The OHL is saddened upon learning news of the loss of former London Knights defenceman Scott Campbell who passed away at his home in Guelph on Saturday the age of 65 following a courageous 11-month battle with cancer.
Born in Toronto but raised in Guelph, Campbell was a burly blueliner who played three seasons in London from 1974-77, impressing in his final season to be selected first overall by the Houston Aeros in the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft. The St. Louis Blues used the ninth overall pick of the NHL Draft to take Campbell that same year.
Campbell went the WHA route, playing two years between Houston and Winnipeg, winning an Avco Cup with the Jets in 1978 before following them into the National Hockey League in 1979 to eventually be named team captain. Campbell was traded to St. Louis in the summer of 1981, but would be forced to retire the following year due to chronic asthma. He’d play in 80 career NHL contests, recording four goals, 21 assists and 25 points alongside 243 penalty minutes.
Following his playing career, Campbell went on to coach the Collingwood Blues Jr. A program while working in IT for the local Home Building Centre. He remained a prominent member of the Jets’ social media community, and wrote regular columns on the team.
For more on the life and career of Scott Campbell, visit GuelphToday.com.
