George Pelawa

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Position Right Wing
Height
Weight		 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
235 lb (107 kg/16 st 11 lb)
Nationality Flag of the United States United States
Born 1968,
Bemidji, MN, USA
Died 1986,
NHL Draft 16th overall, 1986
Calgary Flames
Pro career n/a – n/a

George Pelawa (1968-1986) was a high school hockey right winger[1] from Bemidji, Minnesota. Pelawa was named Minnesota Mr. Hockey in 1986 as the top high-school player in the state, beating out (among others) future National Hockey League player Lance Pitlick for the award.[2] He was drafted in the first round, 16th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.[3]

Pelawa, who had planned to play for collegiately for the University of North Dakota,[4] was killed in an automobile accident just months after the draft.[1] Tom Cochrane's song "Big League" is rumoured to be about Pelawa. Cochrane says the lyrics are based on a true story, but does not assert the song is about Pelawa.[5] The Flames, meanwhile, honor Pelawa by offering a scholarship to Bemidji High School students in his name.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b US Hockey Report -- Draft Numbers
  2. ^ Mr. Hockey Finalists
  3. ^ George Pelawa's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
  4. ^ SiouxSports.com Forums
  5. ^ Tom Cochrane - Song Stories
  6. ^ Community Funds: By City: Bemidji
v • d • e
Atlanta/Calgary Flames first-round draft picks
Atlanta: Richard • Lysiak • Mulhern • Shand • Phillipoff • Marsh • Reinhart
Calgary: Cyr • MacInnis • Quinn • Roberts • Biotti • Pelawa • Deasley • Muzzatti • Kidd • Sundblad • Stillman • Mattsson • Dingman • Gauthier • Morris • Tkaczuk • Fata • Saprykin • Krahn • Kobasew • Nystrom • Phaneuf • Chucko • Pelech • Irving • Backlund
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