Former NHL Star Wally Hergesheimer Passes Away

The Garbage Collector has passed away. Wally Hergesheimer was 87 years old.

Winnipeg born Wally Hergesheimer was the toast of New York in the early 1950s. Never more so than in 1952-53 when he finished 4th in league scoring behind three guys named Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Rocket Richard.

That's pretty impressive company for the man they dubbed "The Garbage Collector." Playing on the "Light Brigade" line with Paul Ronty and Herb Dickenson, Wally always could be found crashing the net, banging away at loose pucks and rebounds.

It worked well, as Wally totalled 114 goals (and 199 points) in 351 career games, mostly with the Rangers. He briefly appeared with Chicago as well.

Not too bad of a career for a man who was missing parts of two fingers. Long before he was in the NHL, Wally lost parts of his right index and middle finger in a punch-press accident.