Doug Jarrett, "Chairman of the Boards," Passes Away

Former National Hockey League defenceman Doug Jarrett died Monday of ­cancer.

The 69-year-old played 13 seasons in the NHL, mostly with the Chicago Blackhawks. He also played with the New York Rangers. Chronic back problems forced him to retire in 1977.

Jarrett was born in 1944 in London, Ontario. He played his junior hockey with in St. Catharines, with both the TeePees and the Black Hawks, feeder teams for the Chicago Blackhawks

He turned pro in 1964 and established himself as a solid defensive defenseman. Often paired with the rambunctious Keith Magnuson, Jarrett was a steady influence. He was a clean player who was known for angling puck carriers to the boards where he would rub them out or pin them against the wall. This trademark earned him the nickname "Chairman of the Boards."

Jarrett helped the Hawks reach the Stanley Cup finals in 1971 and 1973, but he never did get to taste sweet victory from the Cup. 

Jarrett was traded in 1976 to the New York Rangers for Gilles Villemure. But the back injuries kept him from playing to his potential there. He retired in 1977 after slugging it out for a season with the New Haven Nighthawks in the American Hockey League.

Jarrett played 775 regular season games, scoring 38 goals and adding 182 assists. In 99 playoff games, he scored seven goals and added 16 assists.

After leaving the ice Jarrett lived in Windsor, Ontario and worked in sales in the steel industry.