Jerry Toppazzini (1931-2012)

Jerry Toppazzini, a former American Hockey League player and coach who played more than 700 games in the NHL, died Saturday after a brief illness, the Sudbury Star has reported.

He was 80.

Toppazzini, a native of Copper Cliff, Ont., scored 20 goals as a rookie with the Hershey Bears in 1951-52 before a lengthy NHL career with Boston, Chicago and Detroit. He later coached the AHL’s Springfield Kings from 1972-74.

In January, Toppazzini accepted induction into the AHL Hall of Fame on behalf of his late brother Zellio, who passed away in 2001.

More: sudburystar.com