Tom Lysiak

Thomas James Lysiak (April 22, 1953 – May 30, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Selected in the first round, second overall, of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft by the Atlanta Flames, he was additionally selected by the Houston Aeros in the second round of the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft at 23rd overall.

Tom Lysiak
Born	(1953-04-22)April 22, 1953 High Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Died	May 30, 2016(2016-05-30) (aged 63) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Atlanta Flames Chicago Black Hawks
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 1973 Atlanta Flames
WHA Draft	23rd overall, 1973 Houston Aeros
Playing career	1973–1986

Tom Lysiak (l.) celebrates with Dave Shand and Harold Phillipoff after a goal against the Colorado Rockies in 1978

In each of his last two seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Lysiak was awarded the Bob Clarke Trophy as the Western Canadian Hockey League's leading scorer, with a total of 297 points in 135 games.

Playing career

Lysiak joined the Flames for the 1973–74 NHL season, the second year for the franchise, and scored a team-high 64 points. He helped the team to its first playoff berth and finished second in the voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy (top rookie).^[1]

Lysiak led the Flames in scoring in each of his five full seasons with the team and represented the Flames in three consecutive NHL All-Star Games, in 1975, 1976 and 1977. He served as the Flames' team captain during the 1977–78 and 1978–79 seasons, but he was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks in an unpopular multiplayer deal midway through the 1978–79 season. Eight players were involved in the trade, the biggest trade numbers-wise in NHL history at the time. He is the Atlanta Flames' all-time leader for assists with 276 and points with 431 and ranks second in goals with 155. He had 21 two-goal games with the Flames and one hat trick.

Lysiak played seven full seasons for Chicago and in 1980–81 led the team in scoring with 76 points, including a career-high 55 assists. The next season, 1981–82, he matched his top point-scoring season in Atlanta with 82 points and scored a career-high 32 goals.

On October 30, 1983, while a member of the Black Hawks, Lysiak tripped linesman Ron Foyt during a game against the Hartford Whalers. For the incident, the NHL imposed a 20-game suspension,^[2] one of the longest in league history.

Personal life

After his retirement, Lysiak worked in the landscaping, real estate and construction industries in the Atlanta area.

In 2012, Lysiak was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.^[3]

His daughter Jessica competed on Season 4 of the US version of MasterChef in 2013, finishing in 3rd place.^[4] She is married to Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Justin Braun.

Lysiak died of leukemia in Atlanta, Georgia on May 30, 2016, at age 63, three years after he had been diagnosed with the disease in May 2013.^[5][6] He is related to Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar, as his cousin Gary is Makar’s father.^[7][8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970–71	Medicine Hat Tigers	WCHL		60	14	16	30	112		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Medicine Hat Tigers	WCHL		68	46	97	143	96		7	7	5	12	18
1972–73	Medicine Hat Tigers	WCHL		67	58	96	154	104		17	12	27	39	48
1973–74	Atlanta Flames	NHL		77	19	45	64	54		4	0	2	2	0
1974–75	Atlanta Flames	NHL		77	25	52	77	73		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Atlanta Flames	NHL		80	31	51	82	60		2	0	0	0	2
1976–77	Atlanta Flames	NHL		79	30	51	81	52		3	1	3	4	8
1977–78	Atlanta Flames	NHL		80	27	42	69	54		2	1	0	1	2
1978–79	Atlanta Flames	NHL		52	23	35	58	36		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		14	0	10	10	14		4	0	0	0	2
1979–80	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		77	26	43	69	31		7	4	4	8	0
1980–81	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		72	21	55	76	20		3	0	3	3	0
1981–82	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		71	32	50	82	84		15	6	9	15	13
1982–83	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		61	23	38	61	27		13	6	7	13	8
1983–84	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		54	17	30	47	35		5	1	1	2	2
1984–85	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		74	16	30	46	13		15	4	8	12	10
1985–86	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		51	2	19	21	14		3	2	1	3	2
NHL totals				919	292	551	843	567		76	25	38	63	49

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1978	Canada	WC		7	1	1	2	4

Awards

• Bob Brownridge Memorial Trophy (WCHL leading scorer) - 1972 & 1973
• WCHL First All-Star Team – 1972
• WCHL All-Star Team – 1973

See also

• List of Chicago Blackhawks players

References

1. "Former NHL all-star Tom Lysiak dead at 63". Canadian Press. May 30, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2016 – via sportsnet.ca.
2. "Lysiak of Hawks Gets 20-Game Ban". The New York Times. 1 November 1983. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
3. "Tom Lysiak". National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
4. "NHL Daughter Jessie Lysiak Made the Final Four on MasterChef [PHOTOS]". 4 September 2013.
5. Block, Chris Blow to 1980’s Blackhawk legend’s battle with cancer 2016-07-08 at the Wayback Machine The Third Man In.com September 10, 2013
6. Cain, Brandon M. Former Blackhawk Tom Lysiak dies of Leukemia at 63 SB Nation, May 30, 2016
7. Francis, Eric (May 6, 2019). "Avalanche's Cale Makar, Sharks' Justin Braun finally meet as relatives". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
8. "NHL's Instagram video: "As a Calgary native, @calemakar_ was a big Jarome Iginla fan growing up. #HockeyAtHome"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2020.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• 1973 NHL Amateur Draft -- Tom Lysiak
• "Lysiak Penalty Upheld." New York Times. 9 December 1983.

Preceded by Jacques Richard	Atlanta Flames first round draft pick 1973	Succeeded by Vic Mercredi
Preceded by Pat Quinn	Atlanta Flames captain 1977–1979	Succeeded by Jean Pronovost