Joe Zanussi

Joe Zanussi
Born (1947-09-25)September 25, 1947
Rossland, British Columbia, Canada
Died 2025 (aged 76–77)
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Winnipeg Jets
New York Rangers
Boston Bruins
St. Louis Blues
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 1968–1978

Joseph Lawrence Zanussi (September 25, 1947 – 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 149 games in the World Hockey Association and 87 games in the National Hockey League from 1972 to 1977. Zanussi's skating ability and agility earned him the nicknames 'Crazy Legs' and 'Tazmanian Devil' and although small for a pro hockey defenseman, Zanussi was a good bodychecker and possessed a big shot.

Biography

Zanussi began his hockey career when Joe played for the Trail Juniors Smoke Eaters who were a BC Juvenile Finalist Team in 1964–65. The Detroit Red Wings Chief Western Scout, Clarence Moher noticed Zanussi at the finals and invited him to the Edmonton Oil Kings rookie camp in 1965–66. He spent that season with the Oil Kings Jr. B Red Wings. In the off-season of 1967–68 Zanussi was traded to the Swift Current Broncos of the WCJHL and became their first captain. That season he made the league's Second All-Star Team and was picked up by the Flin Flon Bombers to contend for the Memorial Cup against the Niagara Falls Flyers.

Although Zanussi's hockey rights were owned by the Detroit Red Wings, he subsequently went to training camp and was assigned to the Johnstown Jets of the EHL. Zanussi led his defensive corps in scoring in which he produced 56 points on 20 goals and 36 assists. He turned pro in 1969–70 and played with the Fort Worth Wings of the CPHL. His second year in Fort Worth saw him tie for the League's MVP award and a place on the Second All-Star Team, as well as the Sportsmanship and Best Defenseman Awards. The following year, 1971–72, a knee surgery caused Zanussi's career to be put on hold, but he was eventually signed by the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA. The Jets played in the League's Avco Cup Final in its inaugural year. In 1973–74 Zanussi finished was voted Most Exciting Player by Jets fans. His 3-year contract was then cut short, and his NHL rights were then owned by the New York Rangers by way of a trade with Detroit.

After the 1974-75 training camp Zanussi was designated to the Rhode Island Reds of the AHL. He was re-called to the Rangers on numerous occasions. Zanussi was the recipient of the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's Best Defenseman, and was named to the First All-Star Team, and was runner up to the AHL's Les Cunningham Award as MVP. He also was named the Reds' team MVP and Best Defenseman. In 1975 he was traded to the Boston Bruins as part of a trade that also sent Brad Park and Jean Ratelle to Boston in exchange for Phil Esposito [1] Zanussi scored his only NHL goal while with the Bruins, on February 1, 1976 in Boston's 5-3 win over the Atlanta Flames. Zanussi spent part of the year in the AHL, before being traded to the St. Louis Blues, who assigned him to the Kansas City Blues of the CPHL. Kansas City won the Adams Cup as CPHL champions that year. The following season Zanussi St. Louis' training camp, but was assigned to the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the CPHL. He was named to the league's First All-Star Team and awarded the team's Best Defenseman Award. Zanussi led the AHL in scoring at the time, with 19 points through 11 games.

Zanussi died in 2025.[2]

Trades

May 24, 1972: Traded to the New York Rangers by the Detroit Red Wings along with the Red Wings first round choice in the 1972 draft (#10 overall, Rangers selected Al Blanchard) in exchange for Gary Doak and Rick Newell.

Nov. 7, 1975: Traded to the Boston Bruins by the New York Rangers along with Jean Ratelle and Brad Park in exchange for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais.

Dec. 20, 1976: Traded to the St. Louis Blues by the Boston Bruins in exchange for Rick Smith.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1966–67 Edmonton Oil Kings CMJHL 42 11 17 28 33 9 2 2 4 6
1967–68 Swift Current Broncos WCHL 57 17 48 65 46 — — — — —
1968–69 Johnstown Jets EHL 72 20 36 56 107 3 2 1 3 12
1969–70 Fort Worth Wings CHL 56 4 9 13 65 7 1 0 1 16
1970–71 Fort Worth Wings CHL 72 13 19 32 172 3 0 1 1 4
1971–72 Fort Worth Wings CHL 48 4 24 28 69 7 0 1 1 18
1972–73 Winnipeg Jets WHA 73 4 21 25 53 14 2 5 7 6
1973–74 Winnipeg Jets WHA 76 3 22 25 53 4 0 0 0 0
1974–75 New York Rangers NHL 8 0 2 2 4 — — — — —
1974–75 Providence Reds AHL 64 22 36 58 76 3 1 0 1 4
1975–76 Providence Reds AHL 11 8 11 19 29 — — — — —
1975–76 Boston Bruins NHL 60 1 7 8 30 4 0 1 1 2
1975–76 Rochester Americans AHL 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
1976–77 Boston Bruins NHL 8 0 1 1 8 — — — — —
1976–77 Rochester Americans AHL 17 1 9 10 18 — — — — —
1976–77 St. Louis Blues NHL 11 0 3 3 4 — — — — —
1976–77 Kansas City Blues CHL 30 4 14 18 26 10 2 2 4 14
1977–78 Salt Lake Golden Eagles CHL 71 10 24 34 74 6 1 4 5 2
WHA totals 149 7 43 50 106 18 2 5 7 6
NHL totals 87 1 13 14 46 4 0 1 1 2

References

  1. ^ "| Hall of Famers Search". www.sportshall.ca. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Joe Zanussi Obituary". Trail Times. August 21, 2025. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
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