TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Oilers organization announced that the first player ever to be honored with a jersey retirement, Millard “Sonny Boy” Wakeford, passed away at age 101.
Wakeford was a member of the very first Tulsa Oilers American Hockey Association squad to take the ice in 1928, and played with the team until 1941. He played 580 games as an Oiler, racking up 217 goals and 193 assists. He played on 3 championship teams in 1929, 1931, and 1933.
Sonny was born in Vancouver in 1907, and was a center when he played the game. He never made it higher in professional hockey than the AHA, as his small stature did not lend itself to playing in the NHL. He spent all his years after he hung up his skates in Tulsa with his wife Natalie. The Wakefords had 3 children, 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
contact the author at rich.lohman@prohockeynews.com
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