On Tuesday night, the National Hockey League lost a beloved figure when an NHL Hall of Famer passed away.
Longtime Chicago Blackhawks goalie Tony Esposito passed away on Tuesday following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from the team. He was 78 years old.
“The Blackhawks and the National Hockey League have lost a legend in Tony Esposito, who passed away today after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer,” the statement read. “As we mourn with his wife Marilyn, sons Mark (Kim) and Jason, and grandchildren Lauren and Kamryn, we celebrate Tony’s life and contributions to the Blackhawks and the community.”
We are heartbroken to have lost a legend in Tony Esposito, who passed away today after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.#TonyO ❤️
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) August 10, 2021
Esposito was a legend in the hockey community, starting his illustrious career in college at Michigan Tech. He was a three-time All-American and helped the team win a national title.
His NHL career got off to rocky start with the Montreal Canadiens. Esposito finally found his landing spot with the Chicago Blackhawks. He earned three Vezina trophies – awarded to the NHL’s best goalie – with the Blackhawks.
Esposito remains the all-time franchise leader in shutouts (74) and career wins (418).
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2017, Esposito was named one of the “100 Greatest Players in NHL History” by the NHL.
Our thoughts are with the Esposito family.
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