Ab DeMarco, Jr.

Albert Thomas "Ab" DeMarco, Jr. (born February 27, 1949) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association during the 1970s. A skilled defender, he was noted for his shot, considered one of the hardest in the sport at the time. He is the son of Ab DeMarco Sr., who starred for the New York Rangers in the 1940s.

Playing career

DeMarco was born in the United States while his father was playing for the Cleveland Barons, but was raised in North Bay, Ontario. He played his junior hockey for the Kitchener Rangers and, after representing Canada at the 1969 World Championships, he was signed by the New York Rangers, the team with which his father spent the majority of his career.

DeMarco would spend the majority of his first two professional seasons in the minors, earning brief NHL callups to New York both years. In 1971–72, he stuck with the Rangers full-time, recording 4 goals and 11 points in 48 games. Late in the 1972–73 season, however, he was dealt to the St. Louis Blues. Given an opportunity to play more and receive time on the powerplay, Demarco responded in style, with 13 points in 14 games for the Blues, to give him a total of 30 points on the season.

Ab DeMarco

Albert George DeMarco, Sr. (May 10, 1916 – May 25, 1989) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. DeMarco started his National Hockey League career with the Chicago Black Hawks. He would also play with the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs. He played in the NHL from 1938 to 1947. He played several years in minor professional hockey until 1952, and played on in senior amateur hockey in his hometown of North Bay during the 1950s.

Albert was born in North Bay, Ontario. He played junior and minor hockey from 1933 until 1937, when he became a professional with the Baltimore Orioles of the Eastern American Hockey League. DeMarco signed with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1938, splitting time with the Providence Reds of the International-American Hockey League. After two seasons, the Hawks traded DeMarco to Providence, where he played until 1943. In the 1942–43 season, DeMarco was loaned to the Toronto Maple Leafs, then traded to the Boston Bruins. The following November, he was traded by Boston to the New York Rangers. He remained with the Rangers before being traded to the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League in 1947. It was the end of his NHL career, but DeMarco played for Cleveland, the Washington Lions and Buffalo Bisons for another five years. In 1952, DeMarco returned to his hometown and played for the senior North Bay Trappers for several more years. His last full season of play was 1954–55. He moved into coaching and played only occasionally until 1959.