Over the past year, many personalities from the world of sports have left us, and their departure reminds everyone that each of them left their mark in one way or another.
• Also read: The Missing of 2023: Discover the Quebec and Canadian personalities who have left us
While certain deaths have attracted more attention here due to their sudden nature and special circumstances, others have drawn a reaction due to the deceased's proximity to the Quebec public or his size. Here you will find a presentation of the departures that interested us most in 2023.
Adam Johnson
(June 22, 1994 – October 28, 2023)
Archive photo, AFP
The American's name will continue to be associated with one of the most traumatic incidents in hockey history. During a game in England, Adam Johnson suffered a severe cut to his neck when he was hit by Matt Petgrave's skate blade. The former National League (NHL) player's death convinced some organizations, including the International Ice Hockey Federation, to mandate the wearing of neck guards.
Bobby Hull
(January 3, 1939 – January 30, 2023)
Archive photo, AGENCE QMI
The “Blonde Comet” is a must-have in ice hockey. After leading the Chicago Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 1961, Bobby Hull was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983. Brett Hull's father, winner of three Art Ross and two Hart Trophies, became the talk of the town for questionable reasons after his retirement, but his reputation for excellence on the ice remains: he scored a total of 610 goals in the NHL and 303 in the NHL World Association.
Claude Bedard
(1937 – October 14, 2023)
Archive photo, QMI Agency
One of the early pillars of the Journal de Québec died suddenly on October 14th. Former sports director Claude Bédard has died at the age of 86. It was Sept. 13, 1969, when Mr. Bédard joined the Journal after winning a championship in the Provincial Baseball League, a professional circuit, as general manager of the Quebec Indians.
He also shaped the Quebec sports world as an analyst who covered Nordiques games on television.
Gino Odjick
(September 7, 1970 – January 15, 2023)
Archive photo, QMI Agency
The former NHL star, who battled cardiac amyloidosis, a rare and incurable disease, was an example of courage for First Nations people and was greatly appreciated by Canucks fans. Additionally, Gino Odjick dominated the Vancouver team with 2,127 penalty minutes and came just one win away from winning the Stanley Cup in 1994. The Quebecer also wore the Canadian uniform in the early 2000s.
Doris Labonté
(April 28, 1954-1um June 2023)
Photo provided by Rimouski Océanic
Former sports journalist Doris Labonté was Sidney Crosby's mentor in junior hockey as general manager of the Rimouski Océanic; The two men won the President's Cup in 2005. However, their successes were not limited to the era of number 87. In 2000, the team, which relied in particular on Brad Richards, secured the Quebec championship and the Memorial Cup. He died a month after stopping cancer treatment.
Yvon Pedneault
(August 6, 1946 – August 26, 2023)
Archive photo, QMI Agency
With almost six decades of experience in the media, Yvon Pedneault is a great sports journalist. Whether on television, radio or in newspapers, including as a columnist for Le Journal and TVA Sports, he has passed on his knowledge in various disciplines. After closely accompanying the Canadiens' dynasty in the 1970s, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998.
Peter Klima
(December 23, 1964 – May 4, 2023)
Archive photo
Recognizable by his atypical helmet and the first player from the former Czechoslovakia to leave his country to play in the United States, Petr Klima scored at least 30 goals in the NHL for six seasons and won a Stanley Cup. Despite limited action, he contributed to the Edmonton Oilers' victory in the first game of the 1990 finals in Boston. He scored the decisive goal in the third overtime of the longest final in history.
Roman Cechmanek
(March 2, 1971 – November 12, 2023)
Archive photo
Roman Cechmanek is also from what is now the Czech Republic and played in the NHL for several years, finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting in 2000-2001. He liked to block shots with his head and managed to record 25 shutouts. An impulsive goalie, he insulted his offensively sluggish Philadelphia Flyers teammates by walking to the middle of the ice during a playoff game in Ottawa in 2002.
The Iron Sheik
(March 15, 1942 – June 7, 2023)
Archive photo, WENN.com
If Hulk Hogan was an icon of professional wrestling, it is largely thanks to the Iron Sheik, one of his main opponents in the 1980s. The Iranian, whose real name was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, and his Soviet partner Nikolai Volkoff embodied hostility toward the Americans. The former WWF (now WWE) world titleholder continued his tirades against Hogan on social media until his death.
Bob Knight
(October 25, 1940-1um November 2023)
Archive photo, AFP
The former college basketball coach is a legend in the USA. Known for his fiery personality, Bob Knight helped the Indiana Hoosiers win three national titles. He has amassed a total of 902 wins in the NCAA premier league, spread over no fewer than 42 seasons. In addition, the “General” led the American Olympic team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
Rick Jeanneret
(July 23, 1942 – August 17, 2023)
Archive photo, QMI Agency
Rick Jeanneret described the Buffalo Sabers for more than half a century and never saw them win the Stanley Cup, but he described their heroics. Fans will remember his May Day, when striker Brad May scored the game-winning goal in a first-round series in 1993. On national US television, he attracted attention from the New York Rangers with his “Matteau, Matteau, Matteau” at the end of the 1994 Eastern Final.
