Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Jack McIlhargey, top, keeps an eye on play during a game in Vancouver on May 8, 2003.The Canadian Press
Former Vancouver Canucks defenceman and coach Jack McIlhargey has died.
The Canucks confirmed the death on Monday. The Edmonton native was 68.
Mr. McIlhargey played 393 career games with the Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers and Hartford Whalers from 1974 to 1982 before becoming a coach.
Mr. McIlhargey returned to the Canucks as an assistant coach from 1985 to 1991 before spending the next eight years as head coach of Vancouver minor-league affiliates in Milwaukee, Hamilton and Syracuse, N.Y.
After that run, Mr. McIlhargey went back to Vancouver as an assistant for four years and as an associate coach for two years.
Mr. McIlhargey finished his coaching career as an assistant for Philadelphia from 2007 to 2010.
In 1988, the Canucks sent Mr. McIlhargey to Russia along with goaltender Troy Gamble on an exchange program after they drafted Russians Igor Larionov and Vladimir Krutov in previous years.
Mr. Larionov and Mr. Krutov eventually agreed to play for Vancouver, part of the first wave of Russian talent to arrive in the NHL.
“We are deeply saddened to lose our friend Jack McIlhargey,” the Canucks tweeted. “He was one of the most respected and loved Canucks ever as part of the family for 24 years as a player, coach and alumni.”