Wayne Babych

Babych was born on June 6, 1958, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada{{cite web |title=Wayne Babych |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/102712/wayne-babych |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=March 2, 2025}} to parents Edward and Tillie Babych.{{cite news |title=Canucks honor veteran for game 1,000 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nanaimo-daily-news-canucks-honor-veteran/167016296/ |access-date=2 March 2025 |publisher=Nanaimo Daily News |date=February 8, 1996|via=newspapers.com}} He is of Ukrainian descent as his grandparents are both from the Ukrainan city of Brody.{{cite news |last1=Friesen |first1=Paul |title=Hockey hearts in Winnipeg go out to Ukraine |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-hockey-hearts-in-winnipeg-g/167016835/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=The Province |date=27 February 2022|via=newspapers.com}} Babych grew up in Edmonton alongside his twin sister Susan and younger brother Dave,{{cite news |title=Notes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hamilton-spectator-notes/167016442/ |access-date=2 March 2025 |publisher=The Hamilton Spectator |date=March 19, 1982|via=newspapers.com}} while their father ran a sporting goods store in the nearby town of Vegreville.{{cite news |last1=Mueller |first1=Gary |title=Floored Wayne Babych: he 'Owes Brother David One' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-floored-wayne-ba/167015153/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=December 5, 1980|via=newspapers.com}}

Babych was drafted third overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1978 NHL amateur draft. While both the Edmonton Oilers and Quebec Nordiques offered him World Hockey Association (WHA) contracts, Babych chose to sign with the Blues and play in the National Hockey League (NHL).{{cite news |last1=Grow |first1=Doug |title=Babych Brash, And In Cash |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-babych-brash-an/167015624/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=June 21, 1978|via=newspapers.com}} The Blues had offered him a three-year contract, which included a $125,000 signing bonus and an option for a fourth year at $110,000. However, due to a miswording in the contract, the Blues were forced to retain him for a fourth year instead of having it as an offer.{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Gary |title=Oldies but goodies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-oldies-but-goodies/167017610/ |access-date=2 March 2025 |publisher=The Vancouver Sun |date=November 23, 2002|via=newspapers.com}} Babych played one game with the Blues in the preseason before suffering bruised ribs in his second game after blocking a shot. He eventually returned to the Blues lineup on October 3 for an exhibition game against the Los Angeles Kings.{{cite news |title=Blues' Babych Shoots Back |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-blues-babych-sh/167020058/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=October 4, 1978|via=newspapers.com}} Babych began the 1978–79 season by scoring first NHL goal on October 13 against the Vancouver Canucks.{{cite news |title=Ex-Hawks score 1st NHL goals |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-ex-hawks-score-1st-nhl-goa/167020314/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=The Columbian |date=October 15, 1978|via=newspapers.com}} Babych quickly co-led the team in scoring with five goals and eight assists through his first seven games.{{cite news |last1=Eggers |first1=Kerry |title=Babych: Co-scoring leader as a rookie! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oregon-journal-babych-co-scoring-leader/167019920/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=Oregon Journal |date=October 25, 1978|via=newspapers.com}} Three of his five goals came in his first four games.{{cite news |title=Babych boosts Blues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oregon-journal-babych-boosts-blues/167020029/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=Oregon Journal |date=October 18, 1978|via=newspapers.com}} By the end of October, Babych had become a mainstay on the Blues' "Kid Line" with Bernie Federko and Brian Sutter and led the NHL in scoring with 18 points.{{cite news |last1=LeBar |first1=Paul |title=Ex-Hawk Babych tops NHL scoring |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-ex-hawk-babych-tops-nhl-sc/167019953/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=The Columbian |date=October 31, 1978|via=newspapers.com}} The trio had earned their "Kid" moniker as they were all under the age of 23.{{cite news |last1=Mueller |first1=Gary |title=Babych New Kid On Blockbuster Line |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-babych-new-kid-o/167019844/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=October 27, 1978|via=newspapers.com}}