Brooks Robinson
(May 18, 1937 – September 26, 2023)
Archive photo, AFP
The one who stood out in the third volume was entitled to a few nicknames, including Monsieur Oriole, and for good reason. The human vacuum cleaner spent his entire 23-year major league baseball career in Baltimore, winning 16 consecutive Gold Gloves and earning 18 invitations to the All-Star Game. As winner of the 1966 and 1970 World Series, he received MVP honors for a total of 268 home runs and 1,357 RBIs.
Tim Wakefield
(August 2, 1966-1um October 2023)
Archive photo, AFP
Butterfly ball specialist Tim Wakefield spent 19 years in Major League Baseball, earning 200 wins per season. In 2004, the right-hander helped the Boston Red Sox win their first championship in 86 years before enjoying another title three years later. When he won the last win of his career in 2011 at the age of 45, the pitcher was the oldest player in the world.
Dick Butkus
(December 9, 1942 – October 5, 2023)
Archive photo, AFP
Dick Butkus, the legendary linebacker for his hometown Chicago Bears, terrorized NFL quarterbacks and earned eight Pro Bowl invitations. He made 1,020 tackles and 22 interceptions from 1965 to 1973 before retiring due to knee injuries. Film fans have seen him in roles in Gremlins 2: The Next Generation and Brian's Song.
Jim Brown
(February 17, 1936 – May 18, 2023)
Archive photo, AFP
The former star running back had several strengths to his name. In football, he averaged 104.3 rushing yards per game, the best performance in league history. Added to the record are 106 rushing touchdowns, nine Pro Bowl appearances in as many seasons and an NFL championship. In the cinema he took part in 44 projects, including Les Cent Fusils, and as an activist he defended various causes, including those of marginalized people.
Bray Wyatt
(May 23, 1987 – August 24, 2023)
Archive photo, AFP
This popular wrestler's sudden departure from WWE surprised many. Having previously crossed swords with The Undertaker during a WrestleMania gala in 2015, the Windham Rotunda native has played fairly tormented, even demonic characters in and around the arena, including Bray Wyatt and The Fiend. Between 2009 and 2023, the man with the full beard held the world belt three times.
Dave Hilton Sr.
(August 29, 1940 – July 28, 2023)
Archive photo
Dave Hilton senior, former featherweight and super welterweight champion, won 71 of his 72 amateur duels and was best known for his offspring. Despite some upheavals away from the cable cars, his five sons had all taken up boxing. The New Brunswick native, trainer and manager, had a front row seat as Davey Jr. and Matthew won world titles.
Jean-Paul Chartrand Sr
(January 11, 1931 – December 23, 2023)
Archive photo
The sports commentator has worked in the media for over 60 years. Jean-Paul Chartrand senior has been the voice of boxing at Réseau des Sports since the channel's beginnings in 1989. He previously worked at radio (CJMS and CKAC) and on the Journal de Montréal team when it opened in 1964, as well as at Montréal-Matin and Dimanche-Matin. The journalist was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in November and notably covered the Canadiens and the Alouettes.
Reginald Savage
(1um May 1970 – December 24, 2023)
Photo from Sonia Savage's Facebook page
Réginald Savage, a former first-round pick of the Washington Capitals in 1988 and a former Quebec Nordiques player, was one of the first blacks to achieve success in Quebec junior hockey. In three seasons with the Victoriaville Tigres, he scored 50 goals or more, for a total of 329 points. However, he settled for 12 points in 34 NHL games. From 1994-1995 to 2004-2005, the striker continued his career in minor leagues.
Others are missing
- Tim McCarver (October 16, 1941 – February 16, 2023), baseball and media
- Vida Blue (July 28, 1949 – May 6, 2023), baseball
- Roger Craig (February 17, 1930 – June 4, 2023), baseball
- Rocky Wirtz (October 5, 1952 – July 25, 2023), hockey
- Terry Funk (June 30, 1944 – August 23, 2023), wrestling
- Willie Hernandez (November 14, 1954 – November 20, 2023), baseball
- Jean-Pierre Jabouille (October 1, 1942 – February 2, 2023), motorsport
- Ken Block (November 21, 1967 – January 2, 2023), auto racing and extreme sports
- Bobby Charlton (October 11, 1937 – October 21, 2023), football
- Jay Briscoe (January 25, 1984 – January 17, 2023), wrestling
- Nicolas Kerdiles (January 11, 1994 – September 23, 2023), hockey
- Jesus Alou (March 24, 1942 – March 10, 2023), baseball
- Billy Graham (June 7, 1943 – May 17, 2023), wrestling
- Willis Reed (June 25, 1942 – March 21, 2023), basketball
- Tori Bowie (August 27, 1990 – April 23, 2023), track and field
- Elena Fanchini (April 30, 1985 – February 8, 2023), alpine skiing