Ed Van Impe
Born (1940-05-27) May 27, 1940
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Chicago Black Hawks
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 19611977

Edward Charles Van Impe (born May 27, 1940) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Playing career

After playing his first five professional seasons with the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL, Ed Van Impe saw his first NHL action with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1966–67. He had a solid rookie season as he was voted the runner-up to Bobby Orr for the Calder Memorial Trophy.

Left unprotected for the expansion draft that off-season, the Philadelphia Flyers picked Van Impe off the Black Hawks' roster. He played eight and a half seasons with the Flyers and was one of the team's best defensive blueliners, serving as the second captain in franchise history, from 1968 to 1973. His forte was hitting and shot-blocking, as well as clearing opponents from the area of his team's net. He was part of the Broad Street Bullies teams that won two Stanley Cups, in 1974 and 1975.

On January 11, 1976, at the Spectrum, Van Impe's Flyers, as part of Super Series '76, played a memorable exhibition game against the Soviet Union's dominant Central Red Army team. Having just finished serving a hooking penalty, Van Impe left the penalty box and immediately placed a devastating hit on the Soviet Union's Valeri Kharlamov, knocking the latter unconscious and causing him to lay prone of the ice for a short while. Van Impe's hit was not penalized and it resulted in the Soviets leaving the ice midway through the first period in protest. After a 17-minute delay, the Soviets finally returned to the ice after they were warned that they would lose their salary for the entire series (200,000 USD) if they did not.

Van Impe's Flyer career came to an end midway through the 1975–76 season as he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Bobby Taylor for Gary Inness and cash. His Penguins career lasted 22 games, as he retired in 1976–77.

Awards

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1956–57 Saskatoon Quakers SJHL 20000
1957–58 Saskatoon Quakers SJHL 4922458
1958–59 Saskatoon Quakers SJHL 4802323150 505524
1959–60 Saskatoon Quakers SJHL 58114253136 71234
1960–61 Calgary Stampeders WHL 6641519123 502216
1961–62 Buffalo Bisons AHL 7001919172 1101125
1962–63 Buffalo Bisons AHL 6531215196 1314534
1963–64 Buffalo Bisons AHL 7042226193
1964–65 Buffalo Bisons AHL 725611197 900026
1965–66 Buffalo Bisons AHL 7092837153
1966–67 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 6181119111 600026
1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 6741317141 704411
1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 6871219112 100017
1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 6501010117
1970–71 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 770111180 40118
1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 73491378
1972–73 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 721111276 1100016
1973–74 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 7721618119 1712341
1974–75 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 7811718109 1704428
1975–76 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 4008860
1975–76 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 1205516 30112
1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 100336
NHL totals 700271261531025 6611213131
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