British Columbia

Ernie 'Punch' McLean led the Western Hockey League (WHL) New Westminster Bruins to four consecutive Memorial Cup finals and two championships between 1975-1978, and coached more than 100 players who later skated in the NHL.

The 93-year-old had been fêted just days earlier amid a campaign to erect a statue of him in New Westminster

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Ernie Punch McLean speaks at an event in his honour at New Westminster's Queen's Park Arena on Weds. May 6, 2026. McLean died two days later in a crash near Dease Lake.…