Bruins’ legend Bronco Horvath passes away

A legend of the Boston Bruins has passed away. Bronco Horvath, who spent four seasons with the Bruins from 1957 to 1961, was 89 years old.

While he played for five of the Original Six teams throughout his career (Detroit being the only one he didn't suit up with), he’s best remembered for his time in Boston playing on the “Uke Line.” It was comprised of Horvath, Johnny Bucyk and Vic Stasiuk, who were all Canadians of Ukrainian decent. Horvath missed out on the Art Ross Trophy in 1959–60 by a single point to Bobby Hull, He did, however, tie Hull for the goal-scoring lead at 39.

Despite having 326 points in 434 NHL games (141 goals, 185 assists), Horvath also spent several seasons in the AHL, mostly with the Rochester Americans. He won three Calder Cup championships with the team (1964–65, 1965–66 and 1967–68), and was among the league's scoring leaders for several seasons.

Following his retirement from playing in 1970, Horvath went on the coach the London Knights of the OHL. He then moved to South Yarmouth, Massachusetts when he was named coach of the Cape Cod Cubs, an expansion team in the Eastern Hockey League, in 1972. He coached the Cubs to a regular-season divisional championship and a sweep of their first-round playoff series with the Long Island Ducks before a powerful Syracuse Blazers team ended Cape Cod's league championship hopes. Horvath returned as coach for the 1973–74 season with the Cubs, who were charter members of the new North American Hockey League, but was fired after the team got off to a slow start. His last coaching job was a brief stint at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. He would live out the rest of his days in Cape Cod and was said to enjoy an occasional game of golf, even in his later years.

Our sincere condolences to Horvath’s family and friends on his passing.