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(Windsor) It is with great sadness that the Windsor Spitfires Hockey Club announces the passing of Spitfire great Blair Barnes. Barnes died from a heart attack in his Chicago apartment on June 29. The funeral services for Barnes, who passed away at 49 years of age will be held Thursday in Mississauga. Donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Barnes, a right-winger who played three seasons with the Spitfires, scored 127 goals and registered 169 assists for 296 points in 198 games. His 296 points are ranked as the second highest total posted in team history, with his 127 goals also ranking him third all-time in Spitfire history. Barnes scored 63 goals during the 1978-1979 season, which currently ranks as the second most goals scored by a Spitfire in a single season. This stood as the franchise record for most goals in a season until Ernie Godden scored an OHL record 87 goals in the 1980-1981 campaign.
He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft and then played two seasons (1980-1982) with the Wichita Wind of the Central Hockey League before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1982. Barnes played one season with the Kings AHL affiliate team, the New Haven Nighthawks and he scored 29 goals while recording 34 assists for 63 points in 72 games during the 1982-1983 season before being called up by the Kings, where he played his only NHL game.
He finished his hockey career with the AHL’s Nova Scotia Voyageurs, scoring 31 goals and adding 32 assists for 63 points in 80 games played.
“The Windsor Spitfire offer their condolences and best wishes to Blair’s family in this most difficult time. He was a Spitfire fan favourite and will sorely be missed by our organization,” said Windsor Spitfires President Bob Boughner.
