A Look at Notable & Celebrity Deaths from January 2025 Week 3

Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reviewed and fact-checked by the Legacy.com news team in the third week of January 2025.

Al MacNeil (1935–2025), Stanley Cup-winning hockey coach

Al MacNeil was a hockey player and NHL veteran who won four Stanley Cups as a coach and manager: three with the Montreal Canadiens and a fourth as assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames.

Don Marshall (1932–2024), five-time Stanley Cup winner

Don Marshall was an NHL veteran who won five straight Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens and was the last surviving member of the legendary 1956 team. 

Marty Pavelich (1927–2024), four-time Stanley Cup champion

Marty Pavelich was a Canadian NHL left winger who played for the Detroit Red Wings in the 1940s and ‘50s, winning four Stanley Cups with the celebrated squad.

Ron Ellis (1945–2024), Stanley Cup champ with the Maple Leafs

Ron Ellis played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for 16 seasons, including their Stanley Cup-winning year in 1967.

Chris Simon (1972–2024), Stanley Cup champ with Avalanche

Chris Simon was an NHL enforcer with such teams as the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders, who won a Stanley Cup in 1996 with the Colorado Avalanche.

Jean-Guy Talbot (1932–2024), multiple Stanley Cup winner

Jean-Guy Talbot was an NHL defenseman with the Montreal Canadiens who won five straight Stanley Cups and seven in total, and he appeared in 10 championships over the course of his career.

Bobby Baun (1936–2023), Toronto Maple Leafs hockey legend

Bobby Baun was a professional hockey player with the Toronto Maple Leafs who scored a game-winning goal in the 1964 Stanley Cup finals while skating on a broken ankle.

Petr Klíma (1964–2023), Stanley Cup champ with Edmonton Oilers 

Petr Klí_ma was a hockey player who won the 1990 Stanley Cup as a forward for the Edmonton Oilers.

Guy Lafleur (1951–2022), Montreal Canadiens legend 

Guy Lafleur was a legendary Hall of Fame winger for the Montreal Canadiens who helped the team win five Stanley Cup Championships.

Clark Gillies (1954–2022), New York Islanders legend

Clark Gillies was a legendary left winger for the New York Islanders team that won four straight Stanley Cup championships in the 1980s.

René Robert (1948–2021), NHL star with the Buffalo Sabres

Ren é Robert was a Canadian hockey player who was a member of the Buffalo Sabres’ forward line of the 1970s known as “The French Connection.”

Henri Richard (1936–2020), Montreal Canadiens legend

Henri Richard was an all-time great with the Montreal Canadiens, playing with the hallowed franchise 20 seasons and winning 11 Stanley Cups, an NHL record. He was nicknamed “The Pocket Rocket” — because of his 5-foot-7-inch height and because he was the younger brother of Canadiens legend . Henri Richard racked up over 1,000 points during his Hall of Fame career. He scored the cup-winning goals in 1966 and 1971. The center was known for his playmaking abilities, twice leading the NHL in assists.

Stan Mikita (1940–2018), Chicago Blackhawks legend

NHL Hall of Famer is the Blackhawks all-time leading scorer.

Johnny Bower (1924–2017), beloved Toronto Maple Leafs goalie

Four-time Stanley Cup winner named to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Bob Wolff (1920–2017), legendary New York sports broadcaster

Legendary New York sports broadcaster.

Dave Semenko (1957 - 2017), Stanley Cup champ with Oilers

Former Edmonton Oilers winger known as Wayne Gretzky’s on-ice bodyguard…

Gordie Howe (1928–2016)

Gordie Howe, the Detroit Red Wings great known as “Mr. Hockey,” died June 10, 2016, according to a statement from the team. He was 88.

Rick MacLeish (1950 - 2016), two-time Stanley Cup champ

Rick MacLeish, a member of the Philadelphia Flyers teams in 1974 and 1975 when the team won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, died May 30, according to the team. He was 66.

Andy Bathgate (1932 - 2016), NHL Hall of Famer

Andy Bathgate, Hall of Fame winger and 1959 NHL MVP, died February 26, 2016 according to The Associated Press. He was 83.