Stewart Arnold "Arnie" Brown (January 28, 1942 – July 26, 2019) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player best known as a right-shot defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League during the 1960s and early 1970s and later spent one season in the World Hockey Association before retiring in 1975. For a concise career profile, Brown’s name appears in team histories and alumni records across several franchises.
Playing style and role
Brown was regarded as a steady, stay-at-home type of blueliner who combined physical play with dependable defensive positioning. He was not primarily known for scoring, but for clearing the front of the net, blocking shots and making safe outlet passes to forwards. Contemporary accounts emphasize his reliability on the back end and his ability to adapt to different defensive pairings.
Career overview
During his NHL career Arnie Brown played for multiple clubs, moving as teams sought experienced depth on defense. Notable stops included:
After a lengthy run in the NHL he spent one season in the World Hockey Association (WHA), a rival professional league that operated in the 1970s, and then left professional hockey in 1975.
Legacy and significance
Arnie Brown represents the archetype of the dependable journeyman defenseman in mid-20th-century professional hockey: a player who carved out a long career through consistency rather than flash. He is remembered by fans and teammates for his workmanlike approach and the veteran presence he brought to newer clubs and expansion teams.
Later life and death
Following his retirement from professional play, Brown remained connected to the hockey community through alumni events and local activities. He died on July 26, 2019 in North Kawartha, Ontario; reports note his passing in that Ontario community at the age of 77. For additional local context see regional notices linked to Ontario sources.
Further reading and archival material about Arnie Brown and the teams he played for can be found in team histories and statistical databases; examples include franchise pages and historical retrospectives on the Maple Leafs, Rangers and other clubs listed above, as well as WHA resources linked here and alumni summaries here.