Duncan MacPherson: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (1966–1989)}} |
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (1966–1989)}} |
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{{For|the Canadian editorial cartoonist|Duncan Macpherson}} |
{{For|the Canadian editorial cartoonist|Duncan Macpherson}}{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}{{Infobox ice hockey player |
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{{Infobox ice hockey player |
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| image = duncan macpherson.jpg |
| image = duncan macpherson.jpg |
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| caption = A passport photograph of MacPherson, taken a few weeks before his death |
| caption = A passport photograph of MacPherson, taken a few weeks before his death |
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'''Duncan Alvin MacPherson''' (February 3, 1966 – August 9, 1989) was a [[Canadians|Canadian]] professional [[ice hockey]] player |
'''Duncan Alvin MacPherson''' (February 3, 1966 – August 9, 1989) was a [[Canadians|Canadian]] professional [[ice hockey]] player. In 1989, he went on a trip to Austria, and then disappeared. Searches proved fruitless, until in 2003 when his body was found in a melting glacier. His death remains officially unsolved. |
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==Early life and career== |
==Early life and career== |
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MacPherson was born in [[Saskatoon]], [[Saskatchewan]]. A standout |
MacPherson was born in [[Saskatoon]], [[Saskatchewan]]. A standout defenceman for the [[Saskatoon Blades]] of the [[Western Hockey League]], he was drafted in the first round, 20th overall, of the [[1984 NHL Entry Draft]] by the [[New York Islanders]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Duncan MacPherson Stats and News |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/duncan-macpherson-8457170 |website=nhl.com |access-date=9 November 2024}}</ref> He played [[minor league hockey]] for the [[Springfield Indians]] of the [[American Hockey League]] and the [[Indianapolis Ice]] of the [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|International Hockey League]]. |
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==Disappearance== |
==Disappearance== |
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In the summer of 1989, MacPherson went to Europe. The [[New York Islanders]] had bought out and released the often injured MacPherson |
In the summer of 1989, MacPherson went to Europe. The [[New York Islanders]] had bought out and released the often injured MacPherson. <ref name="HDC">{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1984/84020.html |title=Duncan MacPherson profile |publisher=Hockey Draft Central |accessdate=2010-09-02}}</ref> <ref name="Esquire">{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Chris |url=http://www.esquire.com/features/the-game/ESQ0104-JAN_GAME |title=The man in the ice |publisher=Esquire |date=2004-12-31 |accessdate=2010-09-02}}</ref> MacPherson had intentions of taking a job as a player-coach for a semi-pro hockey team in [[Dundee]], [[Scotland]], commencing in August 1989. Despite having a bad feeling about the entrepreneur Ron Dixon who was backing the Scottish team,<ref name="Esquire" /> he travelled to central Europe alone in early August 1989. The plan was to visit old friends and see the sights before going on to Scotland. |
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He was scheduled to arrive in Dundee on August 12. When he did not show up, his family went to look for him. A car he had borrowed from a friend was discovered six weeks later in the parking lot of the [[Stubaital]] ski-region resort at the foot of the [[Stubai Glacier]]s in the [[Stubai Alps]] in [[Austria]], where he had rented a snowboard. His last known contact was with an employee of the ski resort on August 9, who reported that he spoke with MacPherson, and last saw MacPherson departing alone to perhaps squeeze in some final snowboarding and hiking before nightfall.<ref name="Esquire" /> |
He was scheduled to arrive in Dundee on August 12. When he did not show up, his family went to look for him. A car he had borrowed from a friend was discovered six weeks later in the parking lot of the [[Stubaital]] ski-region resort at the foot of the [[Stubai Glacier]]s in the [[Stubai Alps]] in [[Austria]], where he had rented a snowboard. His last known contact was with an employee of the ski resort on August 9, who reported that he spoke with MacPherson, and last saw MacPherson departing alone to perhaps squeeze in some final snowboarding and hiking before nightfall.<ref name="Esquire" /> |
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| ⚫ | In 2003, 14 years after MacPherson disappeared, an employee of the [[Stubai Alps|Stubai Glacier Resort]] discovered a glove sticking out of the ice of the melting Schaufelferner Glacier (one of the Stubai Glaciers' arms), in the middle of the ski run, where MacPherson's body had lain frozen.<ref name="CBCFifthEstate">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/iceman/ |title=Iceman |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |accessdate=2010-09-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304231055/http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/iceman/ |archivedate=March 4, 2012 }}</ref> |
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Adding drama to the mystery was the fact that MacPherson claimed he had been contacted by the CIA, and that they were interested in recruiting him as a spy. The story was never confirmed.<ref name="HDC" /> |
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| ⚫ | In 2003, 14 years after MacPherson disappeared, an employee of the [ |
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==Theories== |
==Theories== |
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According to John Leake, author of |
According to John Leake, author of ''Cold a Long Time: An Alpine Mystery'',<!-- see also https://www.coldalongtime.com/ --> MacPherson’s body was found to have suffered significant trauma, including amputation of arms, hands and legs. The damage is consistent with rotating machinery; his snowboard also had a uniform pattern of damage and was cut apart, which indicates that it too had gone through a machine. Leake’s conclusion was that MacPherson had a snowboard accident and injured his leg, and was lying on the slope waiting for rescue. During that very foggy day, a [[snowcat]] driver did not see MacPherson and ran him over by accident, killing him. Instead of reporting it, that driver (or his supervisor) buried MacPherson in the shallow crevasse. His body stayed hidden there for fourteen years, until the glacier melted enough for it to be seen.<ref name="Cold A Long Time: An Alpine Mystery">{{cite web |url=https://www.coldalongtime.com/pages/about-duncan-macpherson |title=Duncan MacPherson's Death: Forensics |publisher=CreateSpace Publishing |accessdate=2023-07-25}}</ref> |
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==Career statistics== |
==Career statistics== |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[List of ice hockey players who died during their |
*[[List of ice hockey players who died during their careers]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent]] |
[[Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent]] |
