Former Islander Marchinko passes away

Brian Marchinko, who played 47 NHL games, including 42 for the Islanders in 1972-73 and 1973-74 has passed away.  He was 65.

Details here: Brian Marchinko Obituary: View Obituary for Brian Marchinko by Henderson's Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Chilliwack, BC

	Brian Marchinko Obituary: View Obituary for Brian Marchinko by Henderson's Funeral Homes & C... Obituary for Brian Marchinko, It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected death of Brian Marchinko on May 12, 2014. He passed away peacefully while asleep at his home in Chilliwack, BC. Brian enjoyed a career in
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Marchinko played 5 games for the Maple Leafs over two seasons (1970-71 and 1971-72) before being claimed by the Isles in the 1972 Expansion Draft.

He managed two goals and six assists in 36 games with the team in 1972-73.  His first NHL goal was a game-winner on St. Patrick's Day 1973 against the Blues; fellow rookie Bobby Nystrom earned his first NHL assist on the play. Marchinko's other (and final) goal came in the Isles' final game of that season, a 4-4 tie in Atlanta.

Marchinko, who played six games for the Isles the following season but was pointless, was the only Islander to wear number 14 prior to the arrival of Bob Bourne.

Based on my records (which match records maintained by the Society for International Hockey Research), Marchinko is only the 8th former Islander to pass away -- six of the eight played on that original 1972-73 team while two others were killed in the tragic Yaroslavl plane crash in 2011.

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick