Val Fonteyne
Encyclopedia
Valere Ronald Fonteyne is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
left winger
. He played in the NHL
from 1959 to 1972 serving the Detroit Red Wings
(twice), New York Rangers
and Pittsburgh Penguins
, and in the WHA
from 1972 to 1974 with the Alberta Oilers and later the Edmonton Oilers.
He wasn't an offensive star, but a hard-working and effective defensive forward. He is regarded by many hockey scholars as the cleanest player in NHL history. In 820 NHL games spanning 13 seasons, he served a remarkable total of just 28 minutes in the penalty box. He went completely unpenalized in five different seasons, including three in a row from 1965–1968. In a further 149 WHA
games he was assessed only two minor penalties. In his entire professional career, he never received a fighting penalty.
In his NHL career, he scored 75 goals and 154 assists for 229 points in
820 games. He also played in 59 playoff games, scoring 3 goals and 10 assists. He made it to the Stanley Cup
finals with Detroit Red Wings
in 1961, 1963 and 1966 but lost each time.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
left winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
. He played in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
from 1959 to 1972 serving 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...
(twice), New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
and Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
, and in the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
from 1972 to 1974 with the Alberta Oilers and later the Edmonton Oilers.
He wasn't an offensive star, but a hard-working and effective defensive forward. He is regarded by many hockey scholars as the cleanest player in NHL history. In 820 NHL games spanning 13 seasons, he served a remarkable total of just 28 minutes in the penalty box. He went completely unpenalized in five different seasons, including three in a row from 1965–1968. In a further 149 WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
games he was assessed only two minor penalties. In his entire professional career, he never received a fighting penalty.
In his NHL career, he scored 75 goals and 154 assists for 229 points in
820 games. He also played in 59 playoff games, scoring 3 goals and 10 assists. He made it to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
finals with 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...
in 1961, 1963 and 1966 but lost each time.