Basil McRae
Encyclopedia
Basil McRae played his major junior hockey with the London Knights
of the Ontario Hockey Association
(OHA).
In the 1980 NHL entry draft, the Quebec Nordiques
drafted McRae in the 3rd round, 87th overall. He played twenty regular season games and nine playoff matches with the big club in 1981, later spending some time with the Fredericton Express of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
for Richard Turmel and spent a couple of years toiling in the minors with the St. Catharines Saints of the AHL. In 1985 McRae signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings
but was traded back to his original team, the Nordiques along with John Ogrodnick
and Doug Shedden
for Brent Ashton
, Gilbert Delorme
and Mark Kumpel
.
At the start of the 1987 season, McRae signed with the Minnesota North Stars
, the team he would have the most success with. The 1987–88 season saw McRae play the whole 80 game season with the North Stars, the first time he played a full season in the NHL. He formed a tough enforcer duo along with Shane Churla
, leading the league in penalty minutes with 351 in 1989. The Tampa Bay Lightning
claimed him in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft
and traded him to the St. Louis Blues
in 1993. After a couple of seasons in the Blues organization, Basil McRae signed with the Chicago Blackhawks
in 1996 and only managed to play in 8 games before retiring from professional hockey.
He currently is a part-owner of the London Knights
and also serves as a scout for the Blues. His son Philip
played for the Knights and is currently playing for the Plymouth Whalers
, and has been drafted by the St. Louis Blues
.
McRae made a cameo appearance in the movie The Mighty Ducks
along with then-teammate Mike Modano
.
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
of the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
(OHA).
In the 1980 NHL entry draft, the Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
drafted McRae in the 3rd round, 87th overall. He played twenty regular season games and nine playoff matches with the big club in 1981, later spending some time with the Fredericton Express of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
for Richard Turmel and spent a couple of years toiling in the minors with the St. Catharines Saints of the AHL. In 1985 McRae signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
but was traded back to his original team, the Nordiques along with John Ogrodnick
John Ogrodnick
John Alexander Ogrodnick is a retired professional ice hockey left winger who played fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League from 1979–80 through 1992–93, with the Detroit Red Wings, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Rangers....
and Doug Shedden
Doug Shedden
Douglas Arthur Shedden is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He coached Team Finland to a bronze medal in 2008 World Championships...
for Brent Ashton
Brent Ashton
Brent Kenneth Ashton is a retired professional ice hockey player who spent fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League between 1979 and 1993...
, Gilbert Delorme
Gilbert Delorme
Gilbert Delorme is a retired professional ice hockey player who was a journeyman defenceman for five NHL teams. He played for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Quebec Nordiques, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.Delorme was selected by Montreal in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft in the...
and Mark Kumpel
Mark Kumpel
Mark Alan Kumpel is a former American ice hockey player.Selected by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, Kumpel also played for the Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets....
.
At the start of the 1987 season, McRae signed with the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
, the team he would have the most success with. The 1987–88 season saw McRae play the whole 80 game season with the North Stars, the first time he played a full season in the NHL. He formed a tough enforcer duo along with Shane Churla
Shane Churla
Shane Churla is a former Canadian ice hockey right winger. He was drafted in the sixth round, 110th overall, by the Hartford Whalers in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft...
, leading the league in penalty minutes with 351 in 1989. The Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
claimed him in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft
1992 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1992 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 18, 1992. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1992–93 season, the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning.-Rules:...
and traded him to the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
in 1993. After a couple of seasons in the Blues organization, Basil McRae signed with the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
in 1996 and only managed to play in 8 games before retiring from professional hockey.
He currently is a part-owner of the London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
and also serves as a scout for the Blues. His son Philip
Philip McRae
Philip McRae is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League . He was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 2nd round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.The son of former St...
played for the Knights and is currently playing for the Plymouth Whalers
Plymouth Whalers
The Plymouth Whalers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, USA.-History:...
, and has been drafted by the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
.
McRae made a cameo appearance in the movie The Mighty Ducks
The Mighty Ducks
The Mighty Ducks is the first film in The Mighty Ducks trilogy, produced by Avnet–Kerner Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and originally released on October 2, 1992. In the UK and Australia, the film was titled Champions...
along with then-teammate Mike Modano
Mike Modano
Michael Thomas Modano, Jr. is a retired American professional ice hockey player, who most notably played for the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise. He is the all-time goal-scoring and points leader amongst American-born players in the NHL, as well as the last active player in the NHL...
.