Larry Mickey

Robert Larry Mickey (October 21, 1943 – July 23, 1982) was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Black Hawks, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres. Mickey started his NHL career with the Black Hawks during the 1964–65 season.

Mickey's life included both successes and tragedy. While playing with the Omaha Knights, Mickey was named to the first team of the Central Hockey League All-Stars during the 1966-67 season, and his team advanced to the Adams Cup finals that same year. But tragedy struck on April 16, 1967, the night before the third game of the Adams Cup best-of-seven play-off series between the Omaha Knights and the Oklahoma City Blazers.

Mickey was driving with his wife, Eleanor, on a country road near Seward, Nebraska late on the Sunday night. The road's visibility was reduced to nearly zero as a result of blowing dust from a nearby field, and Mickey was involved in a two-car head-on collision. Mickey suffered cuts, bruises and a broken left arm, while Mickey's wife was killed in the crash.

Mickey committed suicide in Buffalo, New York on July 23, 1982 by sitting in his car with the engine running in his garage.

1. ^ All-Star's Wife Killed: The Montréal Gazette, April 17, 1967, Page 33
2. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (2003). Players: The Ultimate A-Z Guide of Everyone Who Has Ever Played in the NHL. Toronto: Doubleday Canada. p. 584. ISBN 0-385-25999-9. 
3. ^ "After Hockey, Life was too Difficult", New York Times, 1982-09-08.