Hank Nowak

Hank Nowak
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Left
Height Weight	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg)
Teams	Pittsburgh Penguins Detroit Red Wings Boston Bruins
Born	(1950-11-24)November 24, 1950, Oshawa, ON, CAN
NHL Draft	87th overall, 1970 Philadelphia Flyers
Pro Career	1970 – 1980

Henry Stanley "Hank" Nowak (born November 24, 1950 in Oshawa, Ontario) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 180 games in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins.

Playing career

Hank Nowak played left-wing for 3 different teams throughout the 70s. He was a disciplined checker and a useful grinder with a muscular build, who could contribute occasionally to the scoring.

Nowak spent 2 seasons with the junior Oshawa Generals. Chosen 87th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, he was assigned to the Quebec Aces. He also played with Richmond Robins and Hershey Bears, then was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After 13 games with the Pens in 1973-74, he spent most of the season in Hershey, scoring 32 goals in 56 games. In May 1974, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Nelson Debenedet. Nowak scored 22 points in 56 games for the Wings, but then he was traded to the Boston Bruins with Earl Anderson for Walt McKechnie.

On February 7, 1976, Nowak played in Darryl Sittler's NHL record setting game when Boston played the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was the night that Daryl Sittler set an NHL record for most points scored in one game when he recorded ten points (six goals, four assists). Nowak claims that despite the 11-4 loss that night he was still +3!

Nowak retired in 1980.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1968–69	Oshawa Generals	OHA		26	2	3	5	37		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Oshawa Generals	OHA		53	17	22	39	37		6	1	2	3	6
1970–71	Quebec Aces	AHL		49	2	7	9	26		1	0	0	0	0
1971–72	Richmond Robins	AHL		62	2	3	5	8		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Hershey Bears	AHL		66	25	22	47	77		7	1	2	3	8
1973–74	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		13	0	0	0	11		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Hershey Bears	AHL		56	32	37	69	90		14	3	12	15	14
1974–75	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		56	8	14	22	69		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Boston Bruins	NHL		21	4	7	11	26		3	1	0	1	0
1975–76	Boston Bruins	NHL		66	7	3	10	41		10	0	0	0	8
1976–77	Boston Bruins	NHL		24	7	5	12	14		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Rochester Americans	AHL		35	12	17	29	26		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Binghamton Dusters	AHL		77	20	24	44	50		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Philadelphia Firebirds	AHL		32	7	12	19	16		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Cape Cod Freedoms	NEHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Utica Mohawks	NEHL		43	27	43	70	49		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Saginaw Gears	IHL		12	6	3	9	44		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Toledo Goaldiggers	IHL		65	14	22	36	59		4	0	0	0	2
AHL totals				377	100	122	222	293		21	4	14	18	22
NHL totals				180	26	29	55	161		13	1	0	1	8

External links

• Hank Nowak's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Hank Nowak's biography at Legends of Hockey