Canadian • Born 1951 in
Kitchener, Ontario • Hometown: Kitchener, Ont. • Died July 29, 1972
Additional Facts
Full Name:
Gary Michael Crosby
Post-Draft Teams: Michigan Tech (WCHA)
Education: Attended Michigan
Tech from 1969 to 1971.
The Death of Gary Crosby: At
age 20, after he completed an outstanding sophomore year at Michigan
Tech, Crosby was killed in an head-on automobile collision on Highway 7,
seven miles west of Stratford, Ontario.
The accident happened in the early morning hours of Saturday July 29, 1972, as
Crosby was on his way home to Kitchener. At the time of his death,
Crosby reportedly had already signed a contract with Los Angeles and informed Michigan Tech official that he was leaving school to attend the Kings' 1972 training camp
in Victoria, British Columbia. On Aug. 8, 1972, Michigan Tech announced
that it had established a scholarship fund in Crosby's memory. Michigan Tech
also named an annual award presented to the team's leading
scorer as the Gary Crosby Memorial Award. Crosby was also memorialized
by his former junior team, the Kitchener Rangers, as he is remembered
with a banner that hangs from the rafters of the OHL team's home arena.
Crosby was one of 51 Canadians who died in automobile accidents across
the country during the July 29, 1972, weekend
alone. Nineteen of those accidents happened in Ontario.
Family: Younger brother of former major-junior and Canadian university player Cam Crosby.
