Danny Lawson Daniel Michael Lawson ( b . October 30 , 1947 in Toronto , Ontario - d . September 15 , 2008 in Calgary , Alberta ) was a professional ice hockey right winger , initially in the National Hockey League , but most notably in the World Hockey Association with the Philadelphia / Vancouver Blazers franchise . He became one of WHA ' s star players and led the league in goal scoring in its inaugural season Junior career . Danny Lawson played junior for the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Hockey Association , who were sponsored at the time by the NHL Detroit Red Wings . Lawson was with the Hamilton team when they went to the 1966 - 67 Memorial Cup Final . Lawson ' s individual offensive totals gradually improved each year until in 1967 - 68 , his last year , when he finished second in the league in goal - scoring with 52 and led his team in points . He was also named to the OHA ' s First All Star team . Pro career . Lawson played a single game with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1968 season , before becoming a full - time professional in the next year , shuffling between the Wings and the minor - league Fort Worth Wings of the Central Hockey League . Before season ' s end he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars , serving the role of a defensive forward on the third and fourth lines . He spent the next two years with the North Stars , further splitting his time between the parent club and the minor leagues , before a trade in the 1971 offseason to the Buffalo Sabres . It was with Buffalo that Lawson finally received substantial ice time , albeit in a checking role shadowing other teams ' offensive stars . It was to be his first complete season in the NHL without any time spent in the minors . In 1972 the WHA came into existence and the upstart league was stealing from the NHL both their superstars and players to simply fill their rosters . Lawson made the jump and signed with the Philadelphia Blazers . Although having had a five - year career in the NHL under his belt , it was not until moving to the WHA that his scoring abilities were fully realized . In the WHA ’ s inaugural season , despite the presence of superstar Bobby Hull , it was Lawson who on February 22 became the first player to score 50 goals and by season ’ s end he led the league in goals with 61 . Lawson capped that season by being selected to the WHA All Star Team ' s First Team . Lawson remained a star in the WHA , almost entirely with the Blazers ' franchise through moves from Philadelphia to Vancouver and finally to Calgary . Midway through the 1977 season he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets and reached the Avco Cup final , where the Jets lost to the Quebec Nordiques , after which Lawson retired . In the NHL , Lawson appeared in 219 games , scoring 28 goals and 29 assists . However , in the WHA he played in 392 games , scoring 218 goals and adding 204 assists . Despite not participating in the final two seasons of the WHA ' s existence he still finished at # 8 in all - time WHA goals . Post NHL . In August 1986 , at age 39 , Lawson attempted a comeback in the NHL , attending the Edmonton Oilers training camp , but was released by the club in September . Lawson then found employment in Germany . For the 1986 - 87 season he played with the 3rd division team EC Hedos Munich helping the team move up to the 2nd division . The next season he coached SV Bayreuth and the team finished 4th out of ten teams in the southern division . On September 15 , 2008 , just shy of his 61st birthday , Danny Lawson died of cancer .