By The Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, March 16, 2011

TORONTO — Nick Harbaruk, a defensive right wing who spent five seasons in the NHL in the 1970s, has died. He was 67.

He died of bone cancer at Scarborough General Hospital in suburban Toronto on March 10, daughter Kim Salmon said.

Harbaruk played four seasons with the Penguins and one with the St. Louis Blues, leaving the NHL in 1974. He joined the WHA and spent 2 1/2 seasons with the Indianapolis Racers.

In 308 games with the Penguins, Harbaruk scored 40 goals and had 61 assists. In his NHL career, he finished with 45 goals, 75 assists and 120 points in 364 games.

Harbaruk was born in Poland and came to Canada at age 5. He played three seasons with the Toronto Marlboros in the days when NHL teams sponsored junior clubs. Harbaruk helped the Marlies, loaded with future NHL players, win the Memorial Cup in 1964.

He languished in the Toronto Maple Leafs' farm system in Tulsa, Okla., for five seasons before getting a break in the post-expansion era. He also played in the minors with Vancouver, Oklahoma City and Rochester.

He also played one game for the Pittsburgh Hornets ('61-62).

In addition to his daughter, Harbaruk is survived by his wife, Nancy, and another child.

The funeral is today in Toronto.

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