Gary Lupul

Gary Lupul (April 20, 1959 – July 18, 2007) was an ice hockey centre for the National Hockey League (NHL) team the Vancouver Canucks.

Born and raised in Powell River, British Columbia, Lupul played his junior hockey career with the Nanaimo Clippers and the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League. He played for Canada at the 1979 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

He signed a free agent contract with the Canucks a day prior to the team opening their training camp in Powell River. Lupul, at 5-foot-9 in height and 175 pounds, immediately demonstrated his feistiness by fighting Gerry Minor in his first day at training camp.

Lupul, known as the Pride of Powell River, played seven seasons as a forward with the Canucks, from 1979 to 1986. In 1982, he scored five points in 10 playoff games as Vancouver made it to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time.

Lupul had his best years in 1983 and 1984 playing on a line with Lars Molin and Dave "Tiger" Williams.

In 1984, Lupul was the first NHL player to fight Mario Lemieux and did so in Mario's home debut in his rookie season. Horribly overmatched by the much larger Lemieux, Lupul had to be rescued by goaltender John Garrett, who was then given a game misconduct for being the third player in the fight.

Lupul played in 1986-87 for SG Brunico in Italy and in 1987-88 for Berliner SC Pruessen in Germany, He retired in 1988.

In the NHL Lupul played in 293 games and scored 70 goals and 75 assists.

Following retirement from professional hockey, Lupul was a junior and college scout for the Vancouver Canucks in Ontario, Canada.