Ed Van Impe

Edward Charles Van Impe (May 27, 1940 – April 29, 2025)^[1] was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.^[2]

Ed Van Impe
Born	(1940-05-27)May 27, 1940 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died	April 29, 2025(2025-04-29) (aged 84) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Chicago Black Hawks Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	1961–1977

Playing career

After playing his first five professional seasons with the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL, Ed Van Impe saw his first NHL action with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1966–67. He had a solid rookie season, amassing 19 points (eight goals and 11 assists) and finishing as the runner-up to Bobby Orr for the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year.

Left unprotected for the expansion draft that off-season, the Philadelphia Flyers picked Van Impe off the Black Hawks' roster. He played eight and a half seasons with the Flyers and was one of the team's best defensive blueliners, serving as the second captain in franchise history, from 1968 to 1973.^[3] His forte was hitting and shot-blocking, as well as clearing opponents from the area of his team's net. He was part of the "Broad Street Bullies" teams that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975.

On January 11, 1976, at the Spectrum, Van Impe's Flyers, as part of Super Series '76, played a memorable exhibition game against the Soviet Union's dominant Central Red Army team. Having just finished serving a hooking penalty, Van Impe left the penalty box and immediately placed a devastating hit on the Soviet Union's Valeri Kharlamov, knocking the latter unconscious and causing him to lie prone on the ice for a short while. Van Impe's hit was not penalized and it resulted in the Soviets leaving the ice midway through the first period in protest. After a 17-minute delay, the Soviets finally returned to the ice after they were warned that they would lose their salary for the entire series (200,000 USD) if they did not.^[4]

Van Impe was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Bobby Taylor for Gary Inness and cash on March 9, 1976 and he retired following the 1976–77 season.^[5]

Awards

• Won two Stanley Cups with the Philadelphia Flyers (1974, 1975)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game three times (1969, 1974, 1975)
• Inducted into Flyers Hall of Fame (1993)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1956–57	Saskatoon Quakers	SJHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1957–58	Saskatoon Quakers	SJHL		49	2	2	4	58		—	—	—	—	—
1958–59	Saskatoon Quakers	SJHL		48	0	23	23	150		5	0	5	5	24
1959–60	Saskatoon Quakers	SJHL		58	11	42	53	136		7	1	2	3	4
1960–61	Calgary Stampeders	WHL		66	4	15	19	123		5	0	2	2	16
1961–62	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		70	0	19	19	172		11	0	1	1	25
1962–63	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		65	3	12	15	196		13	1	4	5	34
1963–64	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		70	4	22	26	193		—	—	—	—	—
1964–65	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		72	5	6	11	197		9	0	0	0	26
1965–66	Buffalo Bisons	AHL		70	9	28	37	153		—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		61	8	11	19	111		6	0	0	0	26
1967–68	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		67	4	13	17	141		7	0	4	4	11
1968–69	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		68	7	12	19	112		1	0	0	0	17
1969–70	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		65	0	10	10	117		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		77	0	11	11	80		4	0	1	1	8
1971–72	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		73	4	9	13	78		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		72	1	11	12	76		11	0	0	0	16
1973–74	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		77	2	16	18	119		17	1	2	3	41
1974–75	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		78	1	17	18	109		17	0	4	4	28
1975–76	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		40	0	8	8	60		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		12	0	5	5	16		3	0	1	1	2
1976–77	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		10	0	3	3	6		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				700	27	126	153	1025		66	1	12	13	131