Willie Huber
| Willie Huber | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
January 15, 1958 Straßkirchen, West Germany |
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| Died | June 28, 2010 (aged 52) Hamilton, ON, CAN |
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| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | ||
| Weight | 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for |
Detroit Red Wings New York Rangers Vancouver Canucks Philadelphia Flyers |
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| National team |
 Canada
|
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| NHL Draft | 9th overall, 1978 Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1978–1988 | ||
Wilhelm Heinrich Huber (January 15, 1958 – June 28, 2010) was a professional ice hockey defenceman who spent ten years in the National Hockey League (NHL), primarily with the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers. Born in West Germany, Huber's family moved to Hamilton, Ontario when he was an infant. He represented Canada in international competition. When he joined the NHL in 1978, he was the largest player (6'5", 225 lbs.) in league history.
Huber was drafted in the first round (9th overall) in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft by the Detroit Red Wings after a decorated junior career. He won the Memorial Cup with the Hamilton Fincups in 1976, and represented Canada at the 1977 and 1978 World Junior Championships. A rare blend of size and skill, Huber stepped directly into the Wings' lineup the following season, notching 31 points and being named the team's Rookie of the Year.
For most of his career (until the arrival of Kjell Samuelsson in 1986) Huber was the largest player in the NHL at 6'5" and 228 lbs, towering over most other players in the league. Despite his size, however, Huber was primarily an offensive defender. Blessed with exceptional hands and skating ability, Huber was amongst the league's highest goal-scoring defenders in the early 1980s, and a fixture on the Detroit powerplay. While he was also solid in his own zone, fans often - unfairly - expected him to be a nasty physical presence, which did not come as naturally to him.
Huber scored at least 14 goals and 40 points for Detroit every season between 1979 and 1983, and was one of the team's top players during a comparatively lackluster period of Red Wing history. Huber and Reed Larson formed one of the more dangerous blueline power play combinations in the league during this period. He was chosen to represent Canada at the 1981 World Championships, and helped the team to a 4th-place finish. In 1983, he was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game.
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