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Tuesday, February 8, 2000
Sid Abel dies
DETROIT (AP-CP) -- Sid Abel, the former Detroit Red Wings captain and Hall of Fame player, has died at the age of 81.A hospital official confirmed today that Abel died late Monday or early this morning. She said the Red Wings would release additional details.
Abel began his NHL career in 1938 in Detroit, spending nine full seasons and parts of three others in a Red Wings uniform. The former Hart Trophy winner was just 24 years old when he was named team captain in the 1942-43 season.
Abel established himself as one of the league's dominant centres on the Red Wings' famed Production Line with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay. During his career, Abel scored 189 goals, including a league-high 28 in 1948-49 and a personal high of 34 in 1949-50.
In 1949-50, Lindsay led the NHL in scoring with Abel and Howe finishing second and third, respectively. In the playoffs, the trio led Detroit to a Stanley Cup championship over the New York Rangers.
Howe and Lindsay were both in Toronto this past weekend participating in the NHL's all-star festivities.
Howe said Abel was a player the entire team looked up to. Abel was captain when Howe began his storied 25-year career with the club in 1946.
"I learned a lot from him from just listening," Howe said. "When I was around Sid, that's the way it was.
"He was our captain and leader . . . he won in every aspect of the game. He had a full life as far as hockey goes."
A native of Melville, Sask., Abel was inducted into the hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.
Abel left the Red Wings in 1952 to become the player-manager of the Chicago Blackhawks. He guided the franchise to its first playoff berth in nine years.
Abel spent two years in Chicago before becoming a commentator with Detroit's television crew. He returned to an active role with the Red Wings during the 1957-58 season, becoming the club's head coach when Jimmy Skinner retired for health reasons.
During his 101/2-year tenure behind the Wings' bench, Abel established himself as a players' coach. With Abel, Detroit reached the Stanley Cup playoffs seven times and won the NHL title once.
Abel also later served as the Red Wings general manager, resigning during the 1970-71 season after becoming embroiled in a dispute with Ned Harkness, then the club's rookie head coach.
The following season, Abel returned to the NHL as the head coach of the St. Louis Blues. He replaced Scotty Bowman, who left to join the Montreal Canadiens after guiding the Blues to the 1970 Stanley Cup final against Boston.
But Abel only coached 10 games with St. Louis (3-6-1).
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