Walt McKechnie
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Walt McKechnie (born: June 19, 1947 in London, Ontario Canada) is a retired Canadian professional hockey player (played centre), known for his playmaking abilities and the number of pro teams that he played for.
According to the London Free Press edition of Saturday, February 18, 2006, McKechnie was a regular at The Strand Billiards in the basement of 147 King Street in London while playing for the Ontario Hockey Association's London Nationals during the mid-1960s. The pool hall, owned by the late Len Bonk since it first opened in 1952 and closed in September of 2005, was like a second home to McKechnie, who refers to The Strand as "the academy."
"I kind of got my education there [the Strand]. When people ask me where I graduated from, I tell them the academy," McKechnie says.
[edit] Pro career
McKechnie was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1963 NHL Amateur Draft, First Round, Sixth Overall. He has played for the National Hockey League's Minnesota North Stars, California Golden Seals, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings twice, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies, Western Hockey League's Phoenix Roadrunners, Central Hockey League's Iowa Stars, American Hockey League's Cleveland Barons and the Central Hockey League's Salt Lake Golden Eagles. In 1967-1968, he won the WHL Rookie Award.
In 955 career NHL games, he scored 214 goals and 392 assists for 606 points.
[edit] Restaurant owner
Today, McKechnie owns and operates "McKeck's," a family-style restaurant on Highland Street in Haliburton, Ontario.
[edit] External links
Categories: 1947 births | Living people | Boston Bruins players | California Golden Seals players | Canadian ice hockey players | Cleveland Barons (NHL) players | Colorado Rockies (NHL) players | Detroit Red Wings players | London Nationals alumni | Minnesota North Stars players | National Hockey League first round draft picks | People from London, Ontario | Toronto Maple Leafs players | Washington Capitals players
