Former NHLer Lou Jankowski passes away at 78

Posted Mar 23, 2010 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Mar 23, 2010 at 09:09 PM

Wanted to pass along some information on Lou Jankowski, who has been a fixture at Lightning home games over the past several years. I had the pleasure of getting to know Lou, who knew how to bring a smile to everybody who passed through the event level before the game and happened to bump into him during games up in the pressbox. The 78-year-old was always happy to share a story from his playing days, and there is not a hockey player alive who doesn’t have some wonderfully entertaining story to share.

I even bumped into Lou on Saturday outside the meal room, where he was bragging about the wonderful prime rib meal he was just able to enjoy. In fact, he mentioned it a couple of times. He looked alert, he looked happy, he had a big smile on his face. Eight hours later, he was gone. I was shocked to find a message waiting for me Sunday morning that Lou had passed away, couldn’t believe that I had just spoken to him less than 12 hours earlier.  I was stunned, to say the least, to hear that he was gone. He was found by his wife around 2 a.m. in the morning, resting peacefully. My thoughts go out to Lou’s family in the loss of a great man.

Here is some information on Lou from his family:

Louis Jankowski, 78, died on March 21, 2010 peacefully at home in Clearwater, Florida.  Born in Regina, Saskatchewan on June 27, 1931, Lou was a distinguished member of the hockey community after enjoying a life involved in the game he loved.

Even though he played high school football and baseball, his love of hockey began on Cootes Paradise in Hamilton, and he won a Junior B championship with Hamilton Aerovox in 1948.  He continued to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey Association playing 3 seasons from 1948-1951. In 1950-51 he won the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy for the OHA leading scorer, a trophy that still exists today.

Lou played 122 games from 1951-1955 for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League.  From 1958-1969, he played for various teams in the Western Hockey League.

With the Calgary Stampeders he was named to the WHL All-Star Team 4 times (1959-1960-1961-1963) won the Leader Cup as WHL MVP (1961) and won the Fred J. Hume Cup as Most Gentlemanly Player (1963). 

In 1972 Lou began his scouting career working for the St. Louis Blues, continued with NHL Central Scouting , Washington Capitals and 15 years with the New York Rangers. 

One could always find Lou in a rink, from minor hockey to the NHL, he was a mainstay in the game.  His passion for the game was noted by all of those he touched.

Lou was predeceased by mother Anna and brothers Alexander, Anthony, Benjamin, and John.  He is survived by his wife Roseanna, brother Father Edward Jankowski, sister-in-law Marie, children Len (Rose Mary), Kathy (Ron) and Ryan (Tracy), and grandchildren Natalie, Nicole, Mark, Joshua, David, Jacob, Sophia and Krystin.

Prayers and visitation Friday March 26th from 7-9pm.  Funeral mass and reception Saturday March 27th 11:30am both at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church – Grimsby, Ontario.  A memorial lunch will be held in Calgary, Alberta – April 30th details to be later.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kidsport Alberta in memory of Lou Jankowski at http://www.kidsportcanada.ca