 88 76 -- -- -- -- --
1988-89 Quebec Nordiques NHL 72 38 37 75 107 -- -- -- -- --
1989-90 Utica Devils AHL 2 1 2 3 0 -- -- -- -- --
New Jersey Devils NHL 33 4 10 14 28 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 New Jersey Devils NHL 14 4 6 10 10 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 New Jersey Devils NHL 7 1 2 3 6 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Bad Nauheim EC Germany2 44 35 41 76 149 9 5 15 20 15
1993-94 Bad Nauheim EC Germany3 37 40 46 86 115
SHC Fassa Alpenliga 9 2 3 5 19 -- -- -- -- --
1994-95 Worcester IceCats AHL 34 7 6 13 62 -- -- -- -- --
NHL Totals 468 184 238 422 454 19 7 2 9 12

Coaching[]

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League Type GP W L T OTL Pts Finish GP W L Results
1994-95 Worcester IceCats AHL Assist 80 24 45 11 - 59 6th North DNQ
1995-96 Daytona Beach Breakers SHL Head 60 33 20 7 - 73 2nd 4 1 3 Lost Semi Final
1996-97 Anchorage Aces WCHL Head 64 41 18 - 5 87 2nd 9 3 6 Lost Final
1997-98 Anchorage Aces WCHL Head 64 36 20 - 8 80 2nd North 8 3 5 Lost Div Final
1998-99 Anchorage Aces WCHL Head 71 46 22 - 3 95 2nd North 6 2 4 Lost Div Final
1999-00 Anchorage Aces WCHL Head 56 30 21 - 5 65 3rd North 4 1 3 Lost Div Semi
2000-01 Anchorage Aces WCHL Head 72 27 41 - 4 58 4th North 3 0 3 Lost Div Semi
2001-02 Anchorage Aces WCHL Head 40 9 26 - 5 23 4th North 4 1 3 Lost Div Semi

Managing[]

Season Team League Position Finish Playoffs
1999-00 Anchorage Aces WCHL General Manager 3rd North Lost Div Semi
2000-01 Anchorage Aces WCHL General Manager 4th North Lost Div Semi

Awards & Achievements[]

  • TBJHL Scoring Champion (1979)
  • Played in NHL All-Star Game (1989)
  • Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame (2002)

External links[]

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