Ex-Sabre loses battle against cancer
Welland Sports Wall of Famer Ken Breitenbach remembered as ‘all-star grandfather,’ champion for affordable sports
Ken Breitenbach scored only one goal in 68 games in the National Hockey League, all with the Buffalo Sabres, but it’s everything the Welland native did afterwards that will be remembered most by the people whose lives he touched.
Breitenbach, who lost a six-year battle with colon cancer on Friday at age 62, was an “all-star grandfather,” an “ambassador for the game and for Welland” and a champion to make organized sports accessible for all children, regardless of income.
Though the disease was beginning to take its toll, Breitenbach summoned up the strength to be the honorary captain for the popular ball hockey games with NHLers at the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Day last summer in Welland.
“He was a stubborn man. If it was something he was interested in, he found the energy,” said Erica Horton, who nominated her father for induction into the Welland Sports Wall of Fame two years ago.
Breitenbach also played charity games for the Buffalo Sabres alumni, and she wasn’t surprised when her father used his time in the spotlight at the induction ceremony to focus on youth sports rather than reminisce about competing in the 1974 Memorial Cup and being picked in 35th overall in the NHL Entry Draft a year later.
“He was always more interested in doing something for the community.”
Ken Breitenbach Jr. likewise was “blown away” by his father’s speech at the induction ceremony.
“That was him alright, he was humble and very selfless,” the son said. “He put everyone first.”
That was especially true when it came to Breitenbach’s five grandchildren.
“He was an all-star grandfather,” Ken Jr. said. “He was always there for them, he would always come over to get his ‘grandkid fix.”
“I really hope to be a grandfather like he was.”
Horton said her father’s illness never stopped him from doting on her son and daughter and her brother’s three daughters.
“All five kids would be there for a sleepover,” she said. “He did whatever he could. He always wanted to be there for him.”
Ed Burkholder, head scout and player personnel director for the Toledo Walleye, grew up idolizing Breitenbach and went on to become his teammate for five seasons in an industrial hockey league.
“He was probably one of the smartest defenceman I ever saw,” Burkholder said. “He was steady, had great size. He made the easy play and he controlled the tempo. Though Breitenbach enjoyed a fouryear professional career after a stellar three seasons in the then Ontario Hockey Association with the then St. Catharines Black Hawks, he never looked down on teammates who weren’t blessed with his talent or drive to succeed.
“You knew he played in the NHL, but he didn’t act that way with the other guys,” Burkholder said. “He was the consummate teammate.”
“He was just a first-class gentleman. He was fun to be around, easy to get along with.”
Breitenbach spent a year selling cars when Burkholder was sales manager at the former Farr Mercury in Welland.
“He was an unbelievable person, so nice and easy going,” said Burkholder, also the colour commentator for Niagara IceDogs broadcasts on TV Cogeco.
“He was an ambassador for the game, and an ambassador for Welland.”
“Just to get to know him was such an honour.”
Rather than accept a demotion to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, Breitenbach left the Sabres organization and drove a dump truck for his father’s company. He went on to work 30 years for Hard Rock Paving before joining E.S. Fox.
“In those days you couldn’t make a full-time living playing in the AHL,” Breitenbach said in a profile on his wall of fame induction.
Soft-spoken and a “man’s man,” so much that he received a What Would John Wayne Do? T-shirt as a present from his son, Breitenbach had a competitive streak that was second to none.
“I never knew my dad was competitive until you tried to compete against him,” Ken Jr. said. “He was relentless.”
Ken Jr. never got to see that drive playing against his father — “I was never good enough in hockey to see that” — but he did at an arcade.
“It was one of those shooting games and I won a great big panda,” Ken Jr. recalled with a laugh. “I swear he must have spent something like $50 to beat me.”
“He wasn’t mad, he wasn’t angry, he was happy for me, but he loved to compete.”
Breitenbach is survived by wife Rosemary, mother Joyce, as well as his two children and five grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at Faith Welland Chapel, 380 South Pelham Rd., Welland, Tuesday, May 9, beginning at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, people are encourage to honour Breitenbach’s memory by donating to Canadian Tire’s JumpStart program or to Hospice Niagara.