Former Hartford Whaler Player Cited for Heroics

VANCOUVER, BC — A former All-Star defenseman who played six seasons with the Hartford Whalers recently became a true-life hero more than 3,000 miles away from Connecticut.

Dave Babych, 55, who played in Hartford from 1985 to 1990 and is now assistant director of player personnel for the Vancouver Canucks, was walking his dog on a hiking trail on the city's North Shore when he heard a girl screaming for help, CTV News reported.

The 6'2", 220 lb. former hockey star picked up the 13-year-old girl, who had fallen down a steep ravine and hit her head, and carried her on his back for nearly 35 minutes until reaching a parking lot, from where she was transported to a hospital.

The girl has since recovered from her injuries.

Read the full story, including a video interview with Babych and the rescued girl, at www.bc.ctvnews.ca.

Photo courtesy of Alex Jensen's card collection