Dick Gamble, an American Hockey League Hall of Famer and the fourth-leading goal scorer in AHL history, has passed away.
He was 89.
A native of Moncton, N.B., Gamble played 898 regular-season games over his storied AHL career with the Buffalo Bisons (1954-55, 57-61) and Rochester Americans (1961-70), earning six postseason AHL All-Star berths: two First Team selections and four Second Team nods. He won the league scoring title as well as MVP honors in 1965-66 and starred for Amerks teams that reached four consecutive Calder Cup Finals, winning championships in 1965, 1966 and 1968.
“Dick Gamble will always be remembered as one of hockey’s all-time greatest players and a legendary figure in both Buffalo and Rochester,” said American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews. “The entire AHL offers its heartfelt condolences to Dick’s family and to the Amerks organization.”
Gamble entered the AHL Hall of Fame as part of its second class of inductees in 2007. He was an original member of the Amerks Hall of Fame, and his number 9 was retired by the franchise.
“The entire Rochester Americans organization is deeply saddened by the loss of Dick Gamble,” said fellow Amerks and American Hockey League Hall of Famer Jody Gage. “Dick was someone who helped bring the Rochester Americans to prominence in the AHL and was instrumental in building this great franchise. Dick was an Amerks and AHL Hall of Famer and a founding father who played with class and dignity. It was truly a great honor to have known Dick for all these years and I will always cherish his friendship. He will be dearly missed.”
Gamble ranks fourth on the AHL’s all-time list in goals (468) and fifth in points (892). He also skated in the National Hockey League with Montreal, Chicago and Toronto, and won a Stanley Cup championship with the Canadiens in 1953.