While the Blues struggled to win games, the "Kid Line" continued to find success and combined for 29 of the team's 60 total goals through the first 17 games of the season.{{cite news |title=Hot St. Louis line an instant success |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hamilton-spectator-hot-st-louis-lin/167019893/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=The Hamilton Spectator |date=November 18, 1978|via=newspapers.com}} Babych started December in a three-way tie for eighth in league scoring with 12 goals and 18 assists.{{cite news |last1=Stern |first1=Mike |title=Babych a welcome additon to the 'Kid Line' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-babych-a-welcome-additon-to/167018470/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=The Reporter |date=December 5, 1978|via=newspapers.com}} On January 6, Babych broke the Blues' rookie goal scoring record with his 21st of the season but was unable to finish the game after injuring his ankle. At the time of the injury, Babych led the team with 42 points, and the "Kid Line" had combined for 127 points.{{cite news |last1=Hummel |first1=Rick |title=Blues Lose Babych With Ankle Injury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-blues-lose-babyc/167045281/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=January 8, 1979|via=newspapers.com}} He missed 13 to recover but returned to the Blues' lineup on February 13 against the Vancouver Canucks. Despite his lengthy absence, only Bobby Smith passed him in scoring among rookies.{{cite news |title=Babych Returning To Face Canucks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-babych-returning/167045364/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=February 13, 1979|via=newspapers.com}} Bob Murdoch replaced Babych as the top-line winger during his absence but the original "Kid Line" was reunited once Babych returned.{{cite news |last1=Mueller |first1=Gary |title=Federko Isn't Perfect Yet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-federko-isnt-pe/167045315/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=March 2, 1979|via=newspapers.com}} In his third game back, Babych broke Murphy's franchise rookie points record by tallying his 44th point of the season in a 6–6 tie with the New York Rangers.{{cite news |last1=Berns |first1=Donald |title=Babych Hopes For Rookie Honor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-babych-hopes-for-rookie-h/167018554/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=The Daily News |date=May 15, 1979|via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Espo hasn't forgotten how to score |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-calgary-albertan-espo-hasnt-forgott/167096053/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=The Calgary Albertan |date=February 19, 1979|via=newspapers.com}} Later, on March 7, Babych tallied his 31st assist of the season to break Bob Hess's franchise rookie assist record. After finishing his rookie season with 27 goals and 36 assists, Babych ranked third in Calder Memorial Trophy voting as the NHL's Rookie of the Year.{{cite news |title=Sports shorts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-sports-shorts/167095877/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=May 2, 1979|via=newspapers.com}}

Babych played a key role in the Blues' success in the 1979–80 season as they finished with a 34-34-12 record and clinched second place in the Smythe Division.{{cite news |last1=Matthews |first1=Lynn |title=Winter Hawks help cure the Blues in NHL |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-winter-hawks-help-cure-the/167015322/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=The Columbian |date=April 22, 1980|via=newspapers.com}} He was reunited with his usual linemates to start the season,{{cite news |title=Sonmor juggles lines but not top scorers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-sonmor-juggles-lines-but-no/167141952/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=October 24, 1979|via=newspapers.com}} and recorded his first career NHL hat-trick on October 23 against the Boston Bruins.{{cite news |last1=Mueller |first1=Gary |title=Babych Repays Liut, Gets Blues Even |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-babych-repays-li/167097283/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=October 24, 1979|via=newspapers.com}} By November, Babych led the team with six points over 11 games.{{cite news |title=Babych brothers out of action |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-babych-brothers-out-of-act/167141088/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=The Columbian |date=November 6, 1979|via=newspapers.com}} However, a shoulder injury on November 3 limited him to just 20 of the Blues' first 49 games. Once he returned to the lineup in January, Babych was moved onto the Blues' second line with Mike Zuke and Tony Currie.{{cite news |last1=Matheson |first1=Jim |title=Babych still singing the Blues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/43015974/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=January 29, 1980|via=newspapers.com}}