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[[Category:Indianapolis Ice players]] |
[[Category:Indianapolis Ice players]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:NHL first-round draft picks]] |
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[[Category:New York Islanders draft picks]] |
[[Category:New York Islanders draft picks]] |
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[[Category:Saskatoon Blades players]] |
[[Category:Saskatoon Blades players]] |
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[[Category:Springfield Indians players]] |
[[Category:Springfield Indians players]] |
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[[Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen]] |
[[Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen]] |
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[[Category:Deaths on mountains]] |
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[[Category:Sport deaths in Austria]] |
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[[Category:Unsolved deaths]] |
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Revision as of 08:47, 11 December 2024
| Duncan MacPherson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 A passport photograph of MacPherson, taken a few weeks before his death | |||
| Born |
February 3, 1966 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada | ||
| Died |
August 9, 1989 (aged 23) Stubai Glacier Resort, Austria | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Defenceman | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
Springfield Indians Indianapolis Ice | ||
| NHL draft |
20th overall, 1984 New York Islanders | ||
| Playing career | 1986–1989 | ||
Duncan Alvin MacPherson (February 3, 1966 – August 9, 1989) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. In 1989, he went on a trip to Austria, and then disappeared. Searches proved fruitless, until in 2003 when his body was found in a melting glacier. His death remains officially unsolved.
Early life and career
MacPherson was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A standout defenceman for the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League, he was drafted in the first round, 20th overall, of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders.[1] He played minor league hockey for the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League and the Indianapolis Ice of the International Hockey League.
Disappearance
In the summer of 1989, MacPherson went to Europe. The New York Islanders had bought out and released the often injured MacPherson. [2] [3] MacPherson had intentions of taking a job as a player-coach for a semi-pro hockey team in Dundee, Scotland, commencing in August 1989. Despite having a bad feeling about the entrepreneur Ron Dixon who was backing the Scottish team,[3] he travelled to central Europe alone in early August 1989. The plan was to visit old friends and see the sights before going on to Scotland.
He was scheduled to arrive in Dundee on August 12. When he did not show up, his family went to look for him. A car he had borrowed from a friend was discovered six weeks later in the parking lot of the Stubaital ski-region resort at the foot of the Stubai Glaciers in the Stubai Alps in Austria, where he had rented a snowboard. His last known contact was with an employee of the ski resort on August 9, who reported that he spoke with MacPherson, and last saw MacPherson departing alone to perhaps squeeze in some final snowboarding and hiking before nightfall.[3]
In 2003, 14 years after MacPherson disappeared, an employee of the Stubai Glacier Resort discovered a glove sticking out of the ice of the melting Schaufelferner Glacier (one of the Stubai Glaciers' arms), in the middle of the ski run, where MacPherson's body had lain frozen.[4]
Theories
According to John Leake, author of Cold a Long Time: An Alpine Mystery, MacPherson’s body was found to have suffered significant trauma, including amputation of arms, hands and legs. The damage is consistent with rotating machinery; his snowboard also had a uniform pattern of damage and was cut apart, which indicates that it too had gone through a machine. Leake’s conclusion was that MacPherson had a snowboard accident and injured his leg, and was lying on the slope waiting for rescue. During that very foggy day, a snowcat driver did not see MacPherson and ran him over by accident, killing him. Instead of reporting it, that driver (or his supervisor) buried MacPherson in the shallow crevasse. His body stayed hidden there for fourteen years, until the glacier melted enough for it to be seen.[5]
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1982–83 | Battleford Barons | SJHL | 59 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 215 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1983–84 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 45 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 69 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 116 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1985–86 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL | 70 | 10 | 54 | 64 | 147 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 38 | ||
| 1986–87 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 26 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 86 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 74 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 213 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 24 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Indianapolis Ice | IHL | 33 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| WHL totals | 189 | 21 | 98 | 119 | 353 | 18 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 42 | ||||
| AHL totals | 124 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 368 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
See also
References
- ^ "Duncan MacPherson Stats and News". nhl.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ "Duncan MacPherson profile". Hockey Draft Central. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ a b c Jones, Chris (December 31, 2004). "The man in the ice". Esquire. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ "Iceman". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ "Duncan MacPherson's Death: Forensics". CreateSpace Publishing. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
Further reading
- Website and Book by John Leake, published in 2012
- The CBC program The Fifth Estate has done episodes on this story, the first in 2006 and another in 2011.
- Article from Esquire magazine, published in 2004
- Story of his disappearance
- Detailed chronology of events
- In German language:
- "Auf dünnem Eis" (On thin ice), story written by Florian Skrabal for Austrian magazine Datum – Seiten der Zeit, published 1 September 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2012
- "Eisiges Schweigen" (Icy silentness), story by Malte Herwig for Bavarian newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, published 5 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
Categories:
- 1966 births
- 1989 deaths
- Canadian people of Scottish descent
- Indianapolis Ice players
- NHL first-round draft picks
- New York Islanders draft picks
- Saskatoon Blades players
- Ice hockey people from Saskatoon
- Springfield Indians players
- Canadian ice hockey defencemen
- Deaths on mountains
- Sport deaths in Austria
- Unsolved deaths