ONTARIO, CANADA – Legendary NHL enforcer Bob Probert dies of a heart attack on his boat near his home in Windsor, Ontario. As he does, Probert leaves behind one of the most memorable hockey lives of recent times. Prohockeynews.com looks at why Probert is gone but won’t be forgotten for a very long time. 935 games, 163 goals, 221 assists and a mammoth 3300 penalty minutes. That’s Bob Probert in his vital statistics but it’s not the reason why Robert Andrew Probert will be remembered in the memories of hockey fans around the world.
Most remembered for his action with his fists, Probert once held a playoff point scoring record for the Detroit Red Wings. Further, Probert was selected to the 1988 NHL All Star game in recognition for his playing skill, scoring 68 points whilst still amassing nearly 400 penalty minutes that season.
Famed for bouts against the likes of Tie Domi and Marty McSorely in a career that saw one season include a massive 34 fights. Off the ice, Bob Probert fell foul to drug and alcahol addictions that plagued his later playing days eventually retiring after 60 games with Chicago Blackhawks in 2002, but it is in the Winged Wheel Probert will always remain most fondly remembered. Married with four children, Probert lived the remainder of his life in leafy Windsor, Ontario sharing his love of the game often with the younger generation and taking part in charity fundraising events.
One such event was the Hockey Stars for Hope tour in the UK where your writer worked with the 3rd round 1983 draft pick. Writing personally, the many stars who donned the jersey for the NHL Legends tour included Stanley Cup winners, dynasty Edmonton Oilers and a Hall of Famer. Though many tried, few matched the efforts that Bob Probert made to meet every fan that wanted to, make an effort with kids looking to start playing the game in the UK and to promote the game in the UK. Probert was also the first to meet and greet the fans after a game and took a genuine interest in all strands of the UK game extending to professional hockey, junior hockey, University hockey and recreational hockey. Notably, he was also the name that was first on people’s lips when they came to watch NHL greats take on professionals from the Elite League and English Premier League.
In a week, where the players volunteered their time, Probert showed off the skill that got him to that NHL all-star game still holding his own with current ECHL and AHL level professionals.
Probert later came back to the UK, a year after the tour, to review how his work had affected junior kids in UK hockey. Hockey is a poorer place, despite his troubles, without Robert A. Probert.
Contact Phil.Andrews@prohockeynews.com
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