Eric Nesterenko


Eric "Sonja" Paul Nesterenko is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1951 until 1956 and for the Chicago Black Hawks from 1956 until 1972.

Early life

Nesterenko was born in Flin Flon, Manitoba to immigrants from Ukraine. He attended high school at North Toronto Collegiate Institute.

Playing career

Following his long NHL career - in 1973–74 he played for the Chicago Cougars of the World Hockey Association, after a year of coaching in Switzerland. He had 250 goals and 324 assists during his NHL career, and won a Stanley Cup championship with Chicago in 1961. The rangy right winger was a superb penalty killer, who also was known for using his elbows in the corners.
Nesterenko infamously attacked Willie O'Ree, the first black player in the NHL, with his hockey stick and racial slurs knocking out O'Ree's front teeth. O'Ree retaliated with his stick and Nesterenko required 15 stitches in his head.

Personal life

In 1986, he played the father of character Dean Youngblood in the movie Youngblood, and was also the film's hockey consultant. He has worked as a disk jockey, a stockbroker, a travel broker, a freelance writer, a university professor and a ski instructor.
Near the end of his NHL career, he was interviewed for Studs Terkel's bestselling book, Working: What People do all Day and How They Feel About What They Do.

Awards and achievements