During his brief tenure with the Detroit Red Wings, Murray Costello established a distinct and somewhat unusual record. The right-shot center played in 31 NHL games over two seasons—24 regular-season matches in 1955-56, three more in 1956-57, and four playoff games in the spring of 1956—without recording a single point.
Despite his modest NHL statistics, Costello’s overall impact on hockey is substantial and far-reaching.
Costello, who passed away on Monday at the age of 90, held significant roles within the sport, including serving as president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and later, Hockey Canada. Notably, he played a crucial role in the merger of the CAHA and Hockey Canada in the mid-1990s.
The Hockey Hall of Fame and its members are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Honoured Member and former Member of HHOF’s Board of Directors, Murray Costello.
We offer our sincerest condolences to the Costello family at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/Vno0zK275W
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) July 29, 2024
As president of Hockey Canada, Costello was a staunch advocate for the advancement of women’s hockey. He was instrumental in organizing the inaugural women’s world hockey championship in 1991.
On the international stage, Costello was a member of the IIHF Council from 1998 to 2012, serving as vice-president for five of those years. In 2005, he was honored as a builder in the Hockey Hall of Fame and was also recognized with The Order of Canada.
Red Wings Among His NHL Teams
Costello’s NHL journey began with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1953-54 season, and he subsequently joined the Boston Bruins. On January 16, 1956, the Bruins traded Costello and Lorne Ferguson to the Red Wings in exchange for Real Chevrefils and Jerry Toppazzini.
In my soon 25 years in international hockey, Murray Costello was the most decent person I met. He combined integrity, knowledge with a backbone and he had a huge influence on the IIHF council. Murray was also a wonderful storyteller. > https://t.co/6Z8CZHByye
— Szymon Szemberg (@Sz1909_Szemberg) July 29, 2024