Ed Kea

Adriaan Jozef Kea (January 19, 1948 - August 31, 1999) was a former Dutch-Canadian ice hockey defenceman.

Born in Weesp, Kea started his National Hockey League career with the Atlanta Flames. He also played with the St. Louis Blues. His career lasted from 1974 to 1983.

He played Junior "C" and senior hockey in Collingwood, Ontario. Despite his lack of Junior "A" or college experience, Kea still managed to make it to the NHL.

Kea turned pro in 1969 with the Jersey Devils of the Eastern Hockey League. After three seasons in the Eastern League, the Atlanta Flames signed him as a free agent in 1972.

He played mostly as a regular for the Flames until 1979 when he was part of the trade to the St. Louis Blues for Garry Unger. Kea played for the Blues until 1983.

He was playing for the Blues' Central Hockey League affiliate in Salt Lake City in 1983 when he suffered severe head trauma when he fell and hit his head on the ice during a game. The injury left him physically and mentally disabled. Because he was playing in a minor league game, National Hockey League benefits for catastrophic injuries did not apply to his case, and he and his family struggled financially for several years because he was unable to hold a job.

On September 1, 1999, Kea accidentally drowned in the swimming pool of his family's summer home in Ontario, Canada. He was 51.

Kea was the first Dutch-born player to score a point in the NHL. He played in 583 games and scored 30 goals and 145 assists.