Bob McCord, the former NHL and Denver Spurs hockey player who helped save the Spurs franchise, died last Friday in Parker. He was 82.
Born on March 20, 1934 in Matheson, Ontario, Canada, McCord spent seven seasons in the NHL during the 1960s and ’70s, playing for the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues. In 316 games, he tallied 10 goals and 58 assists as a defenseman.
From 1970-75, he was a member of the Western Hockey League’s Denver Spurs, serving as the team’s captain.
In 1971, the Spurs struggled financially and owner Bennett King needed to raise $52,000 within two days or else the league would shut down the team. So prior to a game against the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, McCord and teammate Lyle Bradley approached the organization and asked the administration to forego their pay for that game in order to help keep the club afloat.
That gesture spread and everyone involved with the game agreed to forego their pay for that contest. King raised $37,000 after the game and was given a one-day extension to raise the remaining $15,000. He did, saving the franchise.
“Bob (McCord) is a helluva man and I really feel there would not be professional hockey in Denver today were it not for what McCord did for us,” King said in a 1975 interview with The Denver Post.
The Spurs won the Lester Patrick Cup, the WHL’s championship trophy, in 1972. McCord was named to the WHL first all-star team that year. He was the recipient of the AHL’s Eddie Shore Award for outstanding defenseman in 1961 (with the Springfield Indians) and 1967 (with the Pittsburgh Hornets).
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 5 at the First Presbyterian Church of Littleton. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the church or the Denver Hospice.
