Professional Hockey Player. A highly touted Junior League player, he scored 89 goals and 170 points for the Regina Pats of the Western (Junior A) Hockey League, and wwas chosen first overall in the 1980 NHL draft by the Montreal Canadians. Abused and scorned by Montreal fans who wanted the Canadians to draft hometown star Denis Savard, a centerman who would eventually go on to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Douglas Wickenheiser never lived up to the enormous expectations of the press and fans. After 3 seasons with the Canadians he was traded with right wing Greg Paslawski and defenseman Gilbert Delorme during the 1983-84 season to the St. Louis Blues for Perry Turnbull. In St. Louis, he flourished. Free from the constant pressure, he became a favorite with fans and teammates and was a favorite of the press who enjoyed his sharp wit and colorful quotes. Although he never came close to reaching the scoring feats of his junior years, he became an important part of the Blues where he played at Center and left wing. He became a standout defensive player who was excellent on face-offs. His best season overall was 1984-85 when he scored 23 goals and 43 points in 68 games. Wickenheiser suffered a serious knee injury when he was struck by a car during a team outing. Showing tremendous strength and determination, he underwent reconstructive surgery, missing almost a full year of hockey to rehab. He made his return during the 1985-86 season, scoring 19 points in the final 36 games as he got himself into playing shape for the playoffs. He went on to have what many consider the most dramatic moment in St. Louis Blues history. Facing elimination in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals series against the Calgary Flames, the Blues trailed 5-2 with 11:52 left in the game when the they came back to tie the game in regulation. Greg Paslawski scored two goals, including the game-tying goal that sent the contest into overtime. Paslawski was on the forecheck when he sweeped behind the Calgary net, stole the puck from Flames defenseman Jamie Macoun and whipped a quick shot that got past goalie Mike Vernon, tying the game at 5-5. This set the stage for Wickenheiser, who got the game-winning goal at 7:30 of overtime, on an assist from teammate Bernie Federko. All of St. Louis erupted into a wild celebration, and even though the Blues lost game 7 two nights later, "the goal" still remains a part of St. Louis Blues legacy. In 19 playoff games that year, Wickenheiser had two goals and seven points. He played in all 80 games for the Blues the following season, but was left unprotected in the waiver draft prior to the 1987-88 season and was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks. He then had two brief stints with the Rangers and Capitals before his 10-year NHL career ended. Although he was ridiculed in the beginning of his career by "mean spirited fans" and impatient team executive, he still had a solid career that notched him 111 goals, 165 assists for 276 points, plus an additional 11 points in 41 career playoff games. After his career, like so many other former St. Louis athletes, he came back to St. Louis to start a family and build a home. He and his wife had three girls, (two of them twins), and he opened up a nursery and frozen custard business in St. Peters. In August of 1994, Wickenheiser developed a cancerous cyst on his wrist and had surgery to remove it. Unfortunately, it returned three years later in the form of inoperable lung cancer. He passed away from the cancer in 1999 at the age of 37. In his memory, the Blues established "The Fourteen Fund" as their charitable trust which features a special logo of a lit candlewick with the number 14 above the flame. Wickenheiser wore No. 14 for Blues and the banner hangs nearby retired Blues numbers from the rafters inside the Savvis Center.