Sault hockey legend, four-time Stanley Cup champ Marty Pavelich dies at 96
Sad news in the world of professional hockey – Sault Ste. Marie native and four-time Stanley Cup champion Marty Pavelich has died.
An undated photo of Marty Pavelich during his tenure with the Detroit Red Wings from 1947 to 1957. (Detroit Red Wings/X)
Pavelich died peacefully in his sleep Thursday evening with his son, Andrew Hofley, at his side in Flower Mound, Texas, according to family. He was 96.
"We were watching baseball and I was holding his hand," Hofley said.
"A peaceful end to an extraordinary life."
His family said he was smiling and positive to the end.
Pavelich had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS,) also known as Lou Gehrig's disease in May.
Pavelich was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., on Nov. 6, 1927 and played 10 seasons as a left-winger for the Detroit Red Wings between 1947 and 1957, tallying 93 goals, 159 assists and 454 penalty minutes in his 633 games.
The defensive forward played his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings, winning Cups in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955.
“On behalf of the entire Red Wings organization I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the Pavelich family,” Red Wings owner Christopher Ilitch said in a statement.
“Marty was beloved by all those who knew him, including my parents, Mike and Marian Ilitch. He was an integral part of four Stanley Cup championship teams for the Red Wings in the 1950s and one of the hardest-working players of his generation. He will be greatly missed.”
Pavelich ties Joe Klukay, who died in 2003, for the most Stanley Cup wins for a Sault-born player and was chosen as an inaugural member of the Sault Ste Marie Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964.
Sault Ste. Marie Hockey Hall of Family's photo of Marty Pavelich. Pavelich was chosen as an inaugural member of the hall of fame in 1964. (City of Sault Ste. Marie)
He was also the last surviving member of Detroit’s 1950 championship team – a lineup that included Ted Lindsay, Gordie Howe and Red Kelly.
Following his hockey, Pavelich started a plastic injection molding company in Livonia, Mich. with friend and teammate Ted Lindsay.
In 1991, he moved to Big Sky, Mont. Where he enjoyed fly fishing and skiing. His family said he instantly fell in love with Big Sky – swearing never to leave.
Pavelich was instrumental in building the Big Sky Meadow ice rink which was renamed in his honor in 2022.
A family photo of Marty Pavelich, 96, taken on June 8, 2024 -- just 19 days before he died. (Supplied)
A memorial service is being planned at the Big Sky Chapel for late October or early November.
Background
Below is a full obituary provided to CTV News by the family:
Marty Pavelich, Sault Native and Four Time Stanley Cup Winner, Has Died at Age 96
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Marty Pavelich. He passed peacefully with his son at his side the evening of June 27, 2024 in Flower Mound, Texas after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Marty was 96 years old.
He was the devoted and loving father of Lynn Maxwell (Rob), Lee Hofley and Andrew Hofley (Nicole). He was also the proud grandfather of Lauren Whelan (Travis), Samantha and Blake Hofley. Marty was predeceased by his first wife Anna Jean "Jake" Eberlein, his second wife Marjorie (mother of Lynn, Lee and Andrew), his parents Matthew and Zora “Rose” (Stilin) Pavelich, and his stepfather Martin Krmpotich. He was also predeceased by his sisters Dorothy Trudell (Larry) (David Thorp) and Marge Lucas (Andy) and his brother Robert “Bob” Krmpotich (Mary Anne). He is survived by his brothers Matt Pavelich (Dragica) and Ron Krmpotich (Vi).
Marty was born Martin Nicholas Pavelich on November 6, 1927 in Sault Ste. Marie. Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings when he was 15, he played his junior hockey in Galt and joined the Red wings in 1947 where he won four Stanley Cups with the Red Wings before retiring in 1957. In 1964 he was selected as an inaugural member of the Sault Ste Marie Hockey Hall of Fame.
After hockey, he started a plastic injection molding company in Livonia, Michigan with his best friend and Hockey Hall of Fame player, Ted Lindsay, supplying the automotive industry. Marty often said he loved the business world more than his career in hockey.
In 1991, Marty and Marjorie moved to Big Sky, Mont. where the fly fishing and skiing were excellent. It was love at first sight for Marty and Big Sky and he vowed to never leave. He was instrumental in building the Big Sky Chapel which opened in 1999 and the Big Sky Meadow ice rink which was named in Marty’s honor in 2022. Marty was an avid skier and golfer his entire life; he was a mainstay at Lone Mountain as a Mountain Host and at the Big Sky Big Brother/Big Sister charity golf event. His last ski run on Lone Mountain was in February 2023 at the tender age of 95. Poetry on skis until the end.
After several years in Big Sky, he was quoted as saying: “I should never have played hockey, but moved to Montana when I was a young man to be a cowboy.” That was his love for Big Sky and the surrounding community. He will be greatly missed. A Memorial Service is planned in the Big Sky Chapel in late October / early November.
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