The Complete World Hockey Association
www.surgent.net/wha

John McKenzie John Albert McKenzie "Pie"

Height: 5-9
Weight: 180
Shoot: R
Born: 12 Dec 1937, High River AB (d. 2018)

 

Regular Season & Playoff Scoring Record (key)

year team
gp
g
a
pts
pim
gp
g
a
pts
pim
1972-73 Philadelphia
60
28
50
78
157
4
3
1
4
8
1973-74 Vancouver
45
14
38
52
71
1974-75 Vancouver
74
23
37
60
84
1975-76 Minnesota
57
21
26
47
48
Cincinnati
12
3
10
13
6
Totals (2 teams)
69
24
36
60
54
1976-77 Minnesota
40
17
13
30
52
New England
34
11
19
30
25
5
2
1
3
8
Totals (2 teams)
74
28
32
60
77
1977-78 New England
79
27
29
56
61
14
6
6
12
6
1978-79 New England
76
19
28
47
115
10
3
7
10
10
Totals:
477
163
250
413
619
33
14
15
29
32

 

Regular Season Coaching Record

Regular Season Playoffs
year team
w
l
t
pts
pct
finish
w
l
pts
pct
finish
1972-73 Philadelphia
1
6
0
2
.167
DNF
1973-74 Vancouver
3
4
0
6
.429
DNF
4
10
0
8
.286

• Served as player-coach for Philadelphia & Vancouver, with Phil Watson as bench coach. Both rotated as bench coach during first month of the 1972-73 season.
• Relinquished coaching role to Phil Watson, November 9, 1972.
• Relinquished coaching role to Phil Watson, October 21, 1973.
.

 

Excerpts from Pro Hockey, WHA 1976-77 (by Dan Proudfoot)

On a team full of kids, John McKenzie sticks out like a octogenerian, his face all crinkles and wrinkled and his beard coming in practically grey while his teammates baby their first moustaches.

Stinger management liked the way McKenzie looked in 1975-76 after arriving from the defunct Minnesota Fighting Saints.

"You could see the kids watching this 38-year-old going into the corners at 100 miles an hour and you could see them reacting by playing harder themselves."

KcKenzie's experience on NHL Stanley Cup teams showed in tight situations. Once, late in the season, Stingers were down 1-0. McKenzie held up a faceoff to go to the bench. What for? To break up the butterflies bothering his teammates on the bench.

"What are you worrying for?" McKenzie cracked to the bench. "This one's in the bag." And, sure enough, Stingers went on to win the game in overtime.

 

Excerpts from Zander Hollander's Guide to Pro Hockey, 1978-79 (by Reyn Davis)

Enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career last year ... Plays an abrasive style that irritates opponents, causing them to lose their concentration ... Nickname is "Pie" because of his round face ... Very fashionable dresser ... Now an affirmed New Englander who spends his summers on Cape Cod ... A WHA pioneer ... Former rodeo rider ... Appears on the wanted list of many players who have been rubbed the wrong way by him

 

_______________________________________

HomeBookCredits & Legal Stuff

 

(c) Scott Surgent