Babych began the 1980–81 season with 10 points through seven games to help the team to a franchise-best 4–2–1 record.{{cite news |last1=DeLand |first1=Dave |title=Babych's fast start building confidence |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-babychs-fa/167167648/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=The Belleville News-Democrat |date=October 23, 1980|via=newspapers.com}} When Blair Chapman suffered an injury in mid-November, head coach Red Berenson placed Babych on the wing of Brian Sutter and Bernie Federko. They swiftly combined for 13 points through their first five games together before Babych suffered an injury on November 18.{{cite news |title=Blues' Zuke An Unwitting Goat by Gary Mueller |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-blues-zuke-an-u/167167949/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=November 19, 1980|via=newspapers.com}} He missed two games to recover from the injury before returning to the Blues' lineup on November 25. In his first game back, he scored two goals against the Buffalo Sabres to lead the team with 14.{{cite news |title=Babych bruises Sabres |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-babych-bruises-sabres/167167754/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=November 26, 1980|via=newspapers.com}} Babych maintained a franchise-record-setting goal streak through the end of December and early January.{{cite news |title=Blues Notes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-blues-notes/167164908/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=The Belleville News-Democrat |date=January 11, 1981|via=newspapers.com}} Over the eight-game span, Babych recorded 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points and ranked 11th in league scoring.{{cite news |title=High-scoring Babych isn't singing the Blues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-high-scoring-babych-isn/167164466/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=January 13, 1981|via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Babych's play cited |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregonian-babychs-play-cited/167165053/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=The Oregonian |date=January 15, 1981|via=newspapers.com}} On January 27, 1981, Babych set a new franchise record for most goals scored by a Blues right winger in a season.{{cite news |title=Experiment over for No. 2 Blue line |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hamilton-spectator-experiment-over-f/167164032/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=The Hamilton Spectator |date=January 28, 1981|via=newspapers.com}} He started February as the second leading goal scorer in the Blues' conference and was selected for the 1981 NHL All-Star Game following an injury to Bryan Trottier.{{cite news |last1=Matheson |first1=Jim |title=Babych: bartender becomes star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/69301105/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=February 10, 1981|via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Babych replaces injured Trottier |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-babych-repl/167018759/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=The Belleville News-Democrat |date=February 10, 1981|via=newspapers.com}} On February 28, he passed Chuck Lefley's franchise single-season goal record by recording his 44th and 45th of the season against the Washington Capitals. His game-winning goal also ensured that the Blues qualified for the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs.{{cite news |last1=Mueller |first1=Gary |title=More Blues Records Fall|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-more-blues-recor/167145168/|access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=March 1, 1981|via=newspapers.com}} A few days later, he scored a power-play goal against the Boston Bruins to help the team establish a new franchise record of 73 power-play goals in one season.{{cite news |title=Blues 4, Bruins 2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-blues-4-bruins/167146050/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=The Santa Fe New Mexican |date=March 4, 1981|via=newspapers.com}} On March 8, Babych scored his 49th goal of the season to set a new Blues record of having scored a goal against 18 NHL teams in one season.{{cite news |title=Bluenotes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-bluenotes/167146299/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=March 9, 1981|via=newspapers.com}} On March 12, Babych became the first player in franchise history and 25th in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season.{{cite news |last1=Mueller |first1=Gary |title=Blues Lose, But Save Face With Rally |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-blues-lose-but/167146485/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=March 13, 1981|via=newspapers.com}} He also became the sixth player in franchise history to record 100 career goals with the team.{{cite news |title=Babych now 50-goal man for the Blues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-babych-now-50-goal-man/167015402/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=March 17, 1981|via=newspapers.com}} While Jörgen Pettersson broke his rookie records, Babych set new franchise records with 54 goals and 42 assists for 96 points. His goals, assists, and points totals were the most ever scored by a right-winger in Blues history.{{cite news |title=Blues Records |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-blues-records/167161938/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=April 7, 1981|via=newspapers.com}}

Babych married Shelley Buffie in a double wedding ceremony with his brother Dave and Shelley's twin sister on July 3, 1982.{{cite news |title=Babych brothers to marry twin sisters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-transcript-babych-brothers-to/167016604/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=The Times-Transcript |date=March 4, 1982|via=newspapers.com}} After retiring, Babych ran a water slide company before building and operating numerous golf courses in Winnipeg with his brother.{{cite news |last1=Bretsch |first1=Bran |title=Two golf courses keep Wayne Babych busy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-two-golf-co/167015264/ |access-date=March 2, 2025 |publisher=The Belleville News-Democrat |date=January 23, 1992|via=newspapers.com}} Later, he and his brother began working with the Canadian Friends of Hockey in Ukraine organization to help disadvantaged Ukrainian children play ice hockey.{{cite web |last1=Pauls |first1=Karen |title=How Canadians are helping Ukrainian kids play hockey, despite the conflict with Russia |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/how-canadians-are-helping-ukrainian-kids-play-hockey-despite-the-conflict-with-russia-1.6676465 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=March 2, 2025 |date=December 28, 2022}}

• WCHL First All-Star Team – 1977 & 1978

• List of family relations in the NHL

{{reflist}}

• {{Ice hockey stats}}

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{{succession box | before = Scott Campbell | title = St. Louis Blues first round draft pick | years = 1978 | after = Perry Turnbull}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Babych, Wayne}}

Category:1958 births

Category:Living people

Category:Canadian ice hockey right wingers

Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian descent

Category:Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) players

Category:Hartford Whalers players

Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States

Category:NHL first-round draft picks

Category:Pittsburgh Penguins players

Category:Portland Winterhawks players

Category:Quebec Nordiques players

Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen

Category:Ice hockey people from Edmonton

Category:St. Louis Blues draft picks

Category:St. Louis Blues players