Shoebox Memories: Duncan MacPherson

This is Duncan MacPherson, courtesy of the 1983-84 Saskatoon Blades (WHL) police hockey card set. He was a first round pick of the New York Islanders back in 1984, but he never made it to the NHL. Yet his story still one of the most fascinating in hockey history, mostly because of his mysterious demise.

The interesting and new-to-me website Islanders Esoteric brought up his story back in August, publishing a translated version of a recent Austrian article about his disappearance at the age of 23. He was believed to be skiing on an Austrian glacier when he went missing, but it took 14 years to confirm his death on the glacier. There was even rumors he faked his own death to work with the CIA.

Finding his frozen body should have ended this tragic story, but for the MacPherson family it most certainly has not. 20 years later, they are still fighting for answers. The police are alleged to have really bungled the case, complete with "the apparent sloppiness at the recovery of the body, the faulty examination of death and the missing autopsy."

It is just an amazing story. Though the translation is a little rough in spots, this is one of the best features I've seen on Duncan MacPherson. Be sure to check it out.

Also, Wikipedia has a real solid listing of hockey players who died during their professional careers.