Doug Wickenheiser

Doug Wickenheiser (born Douglas Peter Wickenheiser on March 30, 1961) was a Canadian ice hockey player who was drafted first overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft.

He died on January 12, 1999 from a rare form of cancer called epithelioid sarcoma.

Playing Career
A superstar in Major Junior hockey with the Regina Pats, Doug led the Western Hockey League in goal scoring (89) during the 1979–80 WHL season, captained the Pats to a berth in the Memorial Cup, and was the CHL Player of the Year.

He was rated by The Hockey News as the top draft prospect in 1980 and was subsequently selected first overall by the Montreal Canadiens.

Many Canadiens' fans (particularly French Canadian fans who desperately wanted the club to select francophone star Denis Savard) were unhappy with the selection and the Montreal media attention soon turned negative.

While Doug struggled to adjust to the NHL game, Denis Savard (who was drafted third overall) would quickly become a superstar with the Chicago Blackhawks which further angered some Montreal fans.

In his fourth season with the Canadiens, the club lost patience with his slow development and they traded him to the St. Louis Blues.

Probably Doug's most famous moment with the Blues was during the 1985–86 playoffs in a game dubbed the "Monday Night Miracle" on May 12, 1986 when after St. Louis made a large comeback against the Calgary Flames, he scored the overtime winner to force a Game 7 in the Campbell Conference Finals. The Blues would however, lose the deciding game 2–1.

During his NHL career, Doug also played for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Washington Capitals, but he did not play in the NHL after the 1989-90 season, spending his last four professional seasons in the minors and overseas. In 556 games, he scored 111 goals and 165 assists.