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George Samuel Konik (May 4, 1937 – October 21, 2016) was a Canadian American professional ice hockey player.

George Konik
Born	(1937-05-04)May 4, 1937 Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada
Died	October 21, 2016(2016-10-21) (aged 79) Eagan, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Pittsburgh Penguins Minnesota Fighting Saints
National team	United States
Playing career	1961–1973

Career

Konik was a star on the University of Denver hockey team which won the NCAA hockey championship in 1960 and 1961. He signed a professional contract with the New York Rangers after that but did not make his NHL debut until 1967–68 after the expansion Pittsburgh Penguins traded for his rights. Konik made 52 appearances as a versatile role player for the Penguins that season, but drifted back to the minor professional leagues after that.

Konik (who settled in Minnesota in 1964[1]) eventually became a naturalized American citizen and joined the United States national team for the 1970 and 1971 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments; he was named best defenceman in 1970. Konik came out of retirement in 1972/73 to play a final season of major league pro hockey for the WHA Minnesota Fighting Saints before leaving hockey for good. Konik died in the morning of October 21, 2016; his death was announced later that day by the Penguins' official Twitter account.[2]

Business career

After Hockey Konik founded George Konik Associates, a technical staffing firm in 1974 and Maple Leaf Travel in 1982.

Career statistics

				Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1961–62	Los Angeles Blades	WHL		43	3	8	11	38		—	—	—	—	—
1962–63	Seattle Totems	WHL		42	7	12	19	50		17	4	1	5	38
1963–64	Baltimore Clippers	AHL		72	19	22	41	80		—	—	—	—	—
1965–66	Minnesota Rangers	CPHL		38	10	20	30	35		7	2	5	7	6
1966–67	Omaha Knights	CPHL		66	27	47	74	109		12	4	8	12	24
1967–68	Baltimore Clippers	AHL		5	0	2	2	7		—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		52	7	8	15	26		—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	Rochester Mustangs	USHL		29	18	30	48	45		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Rochester Mustangs	USHL		Statistics Unavailable						—	—	—	—	—
1970	US National Team	Intl		13	7	12	19	8		—	—	—	—	—
1971	US National Team	Intl		49	16	35	51	40		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Minnesota Fighting Saints	WHA		54	4	12	16	34		—	—	—	—	—
NHL Totals				52	7	8	15	26		—	—	—	—	—

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-WCHA Second Team	1959–60
AHCA West All-American	1959–60
NCAA All-Tournament First Team	1960	[3]
All-WCHA First Team	1960–61
NCAA All-Tournament Second Team	1961	[3]

• Central Professional Hockey League First All-Star Team (1967)
• 1970 World Ice Hockey Championships Pool B (WEC-B) All-Star Team (1970)
• Named Best Defenseman at WEC-B (1970)
• Named to WCHA TOP 50 PLAYERS IN 50 YEARS
• Inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (2011)
• January 31, 1968 - George Konik scores on the first penalty shot in franchise history at St. Louis beating Glenn Hall in a 9-4 Penguins loss.

References

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• George Konik Associates

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