Wayne Maki — Canadian NHL left winger

Playing career

Maki came to public attention for a mix of scoring ability and physical play. Though not among the game's longest-tenured stars, he played for several NHL clubs and also spent time in junior and minor pro leagues that fed talent to the top level. Contemporary reports describe him as competitive on the puck and willing to engage physically, qualities valued in the era.

• Chicago Black Hawks
• St. Louis Blues
• Vancouver Canucks

Across these stops he contributed as a forward who combined forechecking and the occasional scoring touch. His 246 NHL games reflect the regular-season contests in which he took part; records from the time show players often moved between teams and leagues as franchises adjusted rosters during the NHL's expansion era.

Legacy and notable facts

Maki is remembered both for his on-ice temperament and for his life being cut short at a young age. He died in 1974, only months after his final season in professional hockey. His death attracted attention because it ended the life of a player still associated with the recent growth of the sport.

While not a Hall of Fame figure, Maki's story is cited in histories of the clubs he played for and in accounts of the NHL's changing rosters during the expansion years. His name continues to appear in retrospectives about players whose careers and lives were unexpectedly brief.

For basic statistical summaries and team histories related to Maki, consult team records and NHL summaries that collect game appearances and seasonal rosters; these sources provide context for his place in the sport's history.