ATHLETE LEGEND
McCord, Dennis
1952 – 2005
SPORT | Hockey
POSITION | Defense
YEAR OF INDUCTION | 2008
Dennis grew up in Chatham, he excelled at all sports he played. At age 11 he won a gold medal in the breaststroke at the Ontario YMCA Swimming Championships. Over the years he starred on 5 Chatham Minor Baseball teams that won Ontario Championships, attracting the eye of the Pittsburgh Pirates who invited him to a tryout camp. He also competed in track, football, and lacrosse. Dennis’s greatest achievements, however, came in hockey where he starred for the Chatham Junior Maroons, before playing Junior “A” for the London Knights. Dennis was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks and at age 21 played briefly with them. He ultimately played several successful years in the Western Hockey League, the Central Hockey League, and the International Hockey League. Dennis was the first Chatham Junior “A” player born in the Maple City to sign a professional contract.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Junior Hockey
1966 – at age 14 signed with the Chatham Jr. Maroons
1967 – 1968 – while still Bantam age, played for the Junior “B” Maroons
1968 – 1969 – played for Chatham Maroons in the Western Ontario Junior “B” League – was voted to the first All-Star team and was second in the best defenceman voting – – was drafted by the Toronto Marlboros of the Major Junior “A” league
1969 – 1970 – played for Toronto and then was traded to Kitchener Rangers but returned to Chatham to help the Maroons win the WOHL Championship
1970 – 1971 – played for Chatham in the new Southern Ontario Junior “A” League, was voted to first All-Star team, and was named the League’s Best Defenseman – was drafted by the London Knights of the Major Junior “A” League
1971 – 1972 – played 59 games for London scoring 40 points (9 goals and 31 assists) and served 123 penalty minutes – was drafted by the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks in 8th round, 115th overall
Professional Hockey
1972 – 1973 & 1973 – 1974 – played in over 70 games each year for Seattle Totems in the Western Hockey League, scoring 86 points and serving 157 penalty minutes – called up to Vancouver for 3 games
1974 – 1975 – played 26 games for Seattle Totems in the Central Hockey League
1975 – 1976 – played 9 games for Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League before going to Fort Wayne Comets of the International Hockey League where he played 59 games, scoring 6 goals and 17 assists while picking up 57 minutes in penalties
After retirement, Dennis returned to Chatham to raise his family. He passed away in early 2005 at the age of 52.