Ken Wharram, who won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1961, died Tuesday, the North Bay (Ontario) Nugget reports.
He was 83.
Wharram recorded seven straight 20-goal seasons from 1962-69 in his 14-year NHL career. He was twice named an All-Star and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, given to the player to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct with a high standard of play, in 1964. In that season, he scored 39 goals and had 32 assists.
Wharram found his role with the Hawks when he was linked with Hall of Famers Stan Mikita and Ted Lindsay in the 1959-60 season. The trio formed the original “Scooter Line” and after Lindsay retired, Ab McDonald and Doug Mohns played at left wing with Wharram and Mikita.
“Kenny Wharram will always be remembered as an important member of this decorated franchise and we are grateful to have him in the Blackhawks family,” the team said in a statement. “A member of the 1961 Stanley Cup Championship team, Ken was one of the most consistent scorers throughout his Blackhawks career. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Wharram family as we mourn his loss.”
Wharram reached the 30-goal mark three times in his career. His career came to an end during training camp in 1969 when he with myocarditis, a virus that attacks heart muscle. He’s 11th in Hawks history with 252 career goals in 766 games.
Wharram is the second notable former Black Hawk death in less than a year. Tom Lysiak died of Leukemia in May 2016 at age 63.