A former star with the Sarnia Legionnaires has died less than three months shy of his 80th birthday. Pat “Whitey” Stapleton died Wednesday in Strathroy.
Stapleton won two leagues championships with the Legionnaires between 1956 and 1958 as well as a Sutherland Cup provincial crown. 
“It’s a sad day for Sarnia hockey,” said the Legionnaires on social media. ” RIP, Whitley. You will be missed.” 
After leaving the Legionnaires, Stapleton went on to play two more seasons in the OHA, winning a Memorial Cup with St. Catharines in 1960.
“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Pat ”Whitey Stapleton, said the Sarnia Sting on its Twitter account. The Sarnia-born rearguard served as honorary captain when the Sting previously host the OHL All-Star game and the Canada-Russia Super Series. “A local hockey icon and fantastic human being, he will be missed by many,” the post concluded.
Professionally, Stapleton was originally the property of the Boston Bruins before being traded to the Leafs in 1965 a day before he was left unprotected and claimed by Chicago. He played eight seasons with the Blackhawks, including appearances in the Stanley Cup finals in 1971 and 73 only to fall short against the Montreal Canadiens on both occasions. He played his last five seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Chicago Cougars, Indianapolis and Cincinnati. The dependable blueliner played more than 1,000 games in the NHL and WHA combined.
Stapleton was named the best rearguard in the WHA for the 1973-74 campaign, leading the Cougars to a championship series berth where and his mates lost in the final to Gordie Howe and the Houston Aeros.
Stapleton also donned the Team Canada jersey for the original Summit Series against the Russians in 1972. He was also part of the WHA series against Russia in 1974.
As a member of the Team Canada 72 Summit Series squad, he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.