# Tim Ecclestone

Timothy James Ecclestone (September 24, 1947 – March 2, 2024) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and coach who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Atlanta Flames from 1967 to 1978. He played 692 career NHL games, scoring 126 goals and 233 assists for 359 points, and twice scored 50 points or more in his career. After retiring, he served as assistant coach of the Flames for three seasons.

## Early life

Ecclestone was born in Toronto on September 24, 1947. His father managed a dry cleaning business, while his uncle, Cam, was a celebrated softball pitcher. Ecclestone began his junior career by playing for the Etobicoke Indians of the Metro Junior B Hockey League (MJBHL) during the 1964–65 season. He was selected in the second round (ninth overall) by the New York Rangers in the 1964 NHL Amateur Draft. He was also awarded a full hockey scholarship from the University of Denver.

## Professional career

After opting to pursue professional hockey with the Rangers, Ecclestone played for the franchise's Kitchener Rangers affiliate in 1966–67. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues on June 6, 1967, immediately following the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He started the 1967–68 season playing for the Kansas City Blues of the Central Professional Hockey League, before being promoted to St. Louis. He made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut for the Blues on November 26, 1967, against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Ecclestone went on to play three more seasons with the Blues and was named to the only All-Star Game of his career in 1971. That same year, he was chosen to be his team's representative to the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA). The Blues management became unhappy with his and Red Berenson's robust relationship with the union, and ultimately traded both players to the Detroit Red Wings on February 6, 1971. Although Ecclestone recorded career-highs in goals (18), assists (35), and points (53) during the 1971–72 season, the Red Wings were perennial losers at the time and he requested to be traded after four seasons. The Wings accommodated his request and he was dealt to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs on November 29, 1973. Following a shoulder injury in his second season in Toronto, the Leafs traded Ecclestone to the Washington Capitals who in turn traded him to the Atlanta Flames, on the same day. Following a knee injury during the 1977–78 season he served as an assistant coach for the Flames. Ecclestone retired at the end of the season but remained with the Flames as an assistant coach until they relocated to Calgary in 1980.

## Later life

Ecclestone remained in the Atlanta area following the departure of the Flames organization, as part owner of sports bar named Timothy-John's Restaurant and Lounge in Sandy Springs, Georgia, a restaurant he helped open during his years as a Flames assistant coach. In 1990, he opened his own sports bar, called T.J.'s Sports Bar and Grill, in Alpharetta, Georgia.

## Personal life

Ecclestone was married to Susan (Sue) Gail Dayus until her death from ovarian cancer in July 2012. They met in high school and had two children together: Sandi and Mark. He resided in Roswell, Georgia, during his later years.
Ecclestone died on March 2, 2024. He was 76, and suffered from lung complications due to rib and clavicle fractures sustained in a fall prior to his death.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1965–66 | Etobicoke Indians | MetJHL | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1966–67 | Kitchener Rangers | OHA | 48 | 27 | 37 | 64 | 35 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 14 |
| 1967–68 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 50 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 1967–68 | Kansas City Blues | CHL | 13 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1968–69 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 68 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 31 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 20 |
| 1969–70 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 65 | 16 | 21 | 37 | 59 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 48 |
| 1970–71 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 47 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1970–71 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 27 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1971–72 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 72 | 18 | 35 | 53 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1972–73 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 78 | 18 | 30 | 48 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1973–74 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 14 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1973–74 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974–75 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1974–75 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 62 | 13 | 21 | 34 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 69 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1976–77 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 78 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 1977–78 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977–78 | Tulsa Oilers | CHL | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 692 | 126 | 233 | 359 | 344 | 48 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 76 |