Ex-Penguins forward Eddie Shack dies at 83

Eddie Shack, one of the most colorful characters in NHL history who spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins in the early 1970s, died following a bout with cancer. He was 83.

His death was announced by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A native of Sudbury, Ontario, Shack had a 17-year career in the NHL that included 1,047 regular-season games.

Two of those seasons and 87 of those games were spent in Pittsburgh. The Penguins acquired Shack in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on March 4, 1972. He contributed 14 points in 13 games late in the 1971-72 season and helped the Penguins reach the playoffs for the second time in franchise history.

Shack’s only full season with the Penguins was 1972-73. Teamed with Ken Schinkel and Ron Schock on the phonetically pleasing “Schink-Schock-Shack Line,” Shack appeared in 74 games that season and recorded 45 points (25 goals, 20 assists).

The Penguins are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of alumnus Eddie Shack at the age of 83. Shack played games for the Penguins during the 1971.72 and 1972.73 seasons.

Our thoughts are with his family and the hockey community.https://t.co/ctNQv0LD0n pic.twitter.com/bXxmD3XpOF

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 26, 2020

A member of four Stanley Cup championship teams with the Maple Leafs in the 1960s, Shack was one of the most popular players in the history of that franchise, not only for his abilities on the ice but for his flamboyance as well. Nicknamed “The Entertainer,” Shack routinely would lead cheers from the home bench of Maple Leaf Gardens. And on the occasions he was named one of the game’s three stars, he would perform a pirouette at center ice.

Shack was so beloved throughout Ontario, a novelty song titled “Clear The Track, Here Comes Shack” topped the music charts throughout Canada in the 1960s.

One of the tougher players in the NHL when it was limited to six teams, Shack also played for the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings.

Arrangements were not announced.