Oct. 22, 2016 The Denver Hockey Family was saddened to learn of the passing of alumnus George Konik this weekend at the age of 79. Konik was a member of DU's back-to-back national championship teams of 1960-61 and enjoyed a lengthy career in pro hockey upon graduation.
An All-American in 1960, Konik recorded 116 points (46G-70A) in 89 career games as a Pioneer, ranking sixth in program history in points by a defenseman. The Flin Flon, Manitoba native was named to the WCHA 50th Anniversary Team in 2001 and was inducted into the DU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. He skated in the AHL, WHL and CPHL from 1961-67 before making his NHL in 1967-68 as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins' inaugural team:
Konik eventually became a naturalized American citizen and joined the United States national team for the 1970 and 1971 IIHF World Championships; he was named the tournament's best defenseman in 1970. Konik came out of retirement in 1972-73 to play a final season of major league pro hockey for the WHA's Minnesota Fighting Saints. After retiring from pro hockey for the second time, Konik founded George Konik Associates, a contract engineering firm. His son Brad played collegiate hockey for Harvard and in the AHL/ECHL. He succeeded his father as president at GKA in 2000. Click HERE to read George Konik's bio from Legends of Hockey.
