Former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Glen Cochrane has tragically passed away after a battle with cancer.
Cochrane was 65 years old.
The Flyers released a statement on Cochrane’s passing earlier on Saturday.
Cochrane was a third-round draft pick by the Flyers in the 1978 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut with the team on November 24th, 1978 against the Minnesota North Stars at The Spectrum, where the Flyers won 4-3.
Besides the one NHL game, the defenseman spent most of his rookie professional season with the AHL’s Maine Mariners, helping the Flyers’ affiliate at the time win the 1979 Calder Cup over the New Haven Nighthawks.
After spending the 1979-80 campaign in Maine, Cochrane returned to the NHL for 1980-81, and he scored his first NHL goal on March 5th, 1981 against the original Winnipeg Jets in a 10-1 blowout victory. His tally would stand as the game-winner in the contest.
The Cranbrook, British Columbia native appeared in 257 total games for Philadelphia across six seasons, registering 16 goals and 61 assists for 77 points to accompany a +74 rating and a whopping 1,110 penalty minutes.
Cochrane’s penalty minute total remains tenth in franchise history and second among all Flyers defensemen, trailing only André Dupont (1,510) for time spent in the box by a Flyers blueliner.
Philadelphia traded the bruising defender to the Vancouver Canucks on March 12th, 1985, where he spent 63 games before making stops with the Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers.
Cochrane finished his NHL career with 17 goals and 72 assists for 89 points in 411 games with the Flyers, Canucks, Blackhawks and Oilers. He also accrued a +60 rating and 1,556 penalty minutes. Cochrane finished in the top five in league penalty minutes on three occasions and ranks tied for 115th all-time in total penalty minutes in NHL history.
Cochrane retired after the 1988-89 campaign and became a scout later on in his life. He worked for the Colorado Avalanche from 2001 to 2007 and the Anaheim Ducks from 2007 until his passing.
Glen Cochrane was the ultimate competitor. He was always willing to battle for his teammates and would never back down from a fight. May he rest in peace.
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