Ed Van Impe

Lore & Background

Van Impe played his first five professional seasons with the Portland Buckaroos of the WHL before his first NHL action with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1966–67. He finished third in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year, behind winner Bobby Orr and runner-up Ed Giacomin. Left unprotected for the expansion draft, the Philadelphia Flyers picked him. He played eight and a half seasons with the Flyers, serving as the second captain in franchise history from 1968 to 1973. He was part of the 'Broad Street Bullies' teams that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. On January 11, 1976, during Super Series '76, he hit Soviet player Valeri Kharlamov, knocking him unconscious; the Soviets left the ice in protest for approximately 10 minutes before returning. Van Impe was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 9, 1976, and retired after the 1976–77 season.

Reader's Guide

Van Impe won two Stanley Cups with the Philadelphia Flyers (1974, 1975). He played in the NHL All-Star Game three times (1969, 1974, 1975). He was inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1993.

Rookie Breakthrough and Calder Contention

Edward Charles Van Impe played his first five professional seasons with the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL before seeing his first NHL action with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1966–67. He had a solid rookie season, amassing 19 points (eight goals and 11 assists) and finishing as the runner-up to Bobby Orr for the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year.

The Broad Street Bullies and Captaincy

Left unprotected for the expansion draft, 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 back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. He played in the NHL All-Star Game three times (1969, 1974, 1975) and was inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1993.

The Super Series Incident

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 lie prone on 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.

Final Seasons and Passing

Van Impe was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Bobby Taylor for Gary Inness and cash on March 9, 1976, and he retired following the 1976–77 season. Van Impe died in Vancouver on April 29, 2025, at the age of 84.

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